Next April will mark the tenth anniversary of the Hook and Ladder theater in south Minneapolis. Hook and Ladder has been a versatile venue for various performances. But, in the past few years, increasing costs and decreasing revenues have led the theater to seek help from the community.
The venue launched the “I Love the Hook” fundraiser in September to prevent closure before Halloween. With many local music venues closing, such as the bar and venue Palmer’s, the performing arts community has put a spotlight on Hook and Ladder for its prominence and longtime support.
“We’ve got a lot of anxiety and apprehension [towards the current economy],” Hook and Ladder Executive Director Chris Mozena said. “Because we are non-profit and organized the way we are and have sort of a mission instead of an ownership structure, we’re in a position to fundraise.”
Originally serving as a firehouse in the 1800s, Hook and Ladder has gone from being a place of modern dance all the way to the rock ‘n’ roll performance hub that it is today.
With four stages, indoor and outside, the cost of maintenance, upkeep, insurance, and other expenses can add up. In 2024, the National Independent Venue Association found that 64% of indie venue stages were non-profitable. Mozena said the 2025 numbers will be equally challenging.
Orchestra teacher Nick Gaudette has performed multiple times at Hook and Ladder.
“It has an opportunity to be a place of belonging for people in the community, which is why the fundraiser is trying to promote it to stay alive,” Gaudette said. “Anytime that a city supports the creating of a performance base, it’s going to be healthy, no matter what, no matter what side of the political divide or anything like that. Art just means more people coming together and more people connecting.”
Over 630 people have supported Hook and Ladder’s fundraiser, passing two-thirds of its $75,000 goal. Mozena said people can support the venue in other ways, the easiest being attending a live event.
“We are cautiously optimistic, but feeling very loved and validated by our community,” Mozena said.
