The Hennepin Center for the Arts (HCA) is an art center in

Minneapolis Minneapolis () is the largest city in Minnesota, United States, and the county seat of Hennepin County. The city is abundant in water, with thirteen lakes, wetlands, the Mississippi River, creeks and waterfalls. Minneapolis has its origin ...

Minnesota Minnesota () is a state in the upper midwestern region of the United States. It is the 12th largest U.S. state in area and the 22nd most populous, with over 5.75 million residents. Minnesota is home to western prairies, now given over t ...

, United States. It occupies a building on

Hennepin Avenue Hennepin Avenue is a major street in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. It runs from Lakewood Cemetery (at West 36th Street), north through the Uptown District of Southwest Minneapolis, through the Virginia Triangle, the former "Bottleneck" ...

constructed in 1888 as a

Masonic Temple A Masonic Temple or Masonic Hall is, within Freemasonry, the room or edifice where a Masonic Lodge meets. Masonic Temple may also refer to an abstract spiritual goal and the conceptual ritualistic space of a meeting. Development and history I ...

. The building was designed by Long and Kees in the

Richardsonian Romanesque Richardsonian Romanesque is a style of Romanesque Revival architecture named after the American architect Henry Hobson Richardson (1838–1886). The revival style incorporates 11th and 12th century southern French, Spanish, and Italian Romanes ...

architectural style. In 1978, it was purchased and underwent a renovation to become the HCA. Currently it is owned by

Artspace Projects, Inc Artspace Projects, Inc is a nonprofit organization based in Minneapolis, Minnesota that develops performance spaces for artists, otherwise known as placemaking. Description Artspace Projects has its headquarters in Minneapolis, and also has offic ...

, and is home to more than 17 performing and visual art companies who reside on the building's eight floors. The eighth floor contains the

Illusion Theater Illusion Theater is an independent theater company based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. It was founded in 1974 by Michael Robins and Bonnie Morris. Their work on social issues has brought national acclaim, and their support of new playw ...

, which hosts many shows put on by companies in the building. HCA is now a part of the Cowles Center for Dance and the Performing Arts (formerly the Minnesota Shubert Performing Arts and Education Center). The new performing arts center is a three-building complex that includes the renovated Shubert Theatre building (renamed the Goodale Theater) and a new glass-walled atrium connecting the two historic buildings and serving them both as a common lobby. The Cowles Center hosted a three-day Grand Opening Gala September 9–11, 2011. The building was listed as the Masonic Temple on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic ...

in 1975 for its local significance in the theme of architecture. It was nominated for the craftsmanship and integrity of its design by a significant local architectural firm, and for being one of the last well-preserved Richardsonian Romanesque business buildings in Minneapolis.

References

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History of the Hennepin Center for the Arts
{{National Register of Historic Places in Minnesota 1977 establishments in Minnesota Arts centers in Minnesota Former Masonic buildings in Minnesota Masonic buildings completed in 1888 National Register of Historic Places in Minneapolis Richardsonian Romanesque architecture in Minnesota

See also

References

External links