Community Life

We invite you to take a look at the "Community Life" feature of the Artspace website. Artspace buildings are lively, vital artist communities and our intention here is to offer a glimpse of the building-wide events and community activities happening in Artspace projects across the country.

Brainerd artists can't wait: Arts Center is already a hit

Something wonderful is happening in Brainerd, Minnesota. For the first time in Artspace history, a vibrant arts community has sprung into existence in an Artspace building even before we've started construction.

Credit Paul Bloom, the Brainerd School District's former Director of Community Education, for taking the initiative that led to the early transformation of Franklin Junior High School into the Franklin Arts Center.

Franklin, which had served Brainerd students since 1932, closed in 2005. Although the building had outlived its usefulness as a school, it had been well-maintained over the years and was an important part of the community's cultural history.

The School District decided to redevelop the Franklin as an arts center and selected Artspace as developer. When complete, the Franklin Arts Center will provide 25 affordable live/work housing units, 42,000 square feet of studio and commercial space, and 33,000 square feet (basically, two gymnasiums and an auditorium) that the School District will operate as community space.

Artspace worked for more than three years to assemble the financial and funding sources for the $8.4 million project. We recently closed on the property and began construction on the housing portion of the project.

But meanwhile, Bloom saw no reason to wait to fill the non-residential space. He began leasing the former classrooms to local artists and creative businesses, and within a few months nearly all the studio and commercial space was leased.

Artists of all kinds have moved in and made the Franklin their new creative home. They have beautifully decorated their spaces. The Franklin has also become home to one of Brainerd's major arts organizations, the Crossing Arts Alliance, as well as to the Journey North Church. More than one gallery displays and sells artwork.

The sense of community among the studio tenants is truly amazing. They host a standing Second Saturday open-studio event and encourage visitors from the community to tour the building and individual studios and to attend events, exhibitions, classes, and performances.

We are delighted that the Franklin Art Center already displays the enthusiasm and momentum of a dynamic arts and culture facility for the Brainerd Lakes Area.

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