Featured Stories

MSP's Theater Community Then and Now: From the Old Log to the Legacy Amendment

Peg Guilfoyle Tuesday, April 05, 2016

We introduce the first in a two-part series about how MSP became the second-largest theater region after New York, as well as mobile, inventive and idiosyncratic.

Arts and Culture, Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Economy, Creative Leadership, diversity, Entrepreneurship, Higher Education, Nightlife

Riverfront/Mill District, University, Cedar - Riverside/West Bank, Downtown, Downtown/Lowertown, Powderhorn, Warehouse/North Loop

Cohorts, Capacity Building, Creative Communities: The Evolution of Artspace's Geographic Approach

Camille LeFevre Tuesday, March 22, 2016

The arts real-estate nonprofit Artspace is re-scaling its work to take a more geographic approach that includes consulting with a cohort of art organizations in Detroit and developing creative districts in rural Colorado.

Affordable Housing, Arts and Culture, Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Economy, Creative Leadership, Design, diversity, Entrepreneurship, Nightlife, Philanthropy, Regionalism, Shopping, Transit Oriented Development

Museums and Libraries as Co-Creators of Change

Gayle C. Thorsen Tuesday, March 15, 2016

New research reveals the catalytic role that libraries and museums are playing in rebuilding troubled neighborhoods. These important "anchor institutions" are helping drive economic, educational and social efforts in their neighborhoods.

Affordable Housing, Arts and Culture, Central Corridor, Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Economy, Creative Leadership, diversity, Philanthropy, Strong Local Economy

Greater East Side, Midway, Lake Street, Thomas - Dale/Frogtown, Payne - Phalen

Transit-Oriented Development in St. Paul: Connections That Create Value

Brian Martucci Tuesday, March 08, 2016

More transit means more value: How community-driven (Frogtown) and historically aware (Lowertown) TOD works using community-led initiatives paired with city-developed plans that include affordable housing.

Affordable Housing, Central Corridor, Coordination/Collaboration, diversity, Philanthropy, Strong Local Economy, Transit Oriented Development

Midway, Saint Anthony Park, North Side, Downtown/Lowertown, Thomas - Dale/Frogtown, Warehouse/North Loop

Witt Siasoco uses art to create home

Nicole Rupersburg Tuesday, February 16, 2016

The multidisciplinary artist, designer, and arts educator has created a number of projects inspired by issues facing his community. Through art, he explores themes of collective community ownership, transportation and land use, and underrepresented populations.

Arts and Culture, Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Leadership, diversity, Entrepreneurship

Downtown, Southwest, Calhoun - Isles

February Arts and Culture: Feasts for the Mind and the Mouth

Camille LeFevre Tuesday, February 02, 2016

A Hmong pop-up dinner, electrifying art exhibition, architecture tour of an already iconic brewery and the opportunity to laugh out loud with the nation's funniest Native American author are on our to-do list for arts and culture in February.

Arts and Culture, Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Economy, diversity, Entrepreneurship, Nightlife

Greater East Side, University, Southwest

Springboard: A Community Development Organization By and For Artists

Nicole Rupersburg Tuesday, January 26, 2016

Meet Laura Zabel, urban innovator. At Springboard for the Arts, she's leading a national movement to support and engage artists as a vital part of community development.

Arts and Culture, Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Economy, Creative Leadership

Downtown/Lowertown

Winter Carnival 2016: Where to Go, What to Do Via Metro Transit

Brian Martucci Tuesday, January 26, 2016

The St. Paul Winter Carnival is a celebration of all things cold, snowy and fun, including bundled-up parades, dazzling ice sculptures and treasure hunts. Here's how and when to get to the carnival’s signature events using Metro Transit.

Arts and Culture, Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Economy, Nightlife, Transit Oriented Development, Transportation

Como Park, Midway, West Seventh, Downtown/Lowertown

10 Redevelopment Projects Transforming MSP in 2016

Amy Goetzman Tuesday, January 12, 2016

MSP is in the midst of a redevelopment boom that has touched nearly every part of the Twin Cities. Here are 10 projects opening in 2016 that will further transform our neighborhoods and communities.

Arts and Culture, Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Economy, Creative Leadership, Design, diversity, Entrepreneurship, Nightlife, Reuse / Rebuild, Shopping, Strong Local Economy, Transit Oriented Development, Transportation

Riverfront/Mill District, Greater East Side, Dayton's Bluff, Downtown, North Side, West Seventh, Downtown/Lowertown, Warehouse/North Loop, Northeast

Is Affordable Artist Live/Work Housing the New Normal?

Camille LeFevre Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Since Artspace pioneered affordable artist live/work housing in the 1990s, disrupting the SoHo Effect in communities across the U.S., demand for such projects has grown. Which begs the question: Is affordable artist live/work housing becoming the new normal?

Affordable Housing, Arts and Culture, Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Economy, Creative Leadership, diversity, Entrepreneurship, Reuse / Rebuild, Shopping, Strong Local Economy, Transit Oriented Development

Riverfront/Mill District, West Seventh, Downtown/Lowertown, Northeast

December in the Cities: Art and Culture To Go

Camille LeFevre Tuesday, December 08, 2015

It's culture to go this month in our feature highlighting arts, entertainment and culture not to be missed in MSP. Stop into City Center for an on-the-fly dance performance. Check out--on your laptop, phone or tablet--Greycoats' music video shot in architect Ralph Rapson's Glass Cube. Catch District Energy's plume in the night sky in downtown St. Paul.

Arts and Culture, Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Leadership, Design, Energy, Entrepreneurship, Nightlife, Strong Local Economy

Downtown, Downtown/Lowertown

Nostalgia in November: Our Monthly Arts/Culture Picks

David Rue Tuesday, November 17, 2015

This month’s feature highlighting arts, entertainment and culture not to be missed in MSP brings into focus the region’s most notable dance company, photographic visions of Minneapolis’ past and an art sale for all to enjoy.

Arts and Culture, Coordination/Collaboration, diversity, Entrepreneurship

Greater East Side, Macalester - Groveland, Midway, Saint Anthony Park

Why MSP's Amenity-Rich Downtowns are Prime Spots for Relocating Businesses

Brian Martucci Tuesday, October 20, 2015

MSP’s increasingly amenity-rich downtowns offer irresistible quality-of-life benefits that help firms attract and retain top talent. Here’s a look at why some companies moved to the downtowns of Minneapolis and St. Paul.

Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Economy, Creative Leadership, Strong Local Economy, Transportation

Downtown, West Side, West Seventh, Downtown/Lowertown, Warehouse/North Loop

Artists Can Be The "Connective Tissue" of a Neighborhood, But First Need Affordable Housing

Camille LeFevre Tuesday, October 06, 2015

The creation of affordable artist live/work housing is a proven initiative that reinvigorates neighborhoods, while artists and their work bring members of diverse communities together.

Affordable Housing, Arts and Culture, Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Economy, Creative Leadership, diversity, Strong Local Economy

Downtown/Lowertown