ST. PAUL ART CRAWL IS COMING TO TOWN
The three-day event will feature over 300 artists presenting their work in 17 St. Paul buildings
Image by bluraz/fotolia
By Charles Brandt
Twin Cities artists have received many local, national and international awards for their talent. While the collection of artists living in the warehouse spaces of Northeast Minneapolis have Art-A-Whirl, on our side of the river in St. Paul we have the St. Paul Art Crawl. Supported through grants, sponsorships and other funding, the semi-annual St. Paul Art Crawl gives artists a chance to show off their work, and invite the public into their studios.
The St. Paul Art Collective (SPAC) found their roots during the late ’70s and early ’80s in Lowertown St. Paul. Many artists set up their studios there during that time as the area was in a state of disrepair and offered very affordable spaces. The Art Collective formed over time and in 1977 they had their first group exhibition at the Union Depot. To showcase artists’ work further, the collective created Lowertown’s Wall St. Gallery. The need to showcase work eventually evolved into open-studio weekend art crawls through multiple St. Paul buildings in 1991, and the St. Paul Art Crawl was born.
Today, the St. Paul Art Crawl is sponsored by the St. Paul Federal Credit Union and local businesses and organizations, showcases more than 300 artists and 17 buildings participate in the event each season, serving over 20,000 visitors. Buildings participating in the event stretch across St. Paul, including Lowertown, Downtown, Raymond Station, the Eastside, and more. Restaurants and breweries are getting in on the activities as well, along with venues like Can Can Wonderland. St. Paul Art Crawl’s website has provided a map of all participating venues, which you can use to plan out your route.
St. Paul Art Crawl Schedule
April 28: Friday 6 – 10 p.m.
April 29: Saturday 12 – 8 p.m.
April 30: Sunday 12–5 p.m.
Free Rides to the Art Crawl
Twin Cities Metro Transit is offering free rides to the Art Crawl on both the 29th and 30th. To download your free pass, simply fill out one of the short surveys below.
April 29th Twin Cities Metro Free Pass
April 30th Twin Cities Metro Free Pass