Art Studio Rental in Downtown Minneapolis: Month-to-Month Studios on Nicollet Mall

Zero Empty Spaces offers 13 artist studios at 815 Nicollet Mall, inside the former Walgreens in downtown Minneapolis. Each studio is private, utilities are included, and the agreement is month to month. Rent is $4 per square foot per month, so an average 96-square-foot studio is about $384 a month.

Quick answer

• Where: 815 Nicollet Mall, in the former Walgreens store

• What: One of 13 private artist studios

• Rent: $4 per square foot per month, utilities included

• Typical cost: About $384 a month for an average 96-square-foot studio

• Lease: Month to month, with no long-term lease requirement

Artist studios at 815 Nicollet Mall

Finding an affordable artist studio in Minneapolis can mean balancing monthly cost, location and flexibility. Zero Empty Spaces’ Nicollet Mall location brings those needs together in the downtown core, in a former retail space turned into working studios for local creatives.

The location has 13 artist studios. It’s for Twin Cities artists and makers looking for a private place to work, including illustrators and photographers. If you’re considering a studio, think about the space your practice needs and whether the available size will work for your materials and projects.

What does an artist studio cost in downtown Minneapolis?

The rate is $4 per square foot per month, with utilities included. The average studio is about 96 square feet. At that size, the estimated monthly rent is about $384.

The final cost depends on the studio’s square footage. That makes it useful to consider both the monthly amount and how much room you need to work comfortably. When you apply, confirm current studio dimensions and availability before making plans.

Utilities are included in the stated rate, which makes it easier to understand the main monthly studio cost. If you’re comparing artist studio space for rent in Minneapolis, compare both the size and what’s included, not just the headline price.

Month-to-month flexibility

These studios are offered month to month, with no long-term lease requirement. That flexibility can matter if you’re building a practice, changing how you work or simply don’t want to commit to a long lease.

A shorter commitment can also help you test whether a downtown studio fits your routine. You can have a private place to focus while remaining connected to a shared creative setting.

A downtown location with a public-facing purpose

The studios are at 815 Nicollet Mall, on a central downtown corridor. Working here means being part of a place where people walk, visit and spend time downtown. The project supports foot traffic and cultural engagement by bringing active creative work into a former storefront.

The Minneapolis location is a partnership with the Minneapolis Downtown Council, the Downtown Improvement District and the City of Minneapolis, with Uncommon Developers also named in press coverage. Together, the project brings artist workspaces into the downtown core and adds visible creative activity to Nicollet Mall.

For artists, a downtown studio offers a different setting from a workspace at home. It places your practice in a public-facing part of the city and makes the work of creating more visible to the surrounding community. See the Minnesota location page for location information.

Is this affordable artist studio space right for you?

A Nicollet Mall studio may suit you if you’re looking for a private workspace, value a month-to-month arrangement and want to work in downtown Minneapolis. With rent based on square footage, the average studio estimate gives you a starting point for planning.

Before applying, consider:

• How much room your work requires

• Whether the available studio size fits your practice

• Whether the monthly cost works for your budget

• How a downtown location fits your schedule and working habits

Zero Empty Spaces has worked with more than 1,000 artists as tenants and activated 250,000 square feet across six states. The Minneapolis studios are part of that broader effort to turn vacant space into active space.

How to apply for a Minneapolis artist studio

Start with the Rent Space form to share your interest in a studio. Before committing, ask the team to confirm current availability, the size of any studio you’re considering and its monthly cost.

The Rent Space form is the direct next step if you’re looking for an artist studio space for rent in Minneapolis.

Frequently asked questions

How much is an artist studio in downtown Minneapolis?

Rent is $4 per square foot per month, with utilities included. An average studio is about 96 square feet, which works out to roughly $384 per month.

Is there a long-term lease requirement?

No. The studios are month to month, with no long-term lease requirement.

Where are the studios located?

They’re at 815 Nicollet Mall, inside the former Walgreens store in downtown Minneapolis.

How many studios are there?

The Nicollet Mall location has 13 artist studios.

Apply for a studio on Nicollet Mall

If you’re looking for affordable artist studios downtown, the Nicollet Mall studios offer private workspace, included utilities and month-to-month flexibility in the Minneapolis downtown core. Apply to rent a space.