- THE GARAGE
Articleissues
cleanup = November 2007
COI = y
copyedit = November 2007
orphan = November 2007
tone = November 2007THE GARAGE is a
non-profit youth center and all-agesmusic venue cite web | url= http://citypages.com/databank/25/1251/article12700.asp | author=Peter S. Scholtes | title= "Sonic Youth." | publisher=City Pages | date= Nov 24, 2004] inBurnsville, Minnesota , a southern suburb ofMinneapolis . [City of Burnsville. http://www.thegarage.net/] It receives a portion of its funding and operating budget from the City of Burnsville.It is a launching point for local musicians and artists due to its high youth attendance and music industry collaboration.cite news | url=http://citypages.com/databank/24/1194/article11591.asp | author=Chuck Terhark | title= "Kid Rock." | publisher=City Pages | date=Oct 22, 2003] Bands such as
Down and Above ,Dropping Daylight , Escape from Earth,Four Letter Lie ,Quietdrive , and built followings there. In 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008, THE GARAGE was declared "Best All Ages Venue" by local magazineCity Pages .cite web| url=http://www.citypages.com/bestof2006/sexdrugsrocknroll/bestof2861.asp | publisher=City Pages | title= "Best of the Twin Cities 2006." | date=May 2006]History
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 of THE GARAGE [City of Burnsville. "Burnsville Youth Center Foundation." 2007. [http://www.ci.burnsville.mn.us/youthlist.htm] ] , 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.cite web | url=http://www.thisweek-online.com/2006/october/27b-maintcenter.html | author=John Gessner | title= "Maintenance center addition to free up space for youth." | date=Nov 27, 2006] Grant funding was acquired and at that time, the city decided to lend the facility on a handshake that the debt for renovation would be forgiven. THE GARAGE opened on July 17, 1999. It has recently been approved to implement Phase 2, a large project that involves using the 3 adjoining garages for several new areas, including a recording studio and a gym. 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. [Amy Anderla. "Burnsville's teen rockers are out in the Garage." Star Tribune, Dec 22, 2000.]
In 2000, THE GARAGE's sustained operation went into question. Factors suggested though not documented included a year of low attendance and high expenses. [Hannah Allam. "Teen bands' hangout faces crisis." Pioneer Press, December 9, 2000.] Area students gathered in December 2000 and responded by launching the
Minnesota Teen Music Association (MTMA). They 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. It has since attracted national and international acts. [Andrea. "The Garage." MinneapolitanMusic, Jan 4, 2006. [http://minneapolitanmusic.blogspot.com/2006/01/garage.html] ]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. [Tammy J. Oseid. "BURNSVILLE: Teens await word on youth center's future." Pioneer Press, Jan 4, 2002.] On January 12, 2002, a story closely followed by local newspapers, THE GARAGE won a reprieve and funding was restored for the facility. [Mark Brunswick. "Burnsville youth music center wins reprieve." Star Tribune, Jan 12, 2002.]It was honored with Minnesota Recreation and Park Association Award of Excellence 2000 and Burnsville Community Builder 2001. ["The Garage wins state award." Burnsville.org, Jul 31, 2000.] ["Teens named as community builders." Sun Current, Nov 14, 2001.]
The
Minnesota Music Academy hosted it's 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. [cite news | url=http://www.thisweek-online.com/2001/april/27rock.html | author=John Gessner | title= "Kid rockers take ownership of teen music scene through MTMA." | publisher= This Week | date= Apr 27, 2001]In April 2003 potential funding cuts came during Republican Governor
Tim Pawlenty 's budget balancing which drew political support for THE GARAGE. [Doug Grow. "Minnesota today still cold, especially in the shoulders." Star Tribune, Apr 27, 2003.] A documentary of the center was also produced to raise attention to addressing teenage needs. ["BURNSVILLE: Keeping The Garage open on weekdays is a top teen priority." Pioneer Press, Apr 28, 2003.]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 [McKnight Foundation. [http://www.mcknight.org/grantsprograms/grantee_results.aspx?desc_keyword=THE+GARAGE&date_approved=&B1=Submit] ] .
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.
Links
* [http://www.thegarage.net http://www.thegarage.net]
Notes
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