THE GARAGE
From Minnewiki
THE GARAGE is a non-profit youth center and all-ages music venue in Burnsville. It receives a portion of its funding and operating budget from the City of Burnsville.
The Minnesota Music Academy hosted its 2001 Icebreaker show at THE GARAGE after announcing it was adding a teen-band category to the ballot. The Minnesota Music Awards maintains a teen-band category to this day due to THE GARAGE's influence.
It is known as a launching point for local musicians and artists due to its high youth attendance and music industry collaboration. Bands such as Down and Above, Dropping Daylight, Escape From Earth, Cold Shoulder, Four-Letter Lie and Quietdrive built followings there.
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Address & Phone
75 Civic Center Parkway
Burnsville, MN 55337
952.895.4664
History Timeline
Burnsville Youth Center
In 1995, the Burnsville Youth Center Project began with the Youth for Tomorrow Council to analyze and evaluate the direction of Burnsville's youth. In 1996, recommendations for a central youth gathering facility established the Burnsville Youth Center Foundation, an on-going non-profit separate from THE GARAGE, to identify and establish a teen center in the city.
City Hall offered the Municipal Garage, maintenance garages built in a semi-circle, to become the future home. Original plans envisioned THE GARAGE to annex the entire facility into a multi-arts complex complete with dome.
From 1996-1998 grant funding for programming was acquired. At that time, the city decided to lend the facility on a handshake that the debt for renovation would be forgiven. Since then the debt has been repaid in good faith. Renovation began in early 1999 on two garage bays. THE GARAGE opened on July 17, 1999 and is still housed there. It has recently annexed the next adjoining garage into a recording space. During its early stages, THE GARAGE served typical youth programming and anti-substance policy. It also began to build a music venue character with regular shows.
Minnesota Teen Music Association
In 2000, THE GARAGE's sustained operation went into question. Factors suggested though not documented included a year of low attendance and high expenses. Area students gathered in December of 2000 and responded by launching the Minnesota Teen Music Association. MTMA put teenage musicians at the forefront of organizing and implementing THE GARAGE as a night club venue. Since then THE GARAGE has been attended by hundreds of thousands of youth in the midwest and has attracted acts nationally and internationally.
At the end of 2001, during Governor Jesse Ventura's administration, all state grant money was frozen. Facing a potential shut-down, THE GARAGE used grass-roots activism and political allies to acquire promised funding. On January 12, 2002, a story closely followed by local newspapers, THE GARAGE won a reprieve and funding was restored for the facility.
All-Ages Music Venue
THE GARAGE was declared "Best All Ages Night" in 2001.
In April of 2003, Cassie Hanson produced a documentary called "Suburban Zeal" through THE GARAGE to raise awareness of current teen issues. That same month coincided with another potential cut in funding during Republican Governor Tim Pawlenty's budget balancing.
From 2002-2003, programming consisted of music production/booking, a female empowerment group, volunteer training, street team, diversity (metro-area cultural opportunities), teen GLBT support, and an elementary-aged games group.
In 2004 and 2006, THE GARAGE was declared "Best All Ages Venue" by City Pages.
Social and Cultural Bridging
In February 2006, THE GARAGE announced an initiative towards helping Latino youth.
A renewal of hip-hop music representation by THE GARAGE also recently occurred.
Organization
THE GARAGE Advisory Board (GAB)
THE GARAGE Advisory Board was created at the inception of the Burnsville Youth Center Project with nearly all youth serving. It represents and makes decisions on behalf of THE GARAGE.
Staff
Staff are known as "Recreation Assistants." A manager and an assistant manager are known as the "Recreation Programmers." The manager has been with THE GARAGE since it opened.
Trivia
- THE GARAGE is spelled with all capitals. Its mission statement is "Redefining community and giving people a place to belong."
- Following former Senator Paul Wellstone's death, a quote from him was adopted. "The kinds of changes we want to see, when they happen, won't originate in Washington, but will start -- are already starting -- here at the community level." April 15, 2002.
- Organizations involved in its success include: Minnesota Music Academy, The Quest, First Avenue, Guitar Center.
- Local radio stations which have supported through sponsorship or on-air promotion include 93X (KXXR), 92KQRS, B96 and 770 Radio K.
- Honored with Minnesota Recreation and Park Association Award of Excellence 2000 and Burnsville Community Builder 2001.
- The Quest club downtown collaborated to produce the "Youth of Today, Stars of Tomorrow" concert series.
- THE GARAGE was present at 2001 93X-Fest.
- THE GARAGE's GLBT program was renamed "T-FLAG" (Teens and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) from the traditionally known P-FLAG (Parents...) due to potential copyright infringement liability.
