Another art casualty: Minnesota Center for Photography shuts down

Damn. After 18 years, a name change, oodles of great shows, and a new building, the Minnesota Center for Photography (formerly pARTS) is closing today. A note from its board members:

It is with regret that we must inform you that Minnesota Center for Photography is discontinuing business operations at the close of business on July 31st. Over the past six months we have unsuccessfully attempted to adjust our budget and raise additional funds to pay down debt and fund continuing operations.

The Board made this decision with reluctance and after attempting whatever we could do to permit the survival of MCP.

On behalf of the many stakeholders in Minnesota Center For Photography, we thank you for your continuing interest and support of MCP’s mission over the years.

Very truly yours,

Chuck Koosmann, Co-Chair

Mark L. Wilson, Co-Chair

These are particularly grim times for Minnesota arts organizations (and the artists they serve): Theater de la Jeune Lune is selling its building, the MIA's MAEP program for Minnesota artists lost its longtime director, The Southern Theater lost its artistic director, Walker chief curator Philippe Vergne is hitting the road... The Chronicle of Artistic Failure in America has the list.

Update: The Star Tribune has more.