Minneapolis awards $750,000-plus in Vibrant Storefronts grants

Some empty storefronts in Loring Park, Uptown and downtown Minneapolis soon will be vacant no more.

In the city’s second Arts & Cultural Affairs Department’s Vibrant Storefronts initiative, eight artist-run organizations will receive up to $50,000 to subsidize rent of vacant storefronts for two years for a total of $750,000.

Five artist-run organizations received funding in the first iteration last November.

This year the number of recipients has nearly doubled. The city has now awarded a total of over $950,000 to 13 local artists and creative entrepreneurs.

“When you invest in art and creativity, you get back that investment multiple-fold,” Mayor Jacob Frey said. “We’ve seen this over and over again.”

After the two-year period, if the artist recipients wish to renew the lease, the city will work with them to continue subsidizing rent, said Ben Johnson, director of the city’s Arts & Cultural Affairs Department.

If they choose to leave, future recipients of the Vibrant Storefronts initiative will move in. Frey and Johnson want to keep artists in these spaces.

Minneapolis dance-theater company Strange Loop Projects takes over 1629 Hennepin Av., formerly the Loring Social. The business closed in 2022, and the space has been vacant ever since. Nearby mainstay Café and Bar Lurcat closed on Sept. 5, leaving the neighborhood more vacant.

“After years of looking for a home for my pretty ambitious productions, I get to shift my focus now, not to if I will be able to pull off another project, but what do we get to do next,” Strange Loop Projects founder and artistic director Zhauna Franks said.

Jared Hanks, founder and creative director of creative agency Modern Day Me, moves into 401 1st Av. N. He sees potential for art exhibitions, openings and civic meetings in the company’s new home. He’s interested in the draw to downtown.

“We’ve got Twins games, Lynx games, Timberwolves games,” he said. “We’ve got nightclubs, we have people coming down just to work every day.”

Nigerian American artist Uzo Ngwu, who works in film, animation and illustration, will open Zoma House at 1426 Lake St. in Uptown. The multidisciplinary creative space will include an animation studio and focus on Black creatives. They’ll also host a consignment shop there.

“I’m excited to completely make new offerings that go beyond the scope of film and animation,” Ngwu said. “My hope is that it’s consistent programming and that people know Zoma House is a place to just hang out and get connected.”

Additional recipients include Evergreen Audio at 300 1st Av. N., Grainline at 1621 Hennepin Av., Center for People and Craft at 519 Oak Grove St., True North Studios x Curioso Coffee Bar at 3001 Hennepin Av., and Cruise at 3008 Hennepin Av., Suite B.