Gallery 96 Art Center

Gallery 96 offers emerging and maturing artists the opportunity to meet other artists and enter juried competitions to show their work.

Early in 1998, a small group of people interested in the visual arts from the northern St Paul suburbs bordering Highway 96, gathered around a kitchen table to complete plans for a non-profit art center. Today that kitchen conversation has grown into an active, vigorous organization to promote art education in the community and give emerging artists a venue to share their art. Some of our accomplishments include: Art Exhibitions There have been twenty three art exhibitions in the Shoreview Ramsey County Library. It is estimated conservatively that over 18,000 people (children and adults) have seen the art exhibitions in past eleven years. Over 350 artists have had their work displayed in the library since 1998 and received $9,000 in awards. Now Gallery 96 artists can also show their work in the elegant showcases in the remodeled Shoreview Community Center for six months each year. Judging the Exhibitions Gallery 96 has been fortunate to have accomplished artist-educators from such institutions as the University of Minnesota, Bethel College, College of Visual Arts, Concordia College and professionals from the business world of art serve as jurors. Community Outreach Gallery 96 has sponsored special events and programs for children and with the Shoreview Library co-sponsored a children's art show inspired by reading. A quarterly newsletter, Gallery 96 Views, offers members informative articles about art, book reviews, gallery overviews, exhibition announcements, and informative articles about art. Art Discussion, an informal monthly session held at the Shoreview Community Center, gives members opportunities to share their work and receive friendly feedback. In addition, members receive invitations to special events such as exhibition openings, gallery talks, and fine art and craft shows. Support for Gallery 96 The organization is especially grateful for the ongoing support of the Shoreview City Council and for the cooperation of the Shoreview Ramsey County Library. Also corporations and organizations such as Target, Medtronic Foundation, Lutheran Brotherhood, the Shoreview Village Mall, Arden Hills/Shoreview Rotary Club, the Golden Key Kiwanis Club and the Deluxe Foundation have supported special exhibitions.