the vision
a folk school in minneapolis
CENTER FOR PEOPLE AND CRAFT is an emerging urban folk school in Minneapolis, MN. Supported by the Arts & Cultural Affairs Department of the City of Minneapolis, the Center celebrates the rich cultural diversity of our city and the many traditions that thrive in this particular place on earth—from craft, ritual, and music to dance, storytelling, and foraging.
Located adjacent to Loring Park in the education building of St. Mark's Cathedral, the Center will expand access to traditional crafts and their contemporary expressions, foster connection to place and community, and nurture intergenerational learning.
Our vision is inspired by the historic Danish folk school model–which served as a talisman against fascism in the mid 1800s–reimagined for our urban, multicultural setting. Through hands-on workshops and community events, we will bring together artisans, culture bearers, and neighbors to honor heritage and place, spark creativity, and strengthen cross-cultural connections.
This Arts & Culture Vibrant Storefronts is funded, in part, by the City of Minneapolis Arts & Cultural Affairs Department.
register for classes !
SUPER SPOONCARVING SATURDAY!
SATURDAY, MAY 2
10AM - 3PM
Spend the day working with fresh green wood, learning from each other, and moving through the full process—from splitting logs to shaping spoons.
Demonstrations will happen throughout the day, but the focus is on carving together, asking questions, and building skills in a relaxed, community setting.
The first 50 registrants are guaranteed a spoon blank to take home!
upcoming events
we’re building this thing together.
From cleanup, construction, and painting the space, to hosting events and writing grants, folk schools are built by passionate volunteers and supporters. Whatever your skill set, free time, or interest, please get in touch!
donate to the folk school
CENTER FOR PEOPLE AND CRAFT is the recipient of a 2025 Vibrant Storefronts award from the City of Minneapolis’ Arts and Cultural Affairs Department. This $100,000 grant covers the majority of our facility costs for two years. We have a home and we’ve begun offering classes. Classes have been well-received and we love seeing all the activity in the space.
As we imagine moving from this basic level of functionality, we dream of coming together as a community to create something even better…
Imagine walking through our doors and being astounded at the access we provide:
HIGH-QUALITY TOOLS!
WELL-OUTFITTED WORKSPACES!
DROP-IN SHOP TIME HOSTED BY EXPERTS!
LOCKERS FOR YOU TO STORE YOUR TOOLS AND MATERIALS!
GREAT LIGHTING! COZY HANGOUT SPOTS! A TRUE COMMUNITY HUB!
Our goal is to build an urban center in this vision—with a range of membership levels that give access to all who want to participate.
The first step is to outfit our classrooms with tools. We’ve set an initial goal of $10,000 for tools - and we’ve raised $1700 so far.
finding us
CENTER FOR PEOPLE AND CRAFT is located in Loring Park across the street from the Walker Art Center, facing Lyndale Avenue. Address: 519 Oak Grove Street, Minneapolis, MN 55403
To the right of St. Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral’s front entrance is a one story stone building with a concrete ramp. That’s us! Ring the doorbell attached to the right side of the silver box. We rent our space from the Cathedral but are a separate entity.
MAIN PARKING: There is a large lot behind the building that is available by optional donation (i.e. payment is not required) to the Cathedral. Enter on Oak Grove Street. Park in the far back / left corner of this lot and look for the red door under the blue “Welcome” awning. Ring the doorbell located on the red CENTER FOR PEOPLE AND CRAFT sign. Upon entrance, climb a flight of stairs.
ACCESSIBLE PARKING: Enter from Lyndale Avenue to the front entrance of the Cathedral. Traveling north from uptown, use the red-painted right turn lane and watch for a pull out to the right. There are 4 parking spaces straight ahead, as well as 7 more on the curved driveway directly in front of the entrance. (This space is currently very limited due to construction.)
BIKE OR TAKE THE BUS: The 4 and 6 bus routes go right past our door, as does a protected bike lane.
sponsors
partners
