Long-awaited 'Immersive Van Gogh' exhibition's Minneapolis opening date delayed again

The opening of a heavily promoted Van Gogh exhibit has been delayed twice by a building permit issue at the former Minneapolis warehouse where the show is being set up.

And now it looks like ticket-holders will have to wait even longer.

The "Immersive Van Gogh" exhibition takes viewers on a one-hour tour of about 400 of the artist's paintings projected onto the walls, ceilings and floors of the one-time warehouse in northeast Minneapolis.

It was originally scheduled to open Aug. 2, then Thursday, but now it won't open until Friday, Saturday or Monday, pending the completion of a final inspection from the city of Minneapolis.

Reached Wednesday night, city spokeswoman Sarah McKenzie said the initial plan did not meet the city's building code.

"The city asked their architect to work on an alternative plan that included more safety features to keep people safe," she said. The architect submitted an alternative plan that the city signed off on, she said, and the permit should be issued in a day or two.

Tom Ward of Mission Construction, which is doing the work, said the city has "transformed" the way it processes permits. "It's a little bit longer process than it used to be, and there's no codebook for how you build out an 'immersive experience,' " he said.

The company first applied for a commercial building permit in early July, and said the process usually takes two to three weeks. The one-story former warehouse had previously been used as a split office/industrial and retail space.

"This building was never used as a public place where 100 people might be coming in and out," exhibit spokesman Nick Harkins said about the venue, Lighthouse Minneapolis. "We are transforming it into a public space and awaiting the final occupancy permit that allows us to use it in this new configuration."

Tickets for the buzzworthy show went on sale at the end of March, with most costing $50 (prices vary by time). An advertising blitz hit the Twin Cities, including billboards and a steady stream of ads on social media.

Variations of "Immersive Van Gogh" have been shown at 29 cities in the United States, and 11 cities in Europe and Asia.

The show includes 500,000 cubic feet of projections, 60,600 frames of video and 90,000,000 pixels that promise to immerse Minneapolis audiences in classic Van Gogh pieces, from "Sunflowers" to "The Bedroom" and more.

People who reserved tickets for opening day have already been offered new times.

Those who have had to reschedule visits should be able to do so because "the show was undersold a little bit, so hopefully we could get everyone in," said Harkins.

An "Immersive Van Gogh" producer said that there also is an opportunity to extend the show a few days if necessary.

Until the opening date is decided, fans will have to dream a bit longer about starry nights.

Alicia Eler • 612-673-4437

@AliciaEler