Since its founding in 1981, Grand Center has established itself as one of the top arts and cultural hubs in St. Louis. From its galleries and concert venues, to its various arts festivals, Grand Center provides a vibrant experience for both residents and visitors of the midtown neighborhood. One way Grand Center has gone above and beyond in inspiring the growth of the arts is its support of the Metropolitan Artist Lofts.

Built over a century ago, the Metropolitan Building has a special place within the St. Louis community. After years of vacancy, the building was renovated and opened as a place for artists to live and collaborate in 2012. Renovations included creation of 72 one- and two-bedroom apartments; dance, visual art, and sound studios; and a complete gallery on the first floor.

To date, the Metropolitan Artist Lofts are fully occupied by a range of artists including painters, photographers, dancers and musicians. Last year, A&E had the pleasure of visiting the lofts, touring a resident artist’s apartment, as well as the studio and gallery space downstairs. The sense of community and love for the arts is evident, from the respect of the shared studio space and gallery, as well as the collaborative relationships between tenants.

Each month, the Metropolitan Artist Lofts open its gallery for the Art at the Met’s First Fridays in Grand Center exhibition. This month’s exhibit will feature resident artist DeAnna Michele’s “African:American” and  “Minority Report,” which focus on social and political awareness in our community. The exhibition will be held this evening from 6-9pm, and will also include a talk with the artist and spoken word performance.

For more information on the Metropolitan Artist Lofts, visit http://www.metropolitanartistlofts.com/For more information on Art at the Met’s First Friday exhibition, visit http://firstfridaysgrandcenter.org/