Citizens for Backus/AB, Inc.

A nonprofit organization

45 donors

18% complete

$40,000 Goal

Backus offers a wide variety of events and programs for every age making it a true community center!


Mission Statement

"Historic Backus Community Center, the heart of International Falls, where all generations celebrate arts, culture, recreation, wellness and life-long learning"

Music concerts, music programs, plays, productions, exercise class, walking through the building on blustery days, basketball, volleyball, wrestling, dance, game nights, meetings, showers, weddings, banquets, events, parties and office rental are just a few of the happenings at Backus Community Center!


What does Backus Community Center have to offer?


Backus Arts Programs:

  • Performing Arts - Concerts and Visual Arts programming for the community
  • Music & Arts
    • Rainy Lake Community Orchestra
    • Rainy Lake Bells
    • Community Band
    • Jazz Band
    • Community Choir
    • Music instrument lessons
    • Vocal lessons
    • Tuesday Musicale scholarship
  • Community Theater
    • Borealis Bards
    • Rainy Lake Playhouse
  • Backus Summer Arts for Kids
    • Theater, music, and dance
    • Visual Arts
  • Community Gathering
    • Game Nights
    • Local Musician Concerts
    • Visual Art Nights

Backus is strongly committed to promote the arts and make them available to people for both learning and entertainment.  Keeping the arts alive helps promote social interaction and creativity, and wards off feelings of remoteness and isolation. 

Backus is the hub for community activities:

  • Ruby's Pantry food distribution is hosted at the Backus each month
  • Community Meetings and forums are held to inform and engage or citizens.
  • Emergency responders conduct safety exercises and personnel training
  • People come to play pickleball, volleyball, basketball, to dance, walk about the building, and for Mustang Wrestling
  • Bridge clubs have a dedicated room to play.
  • Grief Support meetings, garden club meetings, and non-denominational bible studies are held here.
  • Backus partners with the United Way of Northeastern MN to have back to school events and to share home and personal good throught its "comforts of home" program.

Backus's central location, size, and reputation with citizens make it an ideal location for helping during times of emergency.

  • When people across the county are without power for extended periods of time in the winter, County officials called Backus to help provide a warm place for people to come until power is restored.
  • When our county faced a floor crisis, the Red Cross set up headquarters in the Backus building.


Backus Community Center is more than just a building.  It is a dedicated group of board members, staff and volunteers who want to improve the quality of life in Borderland, one event and project at a time.

Organization Data

Summary

Organization name

Citizens for Backus/AB, Inc.

Tax id (EIN)

32-0018497

Categories

Arts & Culture

Address

900 5th Street
International Falls, MN 56649

Phone

12182857225

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