Letter to City Officials Regarding the Closing of the Cowles Center

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.