Downtown Minneapolis is getting a fresh arts hub this weekend as Roho Collective cuts the ribbon on its new Roho Gallery & Cultural Arts Center, a permanent home built to help artists of color sell their work and build sustainable careers. The nonprofit is moving into a roughly 3,000-square-foot space on Nicollet and has lined up opening-day performances that include Indigenous singing and drumming, Latin dance and spoken word. Organizers say the center will combine exhibitions with professional-development workshops, from grant writing to social-media strategy, to help local artists turn their creative practice into steady income.
A space built for business
The new headquarters sits in the historic Andrus building at the corner of 5th and Nicollet and gives Roho more than 3,000 square feet for gallery, retail and programming, according to the group's announcement. Roho says the space was made available through the support of Redline Property Partners, CBRE and Assembly MN and is meant to function as a living ecosystem where artists can exhibit, sell and learn the administrative side of being a creative professional. As outlined by Roho Collective, the center will feature rotating exhibitions alongside a permanent marketplace and shared community space.
Opening day: market, performances and more
The grand opening will feature a ribbon-cutting, a vendor market and live performances, and will spotlight work by more than 30 Black artists, as reported by Sahan Journal. Sahan notes the opening runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, and organizers describe the program as intentionally community-centered. The free event will include vendors selling clothing, jewelry, books and handmade goods.
Roho Ignite: workshops and networking
Roho's Roho Ignite business conference will kick off with a reception at the new gallery on Thursday, July 23, followed by a full day of workshops at the Minneapolis Institute of Art on Friday, July 24, according to the City of Minneapolis event calendar. The conference lineup covers artificial intelligence, social media, grant writing, marketing and mental health and includes tours of the Minneapolis Institute of Art's Harlem Renaissance collection, per the Eventbrite registration page. Organizers say the conference is designed to connect creatives with practical tools and institutional resources to grow their businesses.
Built by artists, for artists
Roho began in 2017 as a network founded by seven Twin Cities artists and has grown from pop-up shows into a year-round organization focused on closing gaps in access and visibility, as reported by Sahan Journal. Christopheraaron Deanes noted that many artists lack business training, and co-executive director Cara Deanes put it plainly: "They are the brand and they are the business." The move downtown is part of a broader effort to create permanent, paid opportunities for artists of color in the Twin Cities arts ecosystem.
Visitor info
Opening-day hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, per the Downtown Council event calendar. The gallery will maintain regular hours, and organizers encourage visitors to check the group's website for program updates and schedules. Conference registration is available via Eventbrite.
