Successful Fundraiser Protects Fridley Art Center’s Legacy
On Friday, April 28th, Forgotten Star Brewing Co. hosted a fundraiser for North Suburban Center for the Arts to raise funds to protect the art center’s 40+ year legacy as a creative hub in the Twin Cities’ north metro.
On April 5th, Interim Executive Director Aly Rhodes released a statement regarding the art center’s uncertain future and a request for immediate support to keep the center’s doors open. Over the course of April, several donations poured in to help this vital community space survive—from longstanding members of the NSCA community and friendly faces lending a hand during a moment of need. In particular, two major contributions from the Burns Family Foundation and Corey David Sauer bolstered the art center’s reserves significantly and eliminated the risk of immediate closure.
Subsequent press, including local news coverage and an article in the Star Tribune, amplified the art center’s situation and helped bring the community together. Forgotten Star Brewing Co. stepped in to offer their event space to aid the art center’s fundraising efforts. In order to remain open, the art center would need to raise enough funds to carve out a sustainable path forward—an effort that would require enough time to enact a strategic plan for the years to come.
With over 140 people in attendance, the fundraiser was enormously successful—and so much fun. Upon arrival, everyone received a “craftivities passport” on which they could select a mini craft kit to work on (with craft brew in tow), choosing from cut paper moths, airdry clay taper candle holders, miniature tapestry weavings and keychains, painted animal figurines, and friendship bracelets.
A silent auction and raffle filled with goodies from local makers and vendors garnered major interest and competition, with items ranging from handcrafted pottery to coupons for complimentary oil changes. Nearly 50 businesses and artists contributed items to the auction to benefit the art center—a great show of community support during a precarious moment for the organization.
Together, with Forgotten Star’s generous $500 match, NSCA raised $7,610.95 at the Night Out with North Suburban Fundraiser—a marker of extreme generosity and signifier of the north metro’s love of the arts. Added to the total amount raised through online donations, checks (often paired with kind words and handwritten letters), and cash donations, the art center raised a cumulative $109,347.35 to support operating costs and continue arts programming in 2023. Humbled and awestruck by this support, the NSCA is excited for what lies ahead. This funding ensures that the art center will have the time necessary to write grant proposals, revise operating procedures, and prepare for a brighter future in 2024.
The NSCA thanks everyone who has contributed to this success—from generous donors, sponsors, volunteers, and everyone in between.
The art center will reopen on Friday, May 26th for the opening reception of Monochrome, an exhibition dedicated to artworks completed in an isolated palette of a single hue. Light refreshments will be provided; all are welcome to attend.
As we work to resume our schedule, we encourage you to join our email list or follow us on social media to stay in the loop. In particular, we’re excited to announce that our annual event—Burbfest—is back on and scheduled for Saturday, July 15th. We invite you to join us for an afternoon of live music, outdoor art market, food trucks, and fun for all ages. This event seeks to highlight the art center’s mission with a day of creative expression and community gathering. To learn more, visit northsuburbanarts.org/burbfest-2023.
Photographs by Nina Perkins.