The grand opening of the Gichi-ziibi Center for the Arts featured band, choir, and theatre performances by Brainerd High School students. Watch this video to hear reactions from school district staff and community members about the state-of-the-art facility.
Gichi-ziibi means 'great river' in Ojibwe. "The new name brings us a step closer to acknowledging the indigenous lands, history, and current place of the Ojibwe people of the Brainerd Lakes Region," said Tribal Community Facilitator Susan Beaulieu. The Gichi-ziibi Center for the Arts is connected to Brainerd High School, which sits on the banks of the Mississippi River.
The 1,200-seat performing arts center is part of Brainerd's Blueprint 181 master plan, which includes multiple improvements across the district. Widseth is proud to be part of the team that designed the Gichi-ziibi Center for the Arts and we look forward to watching many amazing performances in the future!