Hennepin Theatre Trust Launches “5 TO 10 ON HENNEPIN” with Music, Art and Culture on Thursday, Aug. 18

Hennepin Theatre Trust launches its new placemaking project 5 TO 10 ON HENNEPIN on Thursday, Aug. 18 at 5 p.m. on Hennepin Avenue between Ninth and Tenth Streets. A full schedule of arts and cultural activities and entertainment will happen in the Orpheum Theatre parking lot, the FAIR School alleyway and the Marin Restaurant & Bar courtyard. This exciting new project is a joint effort with Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) and Project for Public Spaces to create and activate public spaces within the WeDo™ MPLS Cultural District.

Each week, one block on Hennepin Avenue will experience a "creative makeover." The block-by-block reimagining joins the inventiveness of local artists with the resourcefulness and insights of Hennepin Avenue community members to create a mix of activities.

The first week of 5 to 10 ON HENNEPIN will feature some of the best Minnesota artists with street performances, live music and a pop-up artist market. All activities are free to the public and continue through December 2016 every Thursday.

"The 5 TO 10 ON HENNEPIN project is one of many placemaking efforts that the Trust is actively leading to create an engaging experience for everyone who uses Hennepin Avenue," said Tom Hoch, Hennepin Theatre Trust President/CEO. "The volume and variety of activities is intended to bring energy and excitement to each block and encourage more people to stay downtown longer and do more things."

Every week, 5 TO 10 ON HENNEPIN will present a variety of free activities including a mobile pop-up stage featuring live performances. The stage will be placed at a different location on Hennepin Avenue each week transforming surface parking lots, alleyways or sidewalks. Performances will include bands, DJs, theatre troupes, dancers and much more.

There will also be street performances by musicians, magicians, spoken word artists, dancers, jugglers, chalk artists, fire-eaters, stilt walkers and other interactive entertainment. A weekly pop-up artist market will feature Minnesota-made fine art and goods.

The Trust is using an open call process to identify and select arts, cultural and entertainment activities. The goal is to use an inclusive process that results in activities that appeal to and represent a wide range of people who use Hennepin Avenue. The weekly offerings also aim to increase greening efforts along the busy street.

5 TO 10 ON HENNEPIN launches on Thursday, Aug. 18 and includes:

• live performances on the 5 TO 10 ON HENNEPIN mobile stage by the Katy Vernon band with Indie-influenced music, the Zorongo Flamenco Dance Theatre and School, and conceptual sound art performances by the experimental electronic duo of Beatrix* JAR.
• street performers including comedic magician Arman Shaw, the Saint Paul Conservatory of Music Performing Strings, The Fires of 1818: Rantome Rosu Duo with dark gypsy jazz, a comedy stunt show by The Dangerous Fun Show and Pros of the Rope who will instruct and demonstrate Double Dutch jump roping.
• A pop-up artist market with 18 Minnesota artists whose work ranges from custom-made candles, tarot readings, Minneapolis-inspired screen printing, floral arrangements, jewelry, artwork, home fashions and much more.

5 TO 10 ON HENNEPIN will take place every Thursday from 5 to 10 p.m. at various locations on Hennepin Avenue through December 2016

For a weekly schedule of performers, artists and activities, or to learn more about 5 TO 10 ON HENNEPIN, visitHennepinTheatreTrust.org/5to10.

Southwest Airlines' Heart of the Community program awarded the Trust with a $200,000 grant last April to bring 5 TO 10 ON HENNEPIN to life.Project for Public Spaces (PPS), a nonprofit pioneer in the global placemaking movement is providing technical assistance.

The grant enables the Trust to identify and select arts, cultural and entertainment activities to program the five-block area from Fifth to Tenth streets with a range of multicultural offerings, as well as dynamic public art and increased greening efforts.

Minneapolis is among five communities receiving similar grants selected from a highly competitive pool of more than 90 applicants from 60 cities. Each year, Southwest brings placemaking to the cities they serve through the Heart of the Community program, highlighting the importance of "place" and encouraging communities to take part in the creation of the public places they love.

"We look forward to seeing all of the hard work and vision of 5 TO 10 ON HENNEPIN come to life over the next few months," said Megan Lee, Southwest Airlines' Senior Manager of Communication and Outreach. "Creating a place that brings local citizens and visitors together to connect and enjoy, in the heart of downtown Minneapolis, is what Heart of the Community is all about."