Northside Arts Collective was started in 2001 with a series of potluck dinners around the Northside to gather artists in conversation and to make connections. These events produced a list of nearly 300 residents who considered themselves artists of one sort or another. The common thread was this need to connect with other artists and to create events that showcase the arts in our community.

An event at the Theodore Wirth Chalet in the Fall of 2002 brought together an Ad Hoc Committee who began to build the organization from the ground up. Over the next couple of years, the Artists Roundtable was adopted into Northside Arts Collective, the Spring Art Party was launched, public art benches were commissioned and partnerships began to form and helped direct our mission in the community.

The first Board of Directors was elected in November 2005 and non-profit status was granted in March 2006. In July 2006, we set up an office at the Capri Theater and hired its first part-time Executive Director in January 2007. We now have over 200 members and are made up of individual artists, patrons, arts organizations and businesses and is supported by contributions, grants, fundraisers, membership dues, sponsorships, art sales and fees for services.