Arts - Art has a home in North Minneapolis - Art has a home in North Minneapolis

    Artists, no matter their medium, ask themselves, “What do I want to say?” and “How do I want to say it?” One of the questions several Northside artists began asking a few years ago is “How can we use art to bring about positive change for our community?” In a series of potluck dinners held across the Northside in 2001, we found answers from over 300 artists and art supporters who led us to create the Northside Arts Collective  (NAC) with a mission to help artists network among themselves, to act as a conduit for employment opportunities for artists, to raise community consciousness so that artists are regarded as a valuable community resource, and to connect children and youth with artists and art-making activities.

    In 2002, we commissioned four public art pieces and held community conversations about the role of art in developing community. In 2003, we inaugurated the Spring Art Party and featured the work of over 50 Northside visual and performing artists. We followed up with an even larger and more successful Spring Art Party in 2004.

    Because we were growing and becoming successful at what we set out to do, we spent 2005 becoming a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization and re-launched the Spring Art Party in 2006 at North Commons Park. We surveyed 138 people that day and learned that one-third came from outside North Minneapolis and that 60 percent of those in attendance - some even from within a few blocks of the park - said that being there that day improved their perception of the Northside! We also launched the first Arts & Resource Catalog for the Northside at Spring Art Party 2006. We’re passionate about creating a better Northside and we believe that art will be a significant factor in that transformation.

    We invite you to join us for a very special evening celebrating our 2nd Annual Membership Event on Thursday, November 9 at our new home in the Historic Capri Theater on West Broadway and Oliver Avenues. Meet, mingle and become acquainted with the rich artistic Northside Community! Renew or become a new member and qualify for special prize drawings. Purchase raffle tickets for several pieces of original artwork donated by our members and gift certificates to your favorite restaurants. Chris Harrison will also be doing a live painting to be silently auctioned off at the end of the event. This event is free and open to the public. Membership to NAC is open to anyone who has an interest in helping fulfill our mission to unite, enrich and advance the Northside Community through the arts!

    Don’t miss this event to celebrate the arts on the Northside at the Historic Capri Theatre, 2027 W. Broadway on November 9. Appetizers, live painting and raffles of original artwork and more from 6-7 p.m.; welcome by NAC president and election of new board members from 7-8 p.m.; and live entertainment, closure of raffles and auction of live painting from 8-9 p.m. Raffle tickets are on sale now at $5 each or five for $20. Call the NAC office at 612-643-2050 or visit www.nsarts for info