By Joseph Palumbo
Since it first opened nearly 110 years ago, a space on University Avenue has captured the spirit and history of Saint Paul. The building at 825 University Avenue was first opened as Victoria Theater, a silent movie theater, in 1915 before quickly shifting to a speakeasy at the onset of Prohibition. Well into the 20th century, this space has taken on different forms (including as a cafe and a lamp store), but for much of its history it has served the community as a venue for the arts.
In 2009, the potential for a renovated Victoria Theater was a grassroots project that with dedication and persistence began to take shape and grow. After much anticipation, the space will celebrate its grand reopening at the Frogtown Arts Festival on Aug. 25, 2024 as 825 Arts (pronounced 8-2-5).
Tyler Olsen-Highness, executive director of the project since 2019, explained why the organization has rebranded. The new name was chosen to move beyond Queen Victoria’s colonial legacy, but also to give the space a more personal appeal. Despite limited pushback, the idea of changing the name was underway for as long as the organization has existed.
Olsen-Highness expressed optimism about the emerging art space and its potential to reach people of disparate backgrounds. “We think everyone’s an artist,”Olsen-Highness said, a philosophy that carries over to the many possibilities this space will provide. From painting pictures to open mic performances, and even double-dutch jump rope, people from all walks of life will be welcome to explore their artistic endeavors.
Some of the many activities offered include MC Summer Camp, Summer Art BBQs, and Minecraft meetups, with many more yet to come. With a capacity of up to 200 people, the space will lend itself to various uses and will be available to rent. Using both standard and stadium seating arrangements, the theater space will be flexible for both intimate gatherings and large audiences. Olsen-Highness states that the space, while extensively renovated, maintains much of the building’s historical character.
The upcoming Frogtown Arts Festival, a collaboration with 825 Arts and the Frogtown Neighborhood Association, will not only herald the opening of 825 Arts but will also provide a homegrown community that will ensure the location’s role as a neighborhood mainstay. The festival will include local artists, musicians (including Lewiee Blaze), and food vendors. The event will take place from 1 to 8 p.m.; admission is free.
While focusing primarily on youth arts opportunities, intergenerational outreach is paramount to the organization’s goals. Olsen-Highness has stressed that the organization employs various public relations strategies to gain mass appeal for people of all ages. Social media is certainly a viable choice for getting in touch with the younger crowd, but the media campaign will also include direct advertising at other venues and community events.
Dantes Ha, healthcare architect and board member of 825 Arts, reaffirmed the organization’s mission of creating “a vibrant neighborhood where the arts welcome, heal, transform and build power for the people of Frogtown and Rondo.” Alongside his leadership position on the board, Ha has offered insight by highlighting the importance of community landmarks. Saint Agnes Church, a place of great importance to Ha’s upbringing, was used in a test pilot for the organization’s Minecraft program. The program will engage with elders in the community about places where they grew up and have youth teams recreate those places on a dedicated Minecraft server. The goal is to create a virtual representation of the surrounding neighborhood in which visitors can explore, socialize, and create digital art.
Community members Jay Kistler and Haley Wagner-Sweirs have expressed support for the project and look forward to the benefits it will provide for the Frogtown-Rondo area. Wagner-Sweirs is particularly excited to see the revitalization of this historic location and greater accessibility to theater in general. “More arts, less car dealerships!” said Kistler, eager to see the emerging space as a step towards sustainable living and healthy urban renewal.
The broader Twin Cities Metropolitan area appears to share this commitment. Over $7.25 million has been raised for 825 Arts from various arts organizations and nonprofits, such as the Knight Foundation and Twin Cities LISC, in addition to a grant from the State of Minnesota. This support not only showcases a widespread desire to expand the arts but also a widespread faith in the ability of this project to bring people into this historically underserved community.
“The creativity and imagination of our community and the ability to connect through them is what we’re about,” said Olsen-Highness.
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