Location: Northrup King

This two-part Intro to Ojibwe Beading workshop in November invites participants to learn beadwork while exploring Ojibwe arts, culture, and language through hands-on experience.

Led by Alicia De La Cruz, a two-spirit Native artist and enrolled member of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, the workshop blends traditional and contemporary Native art styles. Alicia’s work focuses on preserving culture and identity through beadwork, painting, and mixed media, connecting modern expression with ancestral traditions. Participants will gain both technical skills and cultural insight into a beautiful, intricate art form.

Location: Eastside Food Co-op

ART LIVES HERE: Eastside’s Creative Workshop Series will offer free, hands-on creative workshops with local artists throughout 2025. This series invites community members of all ages and skill levels to explore their creativity, learn new techniques, and connect with local artists in an open and welcoming environment.

Location: TBD

Black Market Events is a Black-owned marketplace designed to celebrate culture, creativity, and community. Known for its monthly “The Black Business Is Beautiful” market and themed pop‑up events across the Twin Cities, it creates spaces where entrepreneurs, artists, and neighbors can connect and thrive.

This year, Black Market Events plans to host an Art Fair along the Central Avenue corridor in Northeast Minneapolis, showcasing local artists, cultural expression, and community healing through art, business, and shared experiences.

Location: Jackson Square Park

Chinese Folk Arts for All is a free, two-hour community event celebrating Chinese culture through singing, dancing, and interactive demonstrations. Open to all ages, the event invites the community to experience traditional Chinese folk arts, learn about cultural traditions, and enjoy a welcoming space for connection and friendship.

Location: Northrup King Building

ConFluence is a two-day convention in Northeast Minneapolis’ Central Avenue District that celebrates art, sci-fi, futurisms, and fantasy by and for Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC). The event features cosplay, creative workshops, panels, a vendor marketplace, gaming, youth activities, a dance party, and an art exhibition, all centered on uplifting BIPOC voices and creativity. With a mission to build inclusive, liberating spaces for BIPOC nerds, ConFluence brings together hundreds of attendees to connect, create, and imagine bold new futures.

Location: TBD

Join Jeremy Messersmith, one of Minnesota’s most celebrated indie pop singer-songwriters, for a series of songwriting workshops. Known for his clever lyrics, tender vocals, and emotionally rich music praised by outlets like The New York Times and NPR, Jeremy will guide participants through the craft of writing songs that connect and inspire. These workshops offer a welcoming space for musicians of all levels to explore their creativity and hone their songwriting skills.

Location: Northeast Library

Celebrate National Poetry Month with free public writing workshops at the Northeast Library in April 2026, led by acclaimed poet Lara Mimosa Montes. Lara is the author of THRESHOLES (2020) and The Somnambulist (2016), with work featured in publications such as POETRY, BOMB, and Fence. A recipient of prestigious artist residencies and fellowships, Lara brings her experience and creativity to inspire participants of all levels to explore their voices through poetry.

1500 Jackson St NE, Minneapolis, Mn 55413

Public Functionary (PF) is an artist-led space that celebrates diverse identities and supports creative expression through studios, galleries, and performance spaces. Its mission is to foster an abundant community where art builds connection and possibility.

Open Screen: The Forum is a three-week multidisciplinary festival at PF focused on film, photography, and image-based storytelling as powerful tools for connection and cultural dialogue.

Location: Various Coffee Shops

The Dancing Cafe is a pop-up community arts experience bringing dance performances and storytelling to local cafes along Central Avenue. Presented by Ruby Josephine Dance Theater (RJDT), the project uses movement as a way to spark conversation, connection, and curiosity. Known for its emotional, narrative-driven contemporary performances, RJDT explores human emotion and shared experience, inviting audiences to connect more deeply with themselves and each other through rhythm, flow, and storytelling in unexpected, welcoming spaces.

2512 Central Ave NE, Minneapolis, MN 55418

The Bass Channel is a YouTube channel, blog, and storytelling platform created by bass players for bass players, sharing music, techniques, and community stories. This year, it will host a one-day pop-up event in the back area of Dutch Bar, transforming the space into an inclusive gathering that celebrates music, culture, and community through live performances and connection.