Archive: Community Exchange

Community Planning and Development (CPED) is working with ArtsSpace to transfer the facility to the city on April 1.

Please join us at Floowork to continue the conversation.
Saturday, April 6: 12:00–2:00pm
RSVP by April 5 requested.

The Cowles Center connects to the HCA building and currently shares property maintenance services with it, including fire safety and elevator operation, utilities such as electricity, water and gas, and property assessments. Property maintenance for the months of April to December 2024 are estimated to be $240,000:

Maintenance and Operating: $25,000
Utilities: $125,000
Property Taxes and Insurance Cost: $55,000
15% Contingency: $35,000

Staff recommends that the City assume the property management agreement with Performance Property Management Company, LLC, an affiliate of Artspace Projects, with a 30-day termination notice. The management agreement includes services related to accounting and bookkeeping, paying expenses such as utilities and building services, minimal on-site personnel to keep an eye on the vacant building and property boundary, and coordinating City staff for maintenance and repairs as needed.

Learn more.

Thank you all for sharing space and your voices together with a good portion of the Dance Community at the Town Hall. This update is compiled with the assistance of Ben Johnson, Jackie Hayes, Erinn Liebhard, and Tamara Nadel.

The time is now that we continue to build upon the strength of this gathering to make real change happen and have tangible action steps for the city to hear our voices and find essential ways to move forward. All updates will be posted on the Community Exchange tab on DanceMN.

Here is the recording of the Dance Town Hall conversation held on March 4, 2024.

Attendance
Virtually: 109
In person: 192
Total: 301

Up Next
As shared by Karen Charles, the Minnesota Artists Coalition will host a conversation; an intersectional healthy arts and eco-system check-in, and critical conversations around pressing issues facing the arts community, including The Cowles Center’s Closing Letter and the Minneapolis Parks Music in the Parks Letter about not paying musicians to play in the parks.

While acknowledging that multiple conversations, gatherings, and actions are valid, this space seeks to center ideas, concerns, and strategies of marginalized voices while engaging a full conversation to broaden the discussion across artistic disciplines and socio-economic and cultural perspectives. Artists are called to attend in solidarity.

MN Annual Artist-Wide Town Hall
Wednesday, March 13 from 2:00-4:00pm
Zoom

Floorwork
Saturday, April 6 from 12:00-2:00pm
At the Arena

Please sign this letter!

To: Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Minneapolis City Council Members, Staff members Margaret Anderson Kelliher, Erik Hanson, Miles Mercer, and Rebecca Fabunmi.

CC: Ben Johnson, Director, Arts & Cultural Affairs Department, City of Minneapolis

The need for a letter arose from ARENA Dances’ February 2024 Floorwork monthly community conversation event held February 3, in the wake of the public announcement that The Cowles Center will cease operations this Spring. Operations of the Goodale Theater will return to the stewardship of the City of Minneapolis. For more information on the details surrounding this closure, please visit The Cowles Center’s website.

Many community members felt it necessary to express our concerns with the closure as well, to make certain the city of Minneapolis can be educated to understand how invaluable these dance performance spaces and educational opportunities are for MN artists. Both the temporary and potentially long-term loss of this resource have a substantial impact on our dance community, its audiences, and the economic health of downtown.

Additionally, you’re invited to a community town hall on Monday, March 4.

Also, please reach out to your City Council Members and Mayor Frey and share your perspective/wishes/concerns.

Please sign this letter!

To: Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Minneapolis City Council Members, Staff Members Margaret Anderson Kelliher, Erik Hanson, Miles Mercer, and Rebecca Fabunmi.

CC: Ben Johnson, Director, Arts & Cultural Affairs Department, City of Minneapolis

The need for a letter arose from ARENA Dances’ February 2024 Floorwork monthly community conversation event held February 3, in the wake of the public announcement that The Cowles Center will cease operations this Spring. Operations of the Goodale Theater will return to the stewardship of the City of Minneapolis. For more information on the details surrounding this closure, please visit The Cowles Center’s website.

Many community members felt it necessary to express our concerns with the closure as well, to make certain the city of Minneapolis can be educated to understand how invaluable these dance performance spaces and educational opportunities are for MN artists. Both the temporary and potentially long-term loss of this resource have a substantial impact on our dance community, its audiences, and the economic health of downtown.

Additionally, you’re invited to a community town hall on Monday, March 4.

Also, please reach out to your City Council Members and Mayor Frey and share your perspective/wishes/concerns.