About 825 Arts
Formerly Victoria Theater Arts Center
The mission of the Victoria Theater Arts Center is to build community power by providing a creative home that incubates the arts and amplifies the voices of all people in the neighborhood.
- Intergenerational: We will create spaces and opportunities for people of all ages with a focus on bringing generations together.
- Authenticity: Acting with integrity to the place, the people, and the art of the community.
- Inclusivity: We will allow people to show up and participate as their whole selves: All People, All Art.
- Radical Hospitality: We will be a gathering place that is accessible and welcoming, takes care of people and treats them with respect, and is a home for everyone.
- Justice: Our work will seek to be restorative and promote equity through healing, reparative action, providing opportunity, and righting wrongs.
- Mentorship: We will lay a foundation for the future by valuing the knowledge in the community and passing it on.
- Stewardship: We will be wise and accountable with our physical, fiscal and relational resources.
We envision a vibrant neighborhood where the arts welcome, heal, transform and build power for the people of Frogtown and Rondo. The vision for the future of the Victoria Theater Arts Center is captured through authentic community engagement.
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825’s History
1915
The Victoria Theater is built to show silent movies. Over the next 70 years, Victoria was reinvented as a café, dance hall, cabaret, and finally a lighting store.
1983
The Victoria Theater is first surveyed as and designated as a site of “Major Significance.”
1999
The Victoria Theater becomes a vacant property, privately owned.
2010
The community organizes to “save the Victoria” after it is threatened to be razed and turned into a parking lot. Frogtown Neighborhood Association plays a key role in the coordination and community organizing in this effort.
2011
2012
The Frogtown Neighborhood Association (FNA) organizes a coalition of community members as a steering committee to plan future use for the Victoria as a community arts space. This group then becomes the Victoria Theater Arts Initiative (VTAI).
2014
Through coordination with FNA, the Twin Cities Community Land Bank purchases the Victoria Theater on behalf of FNA. The first Frogtown Arts Festival is held.
2015
VTAI is awarded $63,000 to create market feasibility, financial, and fundraising plans.
2016
The City of Saint Paul pledges $632,000 for building stabilization and purchase.
2017
VTAI becomes the Victoria Theater Arts Center (VTAC), an official 501(c)3 organization.
VTAC Hires its first Executive Director (Funded by the Mardag & Bigelow foundations), as well as a team of fundraising consultants (funded by the Katherine B Anderson foundation) to begin the capital campaign process.
2019
The community organizes to “save the Victoria” after it is threatened to be razed and turned into a parking lot. Frogtown Neighborhood Association plays a key role in the coordination and community organizing in this effort.
2020
2021
VTAC officially purchases 825 University from the Twin Cities Land Bank, brings on two additional staff members, and creates its MINECRAFT server
2022
VTAC holds its first building competition in our MINECRAFT server, VTAC takes over the HOPE NEWS program, VTAC hosts the first SPEAK OUT & LEAD Youth Arts Festival, VTAC receives a $2M grant from the Mellon Foundation for its capital campaign
2023
2024
VTAC brings on 2 additional FT staff; construction completed, VTAC changes name to 825 Arts, 825 Arts opens to the public
Board of Directors
The Victoria Theater Arts Center is built of community members who dream of a permanent creative home for our neighborhood.
Sign up to volunteer here.
Aki Shibata
Board Chair
Aki Shibata, Board Chair, (she/her/hers and they/them)
Aki is an artist, teacher, and facilitator who creates spaces for everyone to feel who they are. Aki’s talent is building community and connecting people. An organized, creative educator who asks the important questions, Aki has taught diversity, equity, and inclusion for over ten years. Her list of current community engagement projects include a commission for public art at Rondo Library and the ongoing behavioral art practice Don’t You Feel it Too?. Aki is a co-founder of Carry on Homes, an immigrant-run artist group, and an Associate at Forecast Public Art. A Japanese immigrant and proud Frogtown homeowner, Aki is also a board member of the Frogtown Neighborhood Association, a part of FreshLo: Food, Art, and Culture in Frogtown and Rondo, and teaches preschool at the Minnesota Japanese School. A passionate cook, mother, and host, she loves sharing her home with family including a lovely husband, John, and 8-year-old Atom, friends, and neighbors through parties, good food, and an always-open door. Aki received her BFA in photography from the College of Visual Arts in St. Paul. Aki believes the Victoria will be an equity-centered space where people can express their full selves and be brave enough to create the change they want to see.
Chris Wilbourn
Chris Wilbourn, (he/him/his)
Musician Chris Wilbourn is a big-picture thinker and strong communicator whose roots in the community anchor his passion and vision for the Victoria. Chris is valued for his generosity, loyalty, curiosity, and verbosity. His band Heiruspecs has not only rapped and sung the future of St. Paul for over 20 years but has also invested back into the community. Through the Heiruspecs Scholarship, in conjunction with the St. Paul Central Scholarship Foundation, they have given away over $50,000 in scholarships to Central High School graduates looking to pursue secondary education in the arts. As a financial crimes investigator for Wells Fargo, Chris has a good command of informational sensitivity and is comfortable working in diverse settings with diverse people—a skill he’s honed since childhood growing up in Midway, Frogtown, and Rondo. Father of two, he’s a lover of hip-hop and house music, teaching his sons to grow their own food, and the kind of fast cars that would be at home in the Porky’s parking lot or the Sun Foods parking lot 10 years ago. Chris has seen too many artists without a home for their art leave Frogtown, and knows the Victoria has the potential to be that home, as well as a community anchor in its fight against displacement and loss of identity. Its contagious energy will make it a cultural landmark for St. Paul—a place for community engagement, enrichment, and excitement.
Dantes Ha
Vice Chair
Dantes Ha, Vice Chair (he/him/his)
Dantes was born in Viet Nam and moved to the United States at the age of 11. Having lived in Frogtown for over 20 years, he understands firsthand the needs and wants of this community. Frogtown, while important as a transitional neighborhood for many new immigrants to St. Paul, has often been long overlooked in terms of social amenities. As a student of design and an architect in training, Dantes believes that community driven design is transformative and can help bring about justice, equality, and a better quality of life. This is why Dantes believes in the Victoria Arts Center; because it is a combination of his interest in community driven design and it is exactly the thing that will make Frogtown a better place.
Walken Schweigert
Board Secretary
Walken Schweigert, Board Secretary (he/him/his)
Walken is a queer/transgender actor, musician, composer and director from St. Paul, MN. A 2019 Jerome Foundation Fellow, he is a 2009 graduate of the Dell’ Arte International School for Physical Theatre, and a 2006 graduate of the Perpich Center for Arts Education (Theatre Major). Currently, he performs with the poetic-folk band Buffalo Weavers (Minneapolis, MN) and the Occult-inspired, witch-pop, Detroit-based band CRUNE. He is also the Founder/Artistic Director of Open Flame Theatre. Walken grew up in the Midway/Frogtown/Rondo neighborhoods, and after many travels moved back to Frogtown in 2020 to stay. He is strongly committed to organizational autonomy, sustainability, and grassroots community connection and is very excited to root those passions in his position as Board Secretary for 825 Arts.
Sarah Snapp
Treasurer
Sarah Snapp, Treasurer (she/her/hers)
Sarah Snapp retired from a varied career in human services and education. Highlights of her career include working as an individual and family therapist in residential and outpatient settings, being the founding mother of a school-based violence prevention program and founding member of the Critical Incident Response Team in Ramsey County, and as the administrator of federal programs and budget director for the Minneapolis Public Schools. Since retiring in 2013 Sarah has served in a variety of volunteer roles with Second Harvest Heartland, The American Refugee Committee (now Alight), the Vital Aging Network, Vision Loss Resources and with community groups advocating for students and families in the St. Paul Public Schools. Sarah lives in St. Paul where she enjoys hiking in beautiful Minnesota parks, needlecrafts, and cooking for friends. As the pandemic recedes she looks forward to returning to in-person theater and music events.
David Valentine
David Valentine (he/him/his)
Born in Burnaby, British Columbia and raised in the Pacific Northwest, David Valentine is a writer, woodcarver, musician, and conversationalist who specializes in internal culture change and community engagement at the Science Museum of Minnesota, though he has worked with various museums and cultural institutions. Having moved to Minneapolis in 2020, his current focus is on power sharing, dialogue, and collaboration with communities, seeking to subvert white supremacist culture in the organizations he works for and create fertile ground for genuine relationships to grow from. He is also currently a Community Science Dialogue and Deliberation Fellow for the Association of Science and Technology Centers. David has founded, chaired, and been a member for various committees for inclusion, diversity, equity, accessibility, including the Seattle Cultural Accessibility Consortium, the Seattle Center Racial Equity Cohort, and MASS Action’s Anti-Racism Community of Practice. He has also founded, participated in, or volunteered for cooperative screenwriting groups, musical collaborations, and community organizations. He utilizes his practices to focus on shifting personal perspectives and behaviors, balancing his focus between the self and the community. His work revolves around addressing or recovering from racial disparities and injustices in our society, is constantly informed by community needs and values, and is in continuous development.
Erica Valliant
Erica Valliant (she/her/hers)
Erica is a change maker, organizer, and mom. As a member of the Saint Paul Promise Neighborhood Parent Council she has worked to make life better for parents and families by advocating for housing rights at the capitol, participating in MN 2-GEN discussions, and serving as a member of the Regional Expert Network for Heading Home Together: Minnesota’s 2018–2020 Action Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness. She serves on the Board of Directors of her neighborhood planning council and is a member of her children’s school P.T.A and the Ramsey County low-income Citizen’s Advisory Council.
As a Community Engagement Specialist for the Science Museum of Minnesota she works to root the approach of access and equity efforts in community and foster a stronger relationship between POCI and STEM. As an organizer and facilitator for the Education Partnership Coalition she works to build power in communities throughout Minnesota by helping caregivers and staff who work with families recognize and exercise their advocacy muscles. Her work with families and communities was recognized through a 2018 Unsung Hero Award from Minnesota Communities Caring for Children.
Holly (Miskitoos) Henning
Holly (Miskitoos) Henning (She/Hers/Her)
Tribal Affiliations: Marten Falls Anishinaabe First Nation and Constance Lake Oji-Cree First Nation
Holly is a mother, a Jingle Dress dancer, a visual artist, and muralist who is a lead organizer for an all BIPOC artist collective called City Mischief Murals in the Twin Cities area. She utilizes art to elevate community voice, healing, and advance change. She has been a part of community arts-based events and mural projects throughout the United States, Canada, Africa, and Mexico. She uses acrylic paint, aerosol paint, traditional Native American artforms and dance as a personal and political tool to address, explore and portray contemporary indigenous struggle.
Holly enjoys connection to nature, being a good relative and spending time with family.
Holly works for Ain Dah Yung Center (neighboring 825 Arts) overseeing programs dedicated to using traditional/ holistic healing working with Native youth experiencing sexual exploitation/ human trafficking, survival sex and homelessness. Holly has been part of several Safe Harbor protocol development efforts across the state of Minnesota, is a member of the MN Human Trafficking Task Force and is on the Steering Committee for Heading Home Ramsey Continuum of Care working to end homelessness in Saint Paul and Ramsey County.
Holly supports and sees the Victoria Theater Arts Center as a safe space for artists, and for community to come together in Saint Paul.
Chi Miigwetch! Ninaskomtin!
Rosalyn Smaller
Rosalyn Smaller (she/her/hers)
My Name is Rosalyn Smaller Sellers, a descendant born and raised in the Rondo Community. My family has contributed in helping build this community of Business owners, athletes to professional athletes and coaches. My Mother is the first black woman to own a floral shop in the Rondo neighbor Bouquets by Carolyn. My uncle Floyd Smaller and My father are two of the founders of Rondo days. I graduated from central high school excelling in track and earned a track scholarship. I grew up watching my family be caregivers which I took after as well. I fell in love with children and the outdoors.I am a mother, one son and have 4 beautiful grandchildren. I have worked in Minneapolis and St Paul school district, I was the Family Coordinator, at the Family Place homeless shelter, I coached track for I.C.A.A track association. During my cancer journey I started a 501(C) (3) nonprofit organization our mission is: working with women who are affected with breast cancer to support healing before, during and after treatments we would support women by having support groups fundraiser events to triathlons, pancake breakfasts and we would send out gift of faith baskets to survivors. I started Rozislillovizs LLC licensed Child Care. I have been operating my child care for thirteen years which I love. My child care is built around a community of volunteers coming in and showing the children how to garden.
Isabel Nelson
Isabel Nelson, Board Secretary
Isabel Nelson (she/they) is a performer, director, and theatre creator in the Twin Cities. She also works full time at her alma mater of Macalester College in the Lealtad Suzuki Center for Social Justice as the team’s administrative coordinator. She has degrees in Theater and Religious Studies from Macalester (2004), Lecoq-Based Actor-Created Theater from the London International School of Performing Arts (LISPA) (2008), and is currently pursuing her MDiv in Theology and the Arts at United Theological Seminary (anticipated graduation: 2024). She served as founding Artistic Director of award-winning physical theater ensemble Transatlantic Love Affair (TLA) from its founding in 2010 until 2021, and remains a core company member. With TLA, Isabel conceived and directed Ballad of the Pale Fisherman (2012 Ivey Award for Emotional Impact), Red Resurrected, Emilie/Eurydice,The Devout, and After the Fires, and performed and collaborated on four additional original works. Other directing credits include work with Black Dirt Theater, Macalester College, and Theater Unbound. As a performer, she has worked with the Children’s Theater Company, Live Action Set, Jon Ferguson Theatre, Four Humors, and Walking Shadow Theater Company, among others. Isabel has been honored with an Emerging Artist Ivey (2012), and the National Theater Conference’s Outstanding Emerging Professional Award (2015). She is mother to two beautiful, rambunctious, tender-hearted children.
Anh Thu T. Pham
Anh Thu T. Pham
Anh Thu T. Pham is the Managing Director at Theater Mu where she is the first Asian American managing director for the company. A 1.5 generation refugee from Viet Nam who grew up in Minnesota, her midwestern Asian American identity informs her cultural practice. Anh Thu had served on the boards of Pangea World Theater, Ananya Dance Theater, the New Arab American Theater Works as well as an advisory board member for the University of Minnesota Institute for Advanced Study and the Star Tribune’s Community Advisory Committee. She had received a grant from the Minnesota Humanities Center Veterans Voices Advisory Committee to research refugee experiences from the Viet Nam War. Anh Thu has worked as a cultural consultant for the Guthrie Theater in their production of Vietgone and the Stages Theatre’s adaptation of A Different Pond. She was a curator for Chawrchā, a choreographer’s lab for Ananya Dance Theater. She currently serves on the board of Northern Lights MN and the East Side Freedom Library.
Staff
Tyler Olsen-Highness
Executive Director
Tyler Olsen-Highness, Executive Director (He/Him/His)
Tyler Olsen-Highness is a theater artist, producer, director, administrator, and teacher who knows how to get things done, connect people, and lead adventures. An outgoing leader, he is the founder of the non-profit Dangerous Productions and has produced over 70 artistic and community inspired projects in the past seven years. He is especially proud of the development of HOPE NEWS, a youth-created positive news broadcast out of Frogtown, featuring youth interviews of people doing amazing work in our community. He has produced work of, by, and for the community of Frogtown for six years. Tyler served the Victoria Theater project for 7 years as a project manager, events producer, advisory board member, board chair and member of the executive, building, and fundraising committees before becoming executive director in 2019. He believes the organization has the chance to build the arts center of the future—a center for the neighborhood to share, celebrate, and question. When he isn’t creating art or leading change, Tyler enjoys outdoor adventures, music, theater, and time with his wife Amy, dog Marigold, and cat Kitty.
Mercedes Yarbrough
Community Engagement Manager
Mercedes Yarbrough, Community Engagement Manager (She/Her)
Introducing Mizz Mercedez, the incredible educator and mom of 4 boys from Saint Paul’s Rondo neighborhood. She’s on a mission to inspire kids to dream big, unlock their superpowers, and save the world! At 825 Arts, Mercedes is all about building community relationships, organizing engaging events, and partnering with organizations to showcase the arts. Mercedes loves sports! She also enjoys reading, and writing short comic stories. She loves to create memories for others!
#LoveIsPOWER
Sara Smith
Minecraft Coordinator, Interim Communications Manager
Sara Smith, Minecraft Coordinator, Interim Communications Manager (They/Them)
Sara Smith is 825’s Minecraft Coordinator, leading our digital version of 825 Arts! Sara designs our Minecraft programming, putting on our weekly open hours and quarterly Minecraft events. They also work with our awesome youth leaders (permanent youth staff, our year-round youth volunteers and our yearly intern cycle). Along with their work at 825, Sara is also an academic, studying online community space and how it fosters connection between people. In their free time, they like to garden, do art, and explore all the green spaces the Twin Cities have to offer.
Matt Alto
Operations & Facilities Director
Matthew Alto, Operations & Facilities Director (He/Him)
Matt is a jack of all trades and a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Essex. Training in theater as an actor, director, stagehand/manager, writer and producer, he got his undergraduate degree from the University of Minnesota. He has learned and worked on shows around the globe including; Chicago, New Zealand, London & Moscow. When not doing theater he has worked as an office jockey, DQ manager, teacher, landscaper, and an HVAC specialist, just to name a few. To keep his creative muscles out of atrophy he produces shows with The Drollery at the MN Fringe Festival and performs unprov with Fantastic Voyage Improv. If he’s not attending a show or walking his dog Zinnia he might be found down by the river singing songs with his ukulele.
Nehemiah Jett
Relationship Manager
Nehemiah Jett, Relationship Manager (He/him/his )
Nehemiah is tasked with creating and maintaining relationships between 825 Arts and Donors. He will also oversee the volunteer and intern processes as well as developing our artist membership programs. Nehemiah is a jack of all trades when it comes to his career path, from server, to community outreach, to childcare, to client advocate, to dishwasher, to low budget party magician, and bring pieces of his learned expertise from each position to now serve 825 Arts and the community. He grew up in Frogtown and is excited to be a part of something that not only impacts the community that nurtured him but expands to neighborhoods across the Twin Cities and beyond.
Royce Johnson
Minecraft Youth Leader
Royce Johnson, Minecraft Youth Leader (He/Him/His)
Royce is the Minecraft Youth Leader, moderating server events, running in-person Minecraft programs, and assisting with server maintenance. He completed high school at Great River School and is currently pursuing a Computer Science degree at Macalester College. Outside of academics, he enjoys programming and doing complex origami in his free time.
Youth Arts Leadership Team
Youth Arts Leadership Team
The Youth Arts Leadership team is a fantastic crew of youth workers who take charge at 825! From helping with programming to running our yearly Speak Out And Lead Festival, they do it all.
Thank you to Our Funders!
thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.
