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Support from our donors has always made a difference! Because of your consistent and generous support, The Cedar was able to do the following in our 2007/08 season:

• Purchase credit card machines, so we now accept credit cards at the box office and the concessions stand
• Tuck-point and paint the exterior of our building
• Purchase new chairs for our lobby
• Present international artists such as Marcel Khalife from Lebanon, Varttina from Finland, The Gangbe Brass Band from Benin, and Babylon Circus from France
• Host well-known, acclaimed artists such as Ryan Adams, Bruce Cockburn, Dan Wilson, and Billy Bragg
• Support emerging, independent, local artists such as Roma di Luna, JoAnna James, The Pines, Jeremy Messersmith, and The Owls
• Facilitate free, hands-on workshops administered by Cedar artists in partnership with MacPhail Center for Music

Your dollars to The Cedar will go even further this year! September will kick-off our “Light the Marquee” campaign, which will fund the long-awaited renovation to The Cedar’s historic marquee. Your donations will also help us present special, free events to celebrate our 20th anniversary, implement new programs, and complete building improvements such as an all-new sound system and renovations to the outdoor patio. Read on for more information about what your donation will fund in The Cedar’s 2008/09 season.

Special 20th Season Celebrations

September of 2008 kicks off The Cedar’s 20th season. We invite patrons, artists, and community members to join us in celebrating this milestone with several special events:

September 4, 2008: Season Kickoff Event
Our annual season kickoff event is free for the public and will present storyteller Kevin Kling and local artists Orange Mighty Trio and Lucy Michelle and the Velvet Lapelles. The kickoff is sponsored by Schell Brewery who will unveil one of their limited edition drafts at the event.

October 28, 2008: The Cedar Building's 60th Birthday
The grand opening of the original Cedar Theater took place on October 28, 1948. This event will celebrate implementation of The Cedar’s “phase one” capital improvement plan which includes renovation of The Cedar’s historic marquee, installation of an all-new sound, state-of-the-art sound system, improvements to our outdoor patio, and renovations to the stage including installation of a movie screen. For more information on capital improvements, click here.

March 3, 2008: THE 20th BIRTHDAY
This event commemorates the official 20th birthday of the Cedar Cultural Center and will be part of the “20 at 20” month-long celebration.

20 at 20: A Month-Long Celebration
This program presents 20 performers during the month of March who represent the diversity of the Cedar’s programming. The Cedar’s very first event took place in March of 198l, so the month long celebration marks the “official” 20th birthday of The Cedar. A “Series Passport” will offer admission into all events in the program.

New Cedar Programs

Concerts for Youth

In partnership with Project Success and Project for Pride in Living, Concerts for Youth brings Twin Cities middle and high school students to monthly concert performances by local, national and international musicians. Performances in the program are engaging and educational for teens, chosen because they reflect different cultural traditions, demonstrate master instrumentation, or are relevant to students’ class curricula. The Concerts for Youth program also includes hands-on workshops and additional concerts that include question and answer sessions or incorporate interactive components. Examples of performers include The Carolina Chocolate Drops, an African-American stringband from the south, and Affrissipi, a group whose work combines the musical traditions of West Africa and the American South.

Cedar Family

Cedar Family presents the best in kid’s music for the enjoyment of the entire family; the program consists of one kid’s concert event per month in the Cedar’s 10-month season scheduled for Saturday or Sunday mornings. Already confirmed for fall of 2008 are Disney artist Ralph's World, PBS Kids host SteveSongs, and Twin Cities-native singer/songwriter Peter Himmelman. All artists in the program schedule are established kid’s entertainers that appeal to children ages 2 and up. The Cedar has presented a number of children’s events over the years, which always get a great turnout and positive response. This will be the first time in The Cedar’s nineteen-year history that children's concert events are expanding into a regular season program.

416 Club

The 416 Club consists of ten monthly events curated by a local artist and featuring musical performances by three to seven emerging, local musicians or groups. The program is based off of several trial projects executed in spring of 2007 that consisted of entire evenings of music curated by local artists.

Global Roots Series

The Cedar’s Global Roots Series features performances by accomplished artists from around the world whose music is rooted in tradition. In fall of 2009, The Cedar will launch its first Global Roots Festival featuring the same diversity of world musicians as the season-long Global Roots Series. The Global Roots Festival will replace The Nordic Roots Festival, which was retired after ten successful years.

Open Stage

The Cedar’s monthly Open Stage program offers community members the opportunity to perform in front of an audience. Anyone is welcome to sign up on a first come first serve basis and attendance at the event is free and open to the public. An accomplished, local musician emcees each event and offers a critique of every performance.

“Phase One” Capital Improvement Projects

Restore the Historic Marquee
The Cedar will restore its historic marquee to its original state. A full restoration will rehab the letters at the top that spell “The Cedar,” rebuild the two cabinets displaying the black letters, incorporate all new neon, ballasts and wiring, backlight the sign with white, fluorescent tubing, and reinstall it on the existing structural framework. The current condition of the marquee is an eyesore, and its rehabilitation will not only restore a historical structure but will greatly increase the aesthetics of the surrounding area.

Upgrade/Replace the Sound System
The Cedar will replace and upgrade its entire sound system, including the mixing console, with new, professional grade equipment. Electro-Voice, a local sound equipment distribution company, is donating $160,000 worth of equipment, and Saint Paul Travelers is donating $35,000 to cover the remaining costs of the new system. The system upgrade will benefit both audience members and artists; artists will have better tools with which to present their work, and audience members will have a higher-quality listening experience.

Refinish the Hall’s Wood Flooring
The Cedar’s hall has a wood sprung floor that has been appreciated and complimented by dancers and dance groups. The Cedar puts on about 140 events per year, so the hall’s floor is heavily trafficked. Sanding and refinishing the floor will not only maintain the quality of the floor but will dramatically improve the appearance of the hall, making the space more attractive to patrons and prospective renters.

Make Improvements to The Cedar’s Stage
The Cedar’s facility was originally built as a movie theater, and when The Cedar was incorporated, it inherited the theater’s screen. The Cedar hopes to install a pully system that will hold this movie screen and allow us to expand our programming: not only will The Cedar have the tools to schedule film and video events, but the screen better accommodates artists who include visual arts as part of their performance. The Cedar also hopes to increase and update its stage lighting.

Install a Hi-Definition Video System
Along with the installation of a screen, a video projection system will allow The Cedar to add visual arts elements to its programming.

Replace Lobby Furnace and add Air Conditioning
The Cedar will replace its current furnace that serves the lobby,with a new, more energy efficient unit that includes an air conditioner. The Cedar does not currently schedule events during July or August, in part because it doesn’t have an air conditioning unit that can cool the hall or lobby effectively enough to make the experience enjoyable for audience members. A climate-controlled lobby presents the opportunity for The Cedar to schedule summer programming in the lobby and patio areas.

Re-build and Improve Concession Area in Lobby; Build Remote Concessions Area in the Hall
With growing audience numbers and a potential increase in lobby and patio usage, The Cedar’s current space will cease to adequately serve its audiences. Implementing a new design that rebuilds the kitchen area to make more efficient use of a limited space and building a remote concessions area in the hall will allow us to serve more customers more efficiently.

Fix Lobby Drinking fountain
The Cedar’s drinking fountain has been inoperable for a number of years due to mineral build-up in the pipes. As part of a climate change strategy, The Cedar is encouraging patrons to reduce their carbon footprint by drinking tap water instead of bottled water. A functioning drinking fountain will help us advertise the Minnesota Energy Challenge and encourage patrons to take actions that reduce waste and carbon emission.

Execute Physical and Design Improvements to the Outdoor Patio
The Cedar will re-design its outdoor area by replacing the fence, building a gateway, expanding the space, and purchasing new benches, tables, and chairs. An outdoor concessions area will be added to accommodate for patio events. Bike racks will be installed for the many volunteers, staff members, and patrons who bike to Cedar events. The Cedar will also complete landscaping projects within the patio to make the area welcoming and aesthetically pleasing.