Blackbird Revolt: Transforming Minneapolis' vacant spaces | Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

Revitalizing Minneapolis Through Art, Culture, and Community Engagement

The Arts & Culture Vibrant Storefronts Initiative is redefining downtown Minneapolis by transforming vacant spaces into thriving hubs of creativity, culture, and innovation. Led by the City of Minneapolis, this initiative subsidizes rent for previously empty storefronts, empowering creative businesses to establish a vibrant presence in the Harmon Place Historic District and beyond. This two-year program supports five exceptional awardees, giving them the opportunity to refine their business models while engaging the public through art.

Each storefront will feature dynamic quarterly programming, turning what were once empty spaces into centers of artistic expression and community connection. By offering support to these creative businesses, the initiative is ensuring that art and culture become integral parts of the fabric of the city. The transformation of these vacant spaces represents the core mission of the initiative: to turn vacancy into vibrancy in Minneapolis.

First Up: Blackbird Revolt – An Abolitionist Design Studio

Creating Designs that Shift Culture and Build Power

Among the five businesses chosen for this initiative is Blackbird Revolt, an abolitionist design studio that strives to create designs that not only reflect culture but challenge and reshape it. Founded in 2016, Blackbird Revolt emerged from the desire to address the ongoing lack of representation and exclusion of diverse voices in mainstream narratives. The studio seeks to create a platform for conscious creatives who want to transform their communities and advance causes of racial justice, liberation, and abolition.

At Blackbird Revolt, design is more than aesthetics; it is a tool for activism and movement work. The studio aims to break down the political and social barriers that trap marginalized communities, using their art to inspire engagement, foster change, and promote collective action. They are committed to co-creating solutions with their community and changing the way people experience and engage with the world around them.

The Meaning Behind the Name

The name Blackbird Revolt is deeply tied to the music of Nina Simone. The iconic song “Blackbird” speaks to the struggles and resilience of Black women, and its lyrics capture the intersectionality that Blackbird Revolt seeks to address. “So why you wanna fly, Blackbird, You ain’t ever gonna fly…,” Nina Simone’s voice echoes the harsh realities faced by those who are marginalized by oppressive systems. At Blackbird Revolt, these experiences of exclusion and oppression are central to their mission.

“We unapologetically center these voices,” says co-founder Terresa Moses, a justice-centered designer and creative director. “Racial justice, abolition, and liberation drive what we do and how we do it.” The team is committed to ensuring their design work reflects a vision of a radically just future. Whether through projects or partnerships, Blackbird Revolt is a powerful force for change in the community.

A Commitment to Community

Art and design have always been intertwined with movements for social change, and Blackbird Revolt sees their work as part of that ongoing legacy. Terresa Moses, co-founder and creative director, is a Black queer woman who has dedicated her life’s work to the liberation of Black and brown people. A professor, illustrator, and community-engaged scholar, Moses centers anti-racism, abolition, Black feminism, and Black liberatory futures in her work. Her designs are grounded in the understanding that art is a tool for resistance, reflection, and progress.

Moses states, “Our work can never be separate from community. We are dedicated to centering community and a collective vision for the future.” This ethos guides everything Blackbird Revolt does. From their designs to their collaborations, community engagement is at the heart of their mission.

The Role of Blackbird Revolt in the Arts & Culture Vibrant Storefronts Initiative

As part of the Arts & Culture Vibrant Storefronts Initiative, Blackbird Revolt will be bringing their vision of justice, culture, and liberation to the Harmon Place Historic District. Their storefront will be more than just a space for creative output—it will be a place where people can gather, engage, and learn. Throughout the two-year program, Blackbird Revolt will host quarterly programming that reflects the core values of racial justice and community empowerment. These programs will give the public an opportunity to experience the transformative power of art in new and meaningful ways.

Blackbird Revolt’s participation in this initiative is a testament to the power of creative businesses to drive change. By revitalizing a vacant storefront, they are not only contributing to the cultural vibrancy of Minneapolis but also amplifying the voices of those who have historically been marginalized. The initiative allows Blackbird Revolt to further their mission while continuing to build power through art and design.

A Vision for the Future

At the heart of Blackbird Revolt’s work is a commitment to creating a radically just future. They believe that art can be a powerful tool for liberation, and they are using their design studio to engage with their community in meaningful ways. By participating in the Arts & Culture Vibrant Storefronts Initiative, Blackbird Revolt will continue to push boundaries, challenge the status quo, and advocate for justice.

As part of the initiative, Blackbird Revolt’s storefront will be a place where people can come together to reflect, create, and grow. It will be a space for art, dialogue, and activism—a space where the community can connect and co-create solutions for a better future.

For more information, visit Blackbird Revolt.

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