CHICAGO AVENUE FIRE ARTS CENTER

Above, a short documentary about the founding of the Chicago Avenue Fire Arts Center, produced by Kevin Obsatz.

The Chicago Avenue Fire Arts Center (CAFAC) inspires hands, hearts, and minds through art forms produced by heath, spark, or flame. CAFAC fills a unique niche in arts programming in the Twin Cities, with a focus on fine and industrial art forms that include sculptural welding, blacksmithing, kiln-formed and torch-worked glass, jewelry making, electronics and LED, fire performance, and others. We provide an array of classes open to anyone with an interest, from absolute beginners to master artisans, and youth to adult. We also offer studio rental and shop access programs, and have a storefront gallery space.

With our doors opened to the public in 2010, CAFAC has moved into a new phase in its development: growing our programs to include additional opportunities for students and artists in metalworking, glass, and jewelry-making. We're working hard to provide a safe, welcoming, and well-equipped facility to the community, and we need your help to make this possible.

CAFAC is proud to be part of a larger effort to revitalize the area surrounding 38th Street and Chicago Avenue in South Minneapolis. We've received incredible support from the City of Minneapolis, Artspace Projects, the four neighborhoods that meet at the intersection of 38th and Chicago (Bancroft, Bryant, Central, and Powderhorn Park), and many friends and neighbors who have made contributions and volunteered their time and talents to help us turn our vision into a reality. We'd be grateful to count you as a supporter too!

"The Fire Arts Center will be a much-need catalyst for change at 38th and Chicago. It fits perfectly with the rich concentration of artists and arts organizations in the 8th Ward. I am delighted to support this grassroots project." --Elizabeth Glidden, 8th Ward City Council Member