Traffic Zone Center for Visual Art facts for kids
| Established | 1993 |
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| Location | 250 Third Avenue North Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55401  United States |
| Type | Artist cooperative, art gallery |
| Public transit access | Metro Transit Transit Bus: Routes 3, 14, 16, 50, 94 / Third Avenue North & Washington Avenue North Light Rail: Blue Line / Target Field Station |
The Traffic Zone Center for Visual Art (TZCVA) is a special place in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota, where a group of artists work together. It's an artist cooperative, which means the artists own and manage the building themselves. This helps them have a safe and affordable place to create their art.
Founded in 1993, the center gives artists studios to work in, as well as space to teach and show their art to the public. It is a partnership between the artists and Artspace Projects, Inc., a group that helps create spaces for artists across the country.
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A Building with a Cool History
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Moline, Milburn and Stoddard Company
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The Moline, Milburn and Stoddard Company building, now home to the art center.
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 Location in Minnesota
Location in the United States
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| Location | Minneapolis, Minnesota |
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| Built | 1886 |
| Architect | Joseph Haley |
| Architectural style | Chicago school |
| NRHP reference No. | 75000986 |
| Added to NRHP | February 20, 1975 |
The art center is inside a beautiful, historic building in the North Loop neighborhood of Minneapolis. This six-story building is so important for its history and architecture that it's listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This is a special list of places the U.S. government considers worth protecting.
From Farm Tools to Cookies
The building was first built in 1886. It was used as a warehouse to store farm equipment. Just two years later, it was expanded and became a bakery for the National Biscuit Company (Nabisco). Imagine all the cookies and crackers that were made there!
Later, from 1951 to 1992, it was a business that sold parts for appliances.
Becoming an Art Center
In 1992, the old warehouse was bought by Artspace Projects. Many groups, including the City of Minneapolis and foundations like McKnight Foundation, Dayton Hudson, and General Mills, helped pay for it.
The building was carefully renovated to keep its historic look while making it perfect for artists. It reopened in 1995 as the Traffic Zone Center for Visual Art. In late 2023, the historic building was listed for sale.
The Artists of TZCVA
The artists who are members of the TZCVA cooperative work in many different styles. You can find painters, photographers, sculptors, and artists who make prints, books, and ceramics.
Many of these artists have received special awards and grants for their work. These grants come from important groups that support the arts, such as:
- The McKnight Foundation
- The Bush Foundation
- The Jerome Foundation
- The Minnesota State Arts Board
- The Pollock-Krasner Foundation
- The National Endowment for the Arts
Current Artists
Some of the artists who are currently members of the cooperative include:
- Harriet Bart
- Kristie Bretzke
- Perci Chester
- David Collins
- Lisa Colwell
- James Conaway
- Jim Dryden
- Jil Evans
- Bette Globus Goodman
- Bonnie Heller
- Bruce Hudson-Bogaard
- Vesna Kittelson
- Paul Ka Yin Kwok
- Lisa Nankivil
- Jon Neuse
- Howard Oransky
- Steve Ozone
- Rebecca Pavlenko
- Patrick Kemal Pryor
- Jodi Reeb
- Wilber H. Schilling
- Harold B. Stone
- Jantje Visscher
What Can You Do at the Center?
The Traffic Zone Center for Visual Art is a great place for the community to experience art. The center offers many events for the public.
Art Shows and Events
The center has an art gallery on the ground floor where it holds exhibitions. These shows feature amazing art by local, national, and even international artists.
Twice a year, TZCVA hosts "Open Studio" events. This is a fun chance for people to visit the building, meet the artists in their studios, see their work, and even buy art directly from them. The center also offers workshops and classes for people who want to learn more about art.
Other Tenants in the Building
Besides the artists' studios, the building is also home to other businesses and organizations. These include Artspace Projects, Inc., the company that helped create the center, and Graywolf Press, a well-known book publisher.
