Lundstrum Welcomes Charles Caldwell to its Board of Directors
New Lundstrum board member Charles Caldwell
With the start of new school year, Lundstrum welcomes Charles Caldwell to it board of directors. Charles is an artist and longtime resident of North Minneapolis. Charles said he was honored by the invitation to join the board, and was officially voted in at Lundstrum’s August board meeting.
Charles’ relationship with Lundstrum goes beyond his new position as board member. A North Minneapolis artist who owns a gallery not far from Lundstrum’s studios, Charles says he’s always appreciated Lundstrum’s role in the community and has had several of his grandchildren attend, currently Jaden Caldwell who is part of Lundstrum’s conservatory program.
Charles Caldwell’s iconic 4th Street Saloon mural welcomes people to North Minneapolis.
Charles presents his original portrait of faculty member Patrick Moore at Lundstrum’s 2022 Gala.
Charles was recently celebrated as the Community Honoree at Lundstrum’s 2022 “Rollin on the River” Gala, an annual tribute to community members who are making a difference in our Northside community. At the event, Charles gifted Lundstrum an original drawing of the late Patrick Moore, a founding faculty member whose choreography and caring mentorship inspired so many Lundstrum students over the years. Charles’ portrait of Patrick now hangs in Lundstrum’s lobby, a meaningful homage from one artist to another.
Charles said, “I love Lundstrum and love what they offer young people for growth and development.” As a board member, Charles will now be a part of shaping and supporting Lundstrum’s growth and expansion of its work in the years ahead. His talents and perspectives will be important assets as Lundstrum continues to expand its mission of excellence and accessibility in the performing arts.
“I love Lundstrum and love what they offer young people
for growth and development.”
-Charles Caldwell
As Lundstrum board chair Terri Ashmore noted, “Charles’ first-hand experience of Lundstrum has made him a strong advocate for other children to get involved at Lundstrum. As an artist himself, Charles brings an understanding and appreciation of the importance of arts in children’s lives.”
Charles’ art celebrates the African American experience as a universal story of everyman, exploring the wonder, sorrows, and joys of life in every portrait. For over 40 years his illustrations of children playing, a grandmother feeding chickens, the bond between black men and women tell the stories of black people with love. His iconic 4th Street Saloon mural welcomes people to North Minneapolis. He believes in the power of art to celebrate cultures and lift spirits.
“I hope Lundstrum is able to achieve all its dreams and aspirations for growth.”
- Charles Caldwell
Charles and his family at the 2022 Lundstrum Gala
Charles and the entire Lundstrum board are committed to accessibility in the performing arts and are excited to launch Lundstrum’s new Northside Strong Scholarship this summer. This new scholarship program ensures that students can take classes for a pay-what-you-can rate. Any student living in North Minneapolis, Golden Valley, Brooklyn Center or Robbinsdale is eligible for a scholarship that can cover up to the full cost of classes. The scholarship application is part of the program’s regular application form. Once a Northside student applies, they’ll be contacted about a specific aid amount according to their need. Lundstrum is committed to serve all students regardless of financial circumstances.
Welcome to the board, Charles!