Warroad RiverPlace To Hold Grand Welcoming Celebration

by Laurel Latham

“Feed the body food and drink, it will survive today. Feed the soul art and music, it will live forever.” --Julie Andrews

Located on the banks of the Warroad River, the new arts, culture, and events center is 20,000 square feet of spectacular, from the polished concrete floors and soaring ceilings, to the airy light walls in the front of the house to the moody gray interior of the back of the house.

RiverPlace is home to a performance hall with theater seating, and an art gallery that will feature a variety of local, regional, and national works. The art gallery includes a fireside area for intimate gatherings. A door near the fireside area opens into a light-filled classroom. On the day of the tour, the classroom was being utilized by busy staff members meeting to coordinate the last details to be completed before the “Grand Welcoming”.

Laura Larson’s warm greeting at the entrance of RiverPlace, was followed by her exciting news that the Yamaha S7X, a beautiful seven-foot, six-inch acoustics grand piano had just been delivered. Nancy Fisher, Warroad High School Choir Director, explains the advantage of the addition of this stunning piano.

“With this piano RiverPlace will be able to program such events as musicals, concerts, professional musicians, ensembles, recitals, and community worship events,” said Nancy. “Wedding receptions, reunions and other gatherings that would appreciate live music could use this instrument. The Grand Welcoming evening concert will feature the piano, including a piece called ‘On The River’ that was composed in 2017, just as the seeds of the dream of RiverPlace was being planted.”

Executive Director, John Davis, proudly led the tour through RiverPlace, pointing out all the wonderful features of the center and answering questions, while letting those in the tour soak up the gorgeous space.

John, who grew up in Lanesboro, Minnesota, studied at Minneapolis College of Art and Design. His previous experience includes helping create and coordinate The New York Mills Regional Cultural Center in New York Mills, Minnesota. New York Mills, population 1,000, benefited greatly from their new cultural and art center completed in 1987, as did the whole region.

“In New York Mills, I saw first-hand how arts, culture, and events centers can transform small, rural communities and economies in ways that were never thought imaginable,” said John. “RiverPlace is an exciting milestone for the entire Northern Minnesota region and the community of Warroad.”

The RiverPlace tour began outside the classroom, in the spacious art gallery.

“The fireside area in the art gallery is a great space for smaller gatherings like poetry readings,” explained John. “There’s been a call for area artists for the inaugural Grand Welcoming gallery exhibit, as well as consideration for the 2025 exhibition schedule.

“Exhibits will rotate every eight weeks. We are also planning to exhibit children’s artwork. There’s something about children’s artwork and activities that brings a space to life.

“RiverPlace will be home to both Warroad Summer Theater and the Folk School, " continued John. “The multi-generation learning classroom at the center will give the Folk School another space to hold classes. It’s a great classroom for art demonstrations and children’s activities as well.”

Entering the Performance Hall is truly a breathtaking experience, with its multi-level theater seating, including coveted upper mezzanine seating, acoustic walls and immense video screen.

“The commercial kitchen is strategically located near the 320-seat performance hall for dinner theater performances, as well as catered events held in the performance hall and on the outside patio,” reported John. “Documentaries can be viewed on the 20’ x 30’ video screen, which will provide a backdrop for Warroad Summer Theater performances as well.

“The design of the performance hall allows the pit seating to be removed, and the remainder of the seats to retract into the back wall,” continued John. “The multi-level floor can be flattened into one level to provide space for numerous events from conferences to weddings. RiverPlace has all the necessary tables, chairs, linens, dinnerware, and cutlery needed to host catered events. The back-of-the-house contains two dressing rooms with attached bathrooms.”

Warroad RiverPlace has a feature that no other art and cultural center offers.

“I did a lot of research, including research in Scandinavian countries, and although I found centers that were accessible through multiple ways, I didn’t find a center that was specifically designed for people to access from boats, canoes, and kayaks, snowmobiles, cross country skis and ice skates,” said John. “ We will be coordinating with Riverbend Skate Path during the winter months for access to RiverPlace. The center will be a convenient place for Snowmobile Clubs and other Sportsmans’ Clubs to meet. RiverPlace truly is for everyone!”

Designed by HGA Architects and Engineers, M.A. Mortenson Company began construction on Riverplace in 2023. A “Grand Welcoming” celebration is scheduled for Saturday, October 5, 2024, a day of free, family-friendly festivities to mark the formal opening of the center.

The opening ceremony begins at noon on Saturday, October 5, with welcoming remarks, and an opening ceremony with the Smokey Hill Drum Singers. A welcome to the theater performance will be performed by Let’s Dance Studio.

Explore RiverPlace at 1:30 p.m. on your own, or take a guided tour at 3 p.m. or 3:30 p.m. Visit with Warroad Summer Theater to learn more about the performance hall and view “The Power of Stone” film, featuring artist Lew French, at 2:30 p.m.

Crafts and demos will be held both inside the classroom as well as outdoors. Learn beading, snowshoe lacing, wood carving, and other crafts. Experience outdoor activities including face painting, chainsaw carving, and blacksmithing.

There will be an artist reception in the art gallery from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Mingle with local artists and enjoy complimentary hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar. The art gallery will be open all day.

Then in the evening, from 7-9 p.m., the Grand Welcoming Concert will feature musicians Jonas Fisher, Molly McDonald, Andrea Warkentin, Sarah Homme, Emmett Marvin, and the Warroad High School Choir. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Warroad RiverPlace is located at 103 State Avenue in Warroad and is a 501c3 non-profit organization made possible by a lead donation from Frank and Margaret Marvin, as well as generous community support and investment. The center relies on support from foundations, community members, and grants.

Attend RiverPlace Grand Welcoming and make Warroad RiverPlace your place!