7 picks

Arts Buildings in the Twin Cities

Northeast Minneapolis built itself into a nationally recognized arts district the slow way: artists moved into old factories and seed warehouses and stayed. Today those buildings hold hundreds of working studios, galleries, and live/work spaces. These are the addresses that anchor the district, plus a few beyond it.

Arts Buildings by neighborhood
Northeast 5

Northrup King Building

A nine-story former agricultural seed and feed company building that is one of the largest working artist communities in the region. Painters, printmakers, sculptors, ceramicists, photographers, and mixed-media artists spread across multiple floors and hundreds of studios. First Thursday open studios and the Art-A-Whirl open in May bring thousands through the building. The closest the metro gets to a vertical art district.

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Casket Arts Building

A former casket manufacturing factory converted into one of Northeast Minneapolis's premier artist communities. Over a hundred individual studios across multiple floors, with painters, sculptors, photographers, and mixed-media artists. This is also where Josh Sundby runs his studio practice, enterSTELLAR. The building is a regular stop on the Northeast First Friday art walk circuit.

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California Building

A historic industrial building in the heart of the Northeast arts district, housing artist studios and galleries including the long-running Rosalux Gallery. Part of what makes the neighborhood feel like a walkable arts district rather than a cluster of individual venues.

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Solar Arts Building

A converted industrial building at the southern edge of the arts district, dedicated to artist studios and community art programming. Anchors the lower end of the Northeast arts corridor along 15th Avenue NE.

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Grain Belt Bottling House

Part of the historic Grain Belt Brewing complex along the Mississippi, adaptively reused for artist studios and creative businesses. The building retains its industrial brewing character while hosting contemporary artists and makers.

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Tilsner Artists' Lofts

A historic brewery building in Lowertown St. Paul converted into affordable artist live/work lofts by ArtSpace, the national leader in artist housing. The building preserves the industrial structure while supporting the creative economy in St. Paul's arts district.

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Lowertown Artist Lofts

A major mixed-income artist housing and studio complex operated by ArtSpace in Lowertown St. Paul. Features affordable live/work lofts for artists alongside public gallery spaces and community programming. ArtSpace has developed similar projects across the country but this remains one of its home-base sites.

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