Issues

Third Ward Arts Community

Ritz Theater and Support of the Arts

The Ritz theater has played an important role in the revitalization of the 13th Avenue Business District, adding vitality, interest and confidence in the future of the area.

The Ritz opened its doors with the financial help and support of the Minneapolis City Council and Mayor in 2006. As a current member of the Ritz theater board of directors, we are working on a new marketing plan to insure the theater's future, and continue to make the theater an important part of the growing arts community in Northeast Minneapolis.

I will continue to support art in public places and encourage all developments in the ward and our city to incorporate art in their projects. Examples of my support, in the ward, include the Old Third Town Home development, historic Florence Court, The Phoenix on the River, Phillips Foundation Office building in the former historic Pillsbury library, Sherman Town homes, and Cobalt Condominiums.

As a former member of the Minneapolis Library Board, I authored the 1 percent for art that the library board adopted as policy for all new or remolded libraries. The following Minneapolis Public libraries all received such funding: Washburn, Hosmer, Franklin, Sumner, Pierre Bottineau, East Lake, Linden Hills, North Regional, and Walker. As you visit, the above libraries enjoy the art in and outside of the buildings, most of which were the work and imagination of our locally produced artists!

The 1 percent for art at the Minneapolis Public libraries was such a success that the Minneapolis City Council adopted a similar policy for our City!