In the basement of Powderhorn Park's Recreation Center on a recent evening, four middle school students sat socially distanced around instructor Mickey Breeze, a keyboard, laptop, speakers and other equipment, learning the ins and outs of music production and engineering.
"I already know how to make up beats and I didn't expect it," fifth-grader Nora Thul said. "But it was a good unexpected thing."
Playing on fields and playgrounds are what people usually think of when discussing after-school park programs. But the Minneapolis Park Board is hoping to foster different skills and interests through its new Creation Spaces.
The Creation Spaces are part of Assistant Superintendent of Recreation Tyrize Cox's plans to bring new classes to parks programming. Each space will be designed to give children an outlet to explore a different creative expression.
The production studio in Powderhorn Park is the first of four planned Creation Spaces, all of which will feature free programming for youth and teenagers. The funds come out of the department's budget.
"We want to bring it to kids for free," Cox said. "We see these spaces as a bit of an equalizer for young people who want to get into it when families may not have the resources."
The Powderhorn Creation Space is run by Urban World Management's Roberta Ryan and Tim Wilson. The two are music industry veterans and were drawn to the opportunity to give back to the local Minneapolis community.
With the studio outfitted with the latest technology, instructors start students with the basics of recording, producing and writing music before advancing into more complex topics and even diving into some videography work.
