MISSION
Supporting the expression of art and culture through studios, galleries, and performance space — Public Functionary pours into an abundant community of practice, where possibility is seen in relationship to each other.
In 2019, Public Functionary launched PF STUDIOS in the Northrup King Building to empower young artists to grow their practice + community. The program centers early career artists who identify as Black, Indigenous, people of color, queer, trans and gender fluid. The studios are a multi-disciplinary exploration and collaboration.
PF Studios has grown to a cohort of 26 early career visual artists in residence, supported with affordable space, mentorship, workshops, and economic opportunity.
The PF galleries present curated exhibition and event programming by our artist-led team, as well as collaborations with our broader creative community.
PF Cafe provides nourishment and a welcoming gathering space for a thriving arts ecosystem.
HISTORY
Public Functionary was founded in 2012. For 6 years, Tricia Heuring & Mike Bishop developed PF as a 2500 sq ft open floor plan "responsive art space,” in Northeast Minneapolis based on first-hand insight that visual art spaces in the Twin Cities should be more inviting and inclusive. A crowdfunding campaign contributed by backers from the arts community seeded the idea. Since then, Public Functionary has shifted dominant gallery culture by modeling a space that is flexible, dynamic, high-quality while serving diverse artist communities.
PF evolved into a place to escape into artist imagination while also delving deeper into critical social, cultural, and political issues. It has been space for experimentation, creativity, new ideas, celebration, healing, and community growth. It built a reputation for trust and the prioritizing + centering of underrepresented artists.
In 2019, having outgrown our original much-loved space, Public Functionary decided to close the program at 1400 12th Ave NE in order to make room for new plans and grow capacity in service of PF’s evolving community. This led to the development of an emerging artist studio program in collaboration with artist Leslie Barlow. In 2019, Barlow joined PF to create Studio 400, a subsidized BIPOC cooperative studio program in Northeast Minneapolis Art District’s Northrup King Building. This program is currently expanding into what is now known as PF Studios.
In 2020, organizer Ryan Stopera joined the team to expand and develop new PF spaces, a cafe and artist amenities on the NKB property.
In 2023, Public Functionary includes 2 galleries and performance spaces, 6 studios (PF Studios), and a cafe! To be continued…
WHY NE MPLS?
Historically, Northeast Minneapolis provided artist studios and workspace in underutilized industrial spaces. These spaces are highly sought after. However, BIPOC artists and lower-income artists rarely have had access or felt welcome in these spaces.
After some dreaming and visioning in 2018, Public Functionary began making studio space available for young (18-30 yr old) artists who identify as Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) and who live and work in the urban center of the Twin Cities through the PF Studios program… “Studio 400” opened in early 2019, with additional studios thereafter to expand the program. In less than 2 years, this effort has led to the disruption of business as usual in Northeast Minneapolis. There are more practicing early career artists of color in the Northrup King Building that represent contemporary art forms than ever before. Further development of more arts facilities on the property will intentionally grow space for emerging BIPOC artists in the epicenter of a neighborhood that is rapidly developing with economic and social possibilities.
Members of our founding & leadership team are long-time residents, have grown up here, or have had studio space in this neighborhood for many years. We are deeply connected to this community and place and are dedicated to engaging in equitable conversations around building from within.
