Franklin Arts Center

- 1001 Kingwood St, Brainerd, MN 56401

The Franklin Arts Center, located in Brainerd, Minnesota, stands as a premier example of community vision and architectural preservation. Transformed from the historic Franklin Junior High School—a civic landmark since 1932—this facility is now a thriving "Arts organization" and mixed-use development that serves as a vital creative hub for the entire Central Lakes District. The center’s mission, managed by the nonprofit Artspace Projects, is to provide affordable, permanent space where artists can live, work, and connect with the public.

For local users in Minnesota, visiting the Franklin Arts Center is an experience in both nostalgia and modern creativity. Many residents recall the building as their former junior high, and reviews confirm the "nostalgic and fun" feeling of walking into the repurposed space. Today, the building houses a unique and eclectic collection of artists, artisans, arts organizations, and arts-friendly businesses. It is a place where creativity is made visible and accessible, with an atmosphere that is supportive, vibrant, and essential to the cultural fabric of Brainerd and the surrounding 56401 area.

Location and Accessibility

The Franklin Arts Center is ideally situated at 1001 Kingwood Street, Brainerd, MN 56401, USA. This location makes it central and easily accessible within the city, which is known as the gateway to Minnesota's Central Lakes District. Its prominent address in a residential and civic area ensures that it is easily found by local visitors and the creative professionals who utilize its spaces.

The facility is dedicated to ensuring that all members of the Minnesota community can access its many offerings. The commitment to accessibility is evident through:

• Wheelchair Accessible Entrance: The center provides easy entry for visitors with mobility concerns, ensuring that the visual and performing arts within are open to everyone.
• Wheelchair Accessible Parking Lot: Dedicated parking spaces are available, offering convenience and ease of use when arriving at the 1001 Kingwood Street location.

Furthermore, the general public is welcome to visit the commercial wing of the center, which is typically open Monday through Saturday from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM, allowing for convenient "Onsite services" and browsing of the various studios and galleries.

Services Offered

The Franklin Arts Center provides a unique range of services that go far beyond a typical art gallery. It operates as a full-service creative ecosystem, offering both commercial space and essential community resources.

Key services provided by the center and its resident organizations include:

• Affordable Live/Work Units: The center offers 25 units of affordable live/work apartment space for income-qualified artists and their families, ensuring Minnesota artists can afford to live and create locally.
• Commercial Studio Space: Dedicated, non-residential studio and office space is available for rent by individual artists, arts organizations (such as The Crossing Arts Alliance), and creative businesses.
• Gallery and Exhibition Space: The building is home to multiple exhibition venues, including an On-site Gallery and the Crossing Arts Gallery, which host rotating monthly exhibits and provide artists with exposure.
• Art Classes and Workshops: Various resident studios and organizations regularly offer classes, lessons, and workshops for both youth and adults, spanning mediums like pottery, painting, and dance.
• Community Facility Rentals: Portions of the former junior high, including two gymnasiums and the auditorium/theater, are maintained and available for rent through the Brainerd School District Community Education Office for events, performances (like local plays), and gatherings.
• Franklin Pottery Access: Offers specialized access to facilities like kilns and wheels, along with project storage, to local potters for a monthly fee.

Features / Highlights

The most compelling features of the Franklin Arts Center are its successful adaptive reuse and its function as a supportive hub for the arts in Minnesota’s lake region.

Key highlights include:

• Historic Preservation and Reuse: The building’s successful transformation from Franklin Junior High to a modern arts center has preserved a beloved civic landmark while giving it a vital new purpose, eliciting strong community connection and nostalgia.
• Arts Incubation and Affordability: The provision of affordable live/work units for artists is a crucial feature that stabilizes the arts community and supports the long-term presence of creative individuals in the area.
• Community Arts Hub: It serves as the physical home for several non-profit arts organizations and numerous individual artists, creating a central point for collaboration, artistic exchange, and public engagement.
• Diverse Tenant Mix: The hallways are filled with a unique blend of visual artists (potters, painters), performing artists (theater groups), and arts-friendly businesses (graphic design, framing), offering a rich, cross-disciplinary experience.
• Public Access: The general public is encouraged to "walk into the building" and explore the halls, see which studios are open, and attend the monthly open house events (often held on the second Saturday) to meet the artists.

Contact Information

For inquiries regarding leasing, general information, or events at the center, interested Minnesota residents may use the following contact details:

• Address: 1001 Kingwood St, Brainerd, MN 56401, USA
• Phone: (218) 454-0824 (General/Commercial Office)

For information regarding facility rentals of the gymnasiums or auditorium, it is recommended to contact the Brainerd School District Community Education Office directly, as they manage those specific community spaces.

What is Worth Choosing the Franklin Arts Center

For any Minnesota resident seeking cultural enrichment, community engagement, or affordable workspace, the Franklin Arts Center is an unparalleled local resource. Choosing to visit or support the center means investing directly in the cultural health of the Brainerd Lakes Area. Unlike a traditional museum or single-purpose gallery, the Franklin Arts Center offers a living, working, and performing arts experience—it is a place where art is actively being created, not just displayed.

The unique character derived from its former life as a school adds an element of warm, familiar nostalgia to every visit, enhancing the sense of community. Its role as an arts incubator, providing affordable housing and studio space, ensures that the Central Minnesota arts scene remains vibrant, diverse, and accessible to artists who might otherwise be priced out of the market. Whether a local user is looking to purchase a unique piece of art, enroll their children in a workshop, rent a facility for a community event, or simply enjoy a nostalgic walk through an old school building, the Franklin Arts Center offers a fulfilling, multi-faceted experience that strengthens the cultural foundation of the entire region.

Franklin Arts Center

1001 Kingwood St, Brainerd, MN 56401, USA