Main Street Visual & Performing Art Center

Abstract

The community of North Branch, Minnesota lacks a suitable fine art culture. The school district is unable to provide a quality fine art education due to lack of funding. There are few opportunities for locals to become involved in the community, resulting in a lack of community pride. North Branch needs a focal point that will bring people and their ideas together to restore the sense of pride in the community at a minimal operating cost. The integration of art, architecture, and sustainability in this project aims to provide a supplemental fine arts education, a cultural hub with a specific sense of place, and community pride with a relatively low longterm financial burden. The art created in this facility will develop an art culture and a desination for people in the surrounding communities. The iconic architecture will draw people in and create a sense of place and pride in the community. The sustainable design will allow the building to operate at a low cost, become a model for future growth, and create a sense of pride in the innovative strategies used. The program includes a large performance theatre, an intimate recital space, a black box theatre,choir/band classrooms, private music practice rooms, scene shop, costume shop, various art studios, private art studios,an art gallery, a restaurant/bar, and a fine art supplies store.