Welcome to The Art Shoppe
How The Art Shoppe Began: A History
The Art Shoppe in the Midtown Global Market brings together the spirit of creativity that abounds in Minnesota.
It began with support from Neighborhood Development Center (NDC), A Minnesota Without Poverty (AMWP), the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC), and Mount Olive Lutheran Church. They were vital in the creation of the store. NDC had a major role in creating the Midtown Global Market, located in the former Sears building on Lake Street in south Minneapolis. They partnered with AMWP to launch a micro-enterprise for Minnesota artists in summer of 2011.
The first contact AMWP had with an artist was at an event they sponsored, “In Search of Enough,” asking what is enough to live on. Artists brought their art to this gathering, including Raelene Ash. She was experiencing hard times but had not let that prevent her from creating unique art. Her mother encouraged her art, saying, “Never put your pencil down.” On brown paper bags, she painted African American people, like herself, in day-to-day survival, yet wearing colorful clothes, showing dignity and self-respect. These paintings she sold at weekend exhibits and art fairs. AMWP asked her if she could be a part of starting a store for artists to have a chance to support themselves by starting and operating their own business.
Rae, who has drawn and painted throughout her life, agreed. That became the start of The Art Shoppe. She worked with teams throughout the years to run and improve the store. In mid-2019, she moved to Texas, after eight years of devoting her time and featuring her art via cards, prints, framed work, breadboards, etc. Some of the original images on paper bags were located, photographed, and added to this collection. In 2024, Rae returned to Minneapolis. She has continued with her exploration of art and is back at The Art Shoppe with her new art and culture. These new works can be seen and purchased at the shop. In addition, she has returned as a manager and in leadership of this venture which she founded and nurtured for our early years.
Carol Austermann (Mount Olive Lutheran Church) recalls:
A Minnesota Without Poverty came to Mount Olive with a plan to support local artists, knowing several who were exceptional at their craft, but had no retail location for sales. Could Mount Olive help pay rent? A space was found at the Midtown Global Market on Lake Street, one block away. While the space took shape, the artists wrote a mission statement, developed a marketing strategy, and took counsel from successful retail shops. They gave it a name: The Art Shoppe.
Mount Olive volunteers and the JCRC aided in financing costs for development of the store, as well as the lease for the first six months. Business skills and training staff were key to success. In nine months, the shop could pay the rent required. Starting with seven artists, the store has expanded to about seventy current artists. It has been a struggle to keep the business going, but we have had many successes.
Carol continued to volunteer attending to customers and other projects. We artists have the opportunity to display our art to the public and learn what resonates with customers. Our business skills have expanded to include technology and customer relations. After a nearly four-month shutdown due to the COVID-19 virus, we did not think we could reopen, but we did with reduced hours and safety protocols. We opened an online store in November 2020 to reach customers who could not come to the market for various reasons. We applied for and received some donations and grant money to help pay for our overhead costs, as well as being able to hire a consultant, Ty Hong, to navigate our way through the internet to set up the website and an online store. The online store closed in early 2023 but the shop continued. Our location in the market changed, and we now have a better space and furnishings thanks to help from MGM staff and shop artists designing and moving to the new location.
Over the years, some artists have come and gone, but many have stayed and we feature others. Some artists volunteer at the shop, putting in hours with customers and projects. Artists partner with artists to keep the doors open. It is a collaborative effort to have a small business that supports local artists directly. We welcome all to visit our store.
