Main Street School of Performing Arts Ready for Relocation
New name, new building, new curriculum set the stage for bright future / Click here to see the building renovations underway
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Robert Thompson | Director of Outreach and Development
952-224-1345 | rthompson@msspahs.org
Hopkins, MN: (April 25, 2017)
After 14 successful years in downtown Hopkins, Main Street School of Performing Arts (MSSPA) is preparing for its relocation to 7255 Flying Cloud Drive in Eden Prairie and
the start of the 2017-18 school year. Just four miles from MSSPA’s current location, the renovated 77,500 square-foot facility will offer a world of new opportunities and bring exciting changes to the school’s name, curriculum, and community outreach.
With expanded programming and community engagement, and the fact that the school will no longer be on “Main Street,” the MSSPA board determined a new name was in order. The entire facility will be known as the Performing Institute of Minnesota (PIM), and the high school within the complex will be called the PIM Arts High School.
“The name change was not a decision we made lightly,” said Robert Thompson, MSSPA director of outreach and development. “We spent considerable time researching and meeting with stakeholders including students, parents, alumni, faculty, and others. The relocation provided the impetus to deeply examine our personal approach and commitment to education and artistic excellence. The new name better reflects our stature as the region’s leading arts educator, the caliber of our curriculum, and our commitment to provide meaningful artistic experiences beyond high school to the broader community.”
The new facility provides space for increased enrollment, new course offerings, state-of-the-art technology, teaching tools and spaces, and expanded after-school opportunities for students of all ages. The school is also engaged in $2.5 million capital campaign to renovate the existing gymnasium into a multi-purpose performance space that will serve the school and broader community.
“The Performing Institute of Minnesota will be an arts hub for the southwest metro and beyond, pairing our college preparatory high school curriculum with stimulating arts activities for the community during the evenings and weekends, and a space to view and offer performance for all,” said Matt McFarlane, executive director. “This is a resource truly lacking in the area, and we are excited to build an impactful presence. “
The 2017-18 school year at PIM Arts High School will offer two new tracts of study: Media Arts will include classes in photography, film and video, design; and Visual Arts coursework will include classes in painting, drawing, sculpture, and more. On June 3, as the changes begin, MSSPA’s All-School Reunion will give alumni the chance to gather for a farewell of the old facility and to celebrate their beloved school’s next chapter.
ABOUT PIM ARTS HIGH SCHOOL: Founded in 2003, as the Main Street School of Performing Arts (MSSPA), PIM Arts High School is a tuition-free, four-year charter high 
school offering exceptional academic and arts curriculum for students from the Twin Cities. With consistently high enrollment, above average test results, guest artist instructors, small class sizes, and the most student performances of any Twin Cities performing arts school, the school has achieved a reputation as a leader in arts and education. The University of St. Thomas has been MSSPA’s Authorizer since 2011.
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