“Rocket,” by Don Gaber, Red Wing. (Provided)
The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) is in the planning phase of the reconstruction of Central Avenue from Highway 694 to the Mississippi River. At present, this project is slated for 2028.
Board members of the Northeast Minneapolis Arts District and the community have been working since July 2025 to raise awareness of the potential for an art walk along Central Avenue NE.
The Central Avenue reconstruction provides an opportunity for the Northeast Minneapolis Arts District to establish a presence on a major street. However, the MnDOT project goals do not mention the arts. The project instead focuses upon the life of pavement, smoother road surface, reduction in congestion, safety and accessibility as well as bike lanes, high-speed bus service and mid-block crossings. For a more detailed summary of the project scope, visit the MnDOT’s website at https://www.dot.state.mn.us/metro/projects/centralavempls-columbiahgts/.
The potential for an art walk
While there is no mention of the arts community in the MnDOT summary of work, one stated goal could be used to promote the arts district: The MnDOT states an aim to “Provide other improvements to the roadway and public space, based on their unique area.” The Northeast Minneapolis Arts District is an example of one area. Over the past six months, the Central Avenue art walk working group has identified locations and proposed changes which would facilitate the installation of public art.
This is not an unprecedented idea. Successful art walks have appeared across the country. Two towns with successful street art programs, Grand Junction, Colo. and Eau Claire,
Wis., have been featured in previous Arts Insights articles.
Closer to home, there are three examples of art walks within a short drive of Minneapolis: Hopkins, Red Wing and Rochester. Each of these art walks, which are funded by public and private partnerships, create community interest and sales opportunities for the artists.
“BIKER,” by Victor Yepez, Hopkins. (Provided)
Hopkins, Minnesota
Downtown Hopkins, a 25-minute drive from Minneapolis, is populated with art thanks to its Artstreet public sculpture program. Artstreet, a collaboration between the City of Hopkins, the Hopkins Business & Civic Association and the Friends of the Hopkins Center for the Arts, was established in 2010 to showcase original artworks in an accessible setting. The project is part of a long-term vision for incorporating public art into Hopkins and enriching the lives of its residents and visitors.
This year, eight sculptures were temporarily installed as part of the program. Each sculpture is for sale by the artists. Six permanent, publicly and privately owned sculptures are on display. A block of 8th Avenue has been developed as the “Artery,” a pedestrian walkway with public art.
Red Wing, Minnesota
Red Wing, a 65-minute drive from Minneapolis, boasts a thriving community of artists and art-related businesses. The town’s annual sculpture walk is funded by Red Wing Arts, the City of Redwing Art and Culture Commission Arts fund and other groups in the city. Temporary sculptures are chosen by a peer-review panel of 15 community members. The 2025-26 selections include eight temporary sculptures. The temporary sculptures are mounted on permanent masonry pedestals provided by the program. The artwork must be available for sale. The artists also receive a $1,400 honorarium for their work. The 2026-27 application period ended in January. The 2025 Sculpture Walk Brochure provides the locations of the temporary work and the permanent public art in the walk area.
“For the Love of Rochester Crows,” by Jessalyn Finch, Rochester. (Provided)
Rochester, Minnesota
Rochester’s downtown is being transformed through a multi-year and multibillion-dollar infrastructure and construction project. Despite construction, there is already public art available for pedestrians. The online public art map provided by Rochester’s downtown business organization lists 70 sites. The art sites vary from public benches and wrapped utility boxes to larger sculptures owned by the Mayo Clinic. Rochester’s art walk provides a visitor with an early view of the downtown urban improvements and an opportunity to experience an eclectic mix of sculptures, murals, water features and parklets.