The Cedar Cultural Center

What The Cedar Cultural Center does

The Cedar Cultural Center is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organization (EIN: 41-1669156) founded in 1989 and headquartered at 416 Cedar Avenue South in the Cedar Riverside neighborhood of Minneapolis. It operates a live music and performing arts venue, The Cedar Listening Room, hosting 150+ events annually featuring global music, dance, film screenings, and community programming with 100+ musicians from around the world each year. Programming is organized into named series including Cedar Commissions, Global Roots, Nordic Roots Series, Midnimo (Somali cultural preservation), Mni Sota Native Music Series, Summer at The Cedar, Artist Collective (a multicultural BIPOC-led music collective launched in 2019), and the Cedar Public Access Channel (a virtual programming stream launched in 2020 on Facebook and YouTube).

The organization derives revenue from four primary streams: ticket sales (with advance and day-of-show pricing, plus a $4 facility fee on Cedar-presented shows handled via Eventbrite and at-the-door sales), donations and fundraising from individuals and organizations, venue rental of the Listening Room for private events, and concessions and merchandise. Ticket prices for individual shows disclosed in the source range from $25 to $60, with some events free to the public (e.g., Dinkytown film screening, Doors Open Minneapolis) and student discounts available. The Cedar is operationally supported by a mix of paid staff in the 11–50 range and a volunteer base of up to 20 per event, with a Volunteer Coordinator leading monthly orientations.

Go-to-market is event-driven: attendance is driven by live programming promoted via Instagram, email newsletter, the thecedar.org website, earned media (Star Tribune, Racket), and co-presenter partnerships. Co-presenters include First Avenue (the legendary Minneapolis venue) and the Minnesota Orchestra (Day of Music at Orchestra Hall), with additional content partners including Latin Dance MN, TaikoArts Midwest, Festival de las Calaveras, SAFEHUAS, and Augsburg University (academic partner for Midnimo). Programming is funded in part by a diversified base of institutional supporters including the National Endowment for the Arts, Marbrook Foundation, Headwaters Foundation, Minnesota State Arts Board, Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, Minneapolis Foundation, Nash Foundation, and the Rosemary and David Good Family Foundation. Leadership includes Executive Director Michelle Woster and Program Director James Taylor (appointed August 2025).

Name

The Cedar Cultural Center

Legal name

The Cedar Cultural Center

Website

https://thecedar.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Cedar Cultural Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit live music venue founded in 1989 in Minneapolis's Cedar Riverside neighborhood, hosting 150+ events annually featuring global music and dance, serving general audiences, emerging and established artists, and the local Somali and BIPOC communities through ticketing, donations, and grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Live Music Venue

NAICS

Performing Arts Companies (7111), Musical Groups and Artists (71113)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Live Music Clubs & Venues (MPAGAIAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Performing Arts Organizations (Theater, Dance, Opera, Music) (BPAGAHAB)

Keywords

• Live music venue
• World music programming
• Performing arts events
• Artist commissioning programs
• Community arts nonprofit

Headquarters

HQ city

Minneapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue from advance and day-of-show ticket sales. Cedar-presented shows include a $4 facility fee. Ticket sales typically end one hour before door time online, with tickets available at the door with a $1 Eventbrite fee. Some events are free admission.
2. Donations & Fundraising: As a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN: 41-1669156), The Cedar relies heavily on charitable donations from individuals and organizations to support programming, artist commissions, and venue operations.
3. Venue Rental: The Cedar Listening Room is available for private event rental. Interested parties are directed to email [email protected].
4. Concessions & Merchandise: Concessions are available for purchase at events, and volunteers staff a merchandise table at shows.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Cedar Cultural Center operates a Minneapolis live music and performing arts venue hosting 150+ annual events featuring global music, dance, film screenings, and community programming with over 100 international and local artists each year. As a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, it commissions new works from emerging artists through Cedar Commissions, curates signature concert series (Global Roots, Nordic Roots, Summer at The Cedar, Mni Sota Native Music Series), and runs community programs such as the Artist Collective (BIPOC-led) and Midnimo (Somali cultural preservation). It also rents its Listening Room for private events and streams performances via the Cedar Public Access Channel.

Product overview

The Cedar Cultural Center operates as a live music venue offering a unified portfolio of programs rather than a modular platform. Its core offering is The Cedar Listening Room, a Minneapolis venue hosting 150+ annual events featuring global music and dance. Supporting programs include Cedar Commissions (artist commissioning), Global Roots Series and Nordic Roots Series (curated concert series), Summer at The Cedar (outdoor plaza series), Artist Collective (BIPOC music collective), Midnimo (Somali cultural program), Mni Sota Native Music Series (Native American music programming), Cedar Public Access Channel (virtual/online content), and Virtual Programs for remote access. The venue also offers rental services for private events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Cedar Commissions: Program supporting local emerging artists to compose new works
• Global Roots Series
• Nordic Roots Series
• Midnimo
• Mni Sota Native Music Series
• Artist Collective
• Summer at The Cedar
• Cedar Public Access Channel

Products and services

• The Cedar Listening Room A Minneapolis live music venue hosting 150+ annual events featuring global music, dance, film screenings, and community programming with over 100 international and local artists each year. Available for public ticketed events and private event rental.
• Cedar Commissions A commissioning program that supports emerging artists in composing new works, providing financial and venue resources for original musical creations.
• Global Roots Series A concert series showcasing international artists performing traditional and contemporary world music, supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts.
• Nordic Roots Series A specialized concert series focused on Nordic and Scandinavian music traditions presented as part of The Cedar's programming.
• Summer at The Cedar An outdoor summer concert series held on The Cedar Plaza featuring diverse musical performances with food vendors and community organizations.
• Artist Collective A multicultural, multi-genre music collective of BIPOC artists working to expand access to the arts and diversify programming at The Cedar, with BIPOC artists placed in organizational leadership positions.
• Midnimo A Somali cultural program featuring artists from Minnesota and around the world in residencies and events that increase understanding of Somali culture through music, reviving and preserving Somalia's rich musical traditions.
• Mni Sota Native Music Series

Quantifiable outcome

• 150+ events per year with cultural celebrations and artist support
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• First AvenuecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFirst Avenue, the legendary Minneapolis music venue, co-presents shows at The Cedar, extending its programming reach and cross-promoting events (e.g., Wild Child, John Moreland with Ken Pomeroy).
• Minnesota OrchestracoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe Cedar partners with Minnesota Orchestra to program the Target Atrium stage at Orchestra Hall during the annual Day of Music, a free family-friendly event featuring over 12 hours of musical performances across multiple stages.
• Augsburg UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborations between music faculty and students at Augsburg University have produced bands, albums, and video content. The Wadajir Riverside Band was released in 2018, and Dalmar's Spotlight received over 250,000 views across 10 episodes. Augsburg also provides academic infrastructure for Midnimo programming.
• Latin Dance MNminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLatin Dance MN partners with The Cedar to present Aurora do Samba and other Latin dance events at the venue.
• Leslie Parker Dance ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-presenter of 'an experiment: with Leslie Parker and Collaborators' in partnership with Twin Cities Jazz Festival and Northrop, featuring the Black Dance Improvisation Intensive culminating event.
• Twin Cities Jazz FestivalminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCo-presented the Black Dance Improvisation Intensive culminating event with Leslie Parker Dance Project and The Cedar.
• Northrop (University of Minnesota)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCo-presented the Black Dance Improvisation Intensive culminating event with Leslie Parker Dance Project and The Cedar.
• Festival de las CalaverasminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFestival de las Calaveras co-presents events such as An Evening with Pascuala Ilabaca y Fauna at The Cedar.
• TaikoArts MidwestminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTaikoArts Midwest presents TaikoGroove at The Cedar with Ensō Daiko and Savage Aural Hotbed.
• SAFEHUASminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSAFEHUAS (likely an African heritage arts organization) curates the AFROMATIC event series at The Cedar showcasing African rhythms fused with hip-hop and rap.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Mass MoCA: Large-scale nonprofit contemporary arts institution in North Adams, MA presenting music, performing arts, and visual arts with significant foundation and grant funding. Comparable as a nonprofit cultural presenter with diversified programming, virtual/digital channels, and similar funder mix.
• Barbican Centre: Major London arts center presenting global music, dance, and interdisciplinary work with a strong intercultural programming mandate. Thematically aligned as a large-scale nonprofit cultural institution serving diaspora communities, though at very different scale and geography.

Broad incumbents

• Walker Art Center: Major Minneapolis-based multidisciplinary arts institution presenting performing arts, film, and visual arts. Comparable as a larger Minneapolis arts presenter with overlapping performing arts programming and similar foundation/funders ecosystem.
• The Ordway Center for the Performing Arts: Saint Paul-based nonprofit performing arts center presenting Broadway tours, concerts, and educational programming. Broader incumbent in the Twin Cities performing arts ecosystem with overlapping music programming and nonprofit funding model.

Direct peers

• Icehouse MPLS: Minneapolis live music venue and restaurant presenting eclectic local, national, and international artists. Direct peer in the Minneapolis independent music venue scene, with overlapping genre programming including global and jazz-adjacent acts.
• Fine Line Music Cafe: Minneapolis live music venue presenting touring indie, folk, world, and roots artists in an intimate general-admission setting. Comparable scale, capacity, and genre breadth to The Cedar's Listening Room.
• First Avenue: Legendary Minneapolis music venue and live entertainment promoter. Direct peer — both operate Minneapolis live music venues serving overlapping audiences, and First Avenue is already a co-presenter partner with The Cedar.
• Northrop at the University of Minnesota: University-affiliated performing arts presenter in Minneapolis hosting global music, dance, and jazz. Direct peer — already an active co-presentation partner of The Cedar (Black Dance Improvisation Intensive, Twin Cities Jazz Festival collaborations).
• The Parkway Theater: Restored Minneapolis neighborhood theater presenting live music, film, and community programming. Comparable as a mission-driven Minneapolis performance venue focused on cultural and community programming.
• The Fitzgerald Theater: Historic Saint Paul performing arts venue operated by Minnesota Public Radio/American Public Media. Comparable as a regional nonprofit performance venue presenting music, comedy, and spoken-word programming to Upper Midwest audiences.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/MadeofCedar
• Facebookfacebook.com/thecedar
• Instagraminstagram.com/thecedar

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Cedar Cultural Center