RESOURCE Minneapolis offered a local and accessible space for community events for three years until it suffered a fire in October.

Minneapolis is known for its creativity — from its historic First Avenue to the murals that paint the cityscape of its neighborhoods and its thriving theater scene. It’s also known for residents’ desire to create connected communities, especially during times of distress.

Few places embodied that more than RESOURCE, a community studio in the West Phillips neighborhood started three years ago by Emma Marlar and husband Alex Kollman. 

On Oct. 19, the team announced that the building suffered a fire that left residents displaced, and events will not run for the foreseeable future. The community support has been strong, with $28,000 raised just three days later.

The couple moved into their apartment at 512 E 24th St. in 2021, above the unrented studio that became RESOURCE. As performers themselves, they understood how difficult it can be to host events, especially for newer artists. They decided to take on renting the space.

“We wanted to create a space where people can try things out, share things, create things, and we knew that to make an idea come to life you need the space to do it,” Marlar said.

Their first event was an experimental music show in February 2023. Since, they’ve hosted at least 1,000 events, sometimes more than one per day. Some recurring events this fall include Crochet for Mutual Aid, Computer Music Club, and Southside Photo Night.

Many of the events focused on the arts, but the opportunities weren’t limited to that. 

Although the venue charged rates between $20-50 an hour, the space was also offered for free with no questions asked. Marlar said they saw themselves not as a business or venue but as a space at the intersection of community and art, so they charged just enough to cover rent.

The long-term dream was simple, Marlar said: “No barrier. That the artist wouldn’t have any costs using the space.”

The announcement of the fire on Instagram received more than 400 shares and 100 comments, with many people asking how they can help. While RESOURCE’s future may not be clear, the supportive community they have cultivated is.