Franklin Art Works is a visual and performing arts center devoted to presenting cutting edge contemporary work by local and national artists. Through a mix of exhibitions, performing arts, film and arts education, Franklin Art Works celebrates the art of our time in all its complexity and diversity.
With the ongoing development of our arts center in a renovated silent-era movie theater in Minneapolis Phillips neighborhood, Franklin Art Works is creating a unique site for artistic innovation and social interaction.
Programs
Visual Arts
Franklin Art Works Visual Arts Program presents an annual series of 15 one-person exhibitions in our Main Gallery, Video Gallery and Project Space featuring new work by local, national and international artists. In over four years, our exhibitions of work in sculpture, video, drawing, painting, photography, wall drawing, installation and printmaking have attracted local and national acclaim.
Performing Arts
Our Performing Arts Program is devoted to presenting new and innovative work in theater, dance, music, film and readings in collaboration with a variety of Twin Cities-based non-profit organizations. By providing free rehearsal space and low usage fees, Franklin Art Works is one of the most financially accessible performance venues in the Twin Cities.
Neighborhood Service
We work hard in all we do to reach out to our community. During each year we offer exhibitions that address issues of importance to our neighborhood, and performance and film programs that would otherwise not come to our community along with an annual project aimed serving youth. In response to our culturally rich neighborhood, we strive for diversity within our annual programming.
History
Franklin Art Works is housed in a renovated silent-era movie theater building built in 1916. Prior to our ownership, the building had a long and troubled history. The New Franklin Theater opened in 1916 and served as a neighborhood movie house for 60 years. In 1977 the building was gutted and turned it into a three-screen adult movie theater. The City of Minneapolis seized the building in 1990, after which it served as a bicycle shop and a venue for underground performances and parties.
Franklin Art Works purchased the building in April 1999 and with the support of the Neighborhood Revitalization Program transformed the dilapidated theater into a 10,000-square foot visual and performance art center. The building now features three exhibition spaces, a 120-seat performance space and a spacious lobby.
The renovation also revealed several silent-era features of the building, hidden for 62 years. Our performance space boasts the theaters original, plaster movie screen and proscenia. The brick façade features a 29-foot long stained glass window, 35-foot-long arched entry, and second level open air balcony facing Franklin Avenue.
Donors
Franklin Art Works thanks the following foundations, corporations and individuals for their support for the 2004-2005 season.
General Mills Foundation, HRK Foundation, Jerome Foundation, McKnight Foundation, the Grace Jones Richardson Trust, St. Paul Companies, Inc. Foundation, and Target, Marshall Fields and Mervyns with support from the Target Foundation.
Annual Fund DonorsSiah Armajani, Andy Baird, Judson & Carol Bemis, Christine & Brian Daves, Sally Foy Dixon, Welles Emerson & George Edwards, Clement Engen, Carole Fisher, Kathleen Fluegel, Michael & Manisha Fox, Greta Friedman, Anne George, David Goldes, Elizabeth Hall, Susan Hanna-Bibus, Maren Kloppman, Phillip Koski , Leslie Lynn Kunze, Kelley Lindquist, Carla McGrath, Don McNeil & Emily Galusha, Tom Nordyke, Chris Osgood, Nancy L. Osgood, Trevor Porath, Jeff Ross, John Sauer & Christie Hawkins, Judith Stark, Beth Tiegs, Joanne Von Blon, Weinstein Gallery, Christine Winterkamp, Penny & Michael Winton |
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Director(s): Director & Curator: Tim Peterson / Deputy Director: Chris Atkins
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