Intermedia Arts header with imagemapped links blank spacer image//Intermedia Arts is a catalyst that builds understanding among people through art.//
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Our History, Our Community

1970s – Media Activism

Intermedia Arts began in 1973 as University Community Video and was housed in an old church within the University of Minnesota. Our people were university students and community members using emerging video technology to engage new voices and examine pressing social issues.

1980s – Many Voices, Many Forms

In the early 1980's, we expanded beyond video into other artistic disciplines. Multidisciplinary arts, installations, music and performance art with a base in technology opened up opportunities for artists to create work in these new art forms. We changed our name to Intermedia Arts and opened a small visual arts gallery in downtown Minneapolis. By the late 80's, the organization had developed into a multi-disciplinary arts center.

1990s – Setting down roots

In 1994, Intermedia Arts purchased the Bee-Line Automotive Building on 2822 Lyndale Avenue in Minneapolis. The 55408 neighborhood with the largest concentration of artists was the most natural habitat for our growing organization. The location of our facility in the Lyndale Avenue - Lake Street (Lyn-Lake) area brought us to the center of this heavily populated, racially diverse, younger, and more culturally active neighborhood.

2000s – Local is Global

In the early part of the millennium, in response to global population shifts, Intermedia Arts moved to the forefront of multicultural arts programming. We developed ground-breaking approaches to building community, reaching broad audiences and bringing diverse groups together to hear one another’s stories.

Beyond – The Future is You

Just as we helped to put small-format video cameras in the hands of community members back in the '70s, we continue to use art, community and current technology to create healthy, vital communities. We need your help, we need your vision, we need your stories. Join us.