The Minnesota Museum of American Art (MMAA, or known more intimately as The M) is St. Paul’s one and only true art museum. Their collection is home to nearly 5,000 pieces of art created by American artists, many of which have not been seen since in nearly a decade.
(MMAA’s previous galleries closed after they lost their space to redevelopment in the Ramsey County Government Center in 2009)
From their website,
Guided by the belief that our art should reflect the constantly shifting landscape that defines the American experience, we embrace and celebrate new voices, as well as masters from the 19th and 20th centuries.
And now, finally, they’re going to have a permanent place to show them off.
Over four years have passed since MMAA first opened their Project Space in the southwest corner of the Pioneer-Endicott Building. Always meant to be temporary, the Project Space has hosted events and rotating exhibits over the years while plans to expand never fully materialized.
Thanks to $6 million dedicated in Governor Dayton’s latest bonding bill, work on the expansion with begin this summer and, if all goes as planned, will be complete and open to the public by spring of 2018. The museum will have around 20,000 square feet of space for visitors to enjoy, and will include a modern gallery and sculpture court (see pictures above, courtesy of MMAA).
The Project Space, currently the only operational section of the museum, will become the Sifo Center for Creativity, named for a popular St. Paul toy store that closed in 1975. The space will be dedicated to teaching and making art at any age.
Legacy Chocolates and Revival Wine, Beer, & Spirits call the Pioneer-Endicott home as well.
This isn’t the first time Bonding Bill capital has smiled upon St. Paul: Funds from the 2015 bill went to renovating the now open and booming Palace Theater, which has helped turn downtown into quite the arts and culture destination. The Palace joins underground jazz joint Vieux Carré and the Park Square Theater along the 7th Place Mall, a stone’s throw from the Fitzgerald Theater, Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, Landmark Center, and Amsterdam Bar and Hall.
And now, just a few blocks southeast, MMAA will offer another reason for us to visit a formerly ignored and vacant section of downtown.
Minnesota Museum of American Art | 141 4th St E, St Paul, MN 55101 | (651) 797-2571
