The Cedar Cultural Center, commonly known as The Cedar, is a non-profit performing arts organization and all-ages music venue that presents the best in local, national, and international music. The Cedar’s mission is to promote intercultural appreciation and understanding through the presentation of global music and dance. Reflecting its location in the diverse Cedar Riverside neighborhood of Minneapolis, Minnesota, the venue is known for presenting a wide variety of global roots, folk, indie, experimental, bluegrass, Americana and blues artists, as well as artist residencies, educational programs, workshops, films, dances, comedy, spoken word and community events. The Cedar is committed to artistic excellence and integrity, diversity of programming, support for emerging artists, and community outreach. The only venue of its kind in the Midwest, The Cedar hosts over 200 events each year including live music performances in all genres along with programming like the Cedar Commissions, a local artist commissioning series; the Global Roots Festival, a free annual world music festival; and Midnimo, a program that presents Somali artists in month-long residencies throughout Minnesota. The Cedar was established in 1989 and operates in a building that was constructed as a movie theater in 1948. The hall can be configured for seated concerts (450 capacity) as well as standing room concerts (625 capacity) and provides high-quality sound in an intimate concert environment, never putting the audience member more than 30 feet away from the stage. This activity is made possible in part by a grant provided by the Minnesota State Arts Board through an appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature from the State's general fund and its arts and cultural heritage fund with money from the vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008, and a grant from the Wells Fargo Foundation Minnesota.
