Art without a price tag

Getting cultured doesn’t have to be intimidating. Sure, there’s a lot of art in the Twin Cities, but world-class art usually means a world-class income, right? Not so in these fair parts. Some of the greatest art in town can be seen at no cost to you, at galleries and museums where you can go to absorb the magnificence, bone up for an art class, or at least do some leg work for an otherwise uncomfortable date. No matter where you are, there’s bound to be an art gallery worth visiting within easy traveling distance.

First Amendment Art Gallery
Relatively small compared to the stereotypical art gallery, the two rooms of First Amendment are crammed full of the images and sounds of the up-and-coming. Run by a collection of poster artists and graphic designers, First Amendment displays the work of the group that that operates the gallery and their contemporaries—ranging from some of the area’s most notable tattoo artists to a performance by Beat Happening’s Calvin Johnson. Years from now, you can say you saw them when they were just getting big. 1101 Stinson Blvd., basement rooms A & B, (612) 379-4151, firstamendmentarts.com

Minneapolis Institute Of Arts
Part art museum, part archaeological archive, the MIA provides a bountiful mix of the old and new from around the world. Whether you’re looking to see some of the newest contemporary work or Greek statues pre-dating the fall of Rome, the MIA has you covered. It’s a popular destination for local elementary schools, so be on the lookout for hordes of wide-eyed children as you explore. 2400 Third Ave. S, (888) 642-2787, artsmia.org

Minnesota Museum Of American Art
Originally begun as a collecting wing of the St. Paul School of Art, the Minnesota Museum Of American Art expanded as its collection grew, moving its primary focus to exhibitions and research. In fact, the MMAA’s exclusive focus is on American art, with an impressive collection on display and a continuing mandate to acquire new pieces and pursue new artists in and out of Minnesota. Currently up: A cool collection of local graphic art, Hot Ink: Comic Art In Minnesota, and the election-themed Let Freedom Ring and Get Out The Vote: Design For Democracy. 50 W. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul, (651) 266-1030, mmaa.org

Northrup King Building
The historic Northrup King Building has evolved from a seed company to one of the most vibrant (and biggest) studio spaces around, holding over 130 artists and plays a big part in the annual art explosions that are Art-A-Whirl and Art Attack. The building opens itself up on the first Thursday of every month for free events and artist receptions. Sure, a museum will show you the art that’s been selected and picked over, but at the NKB you can see the art sometimes literally hot off the presses. 1500 Jackson St. NE, (612) 363-5612, northrupkingbuilding.com

Rogue Buddha Gallery
Just shy of its ninth anniversary, Nicholas Harper’s small gallery has gained a lot of prestige in a short time, being dubbed one of the most essential galleries in the country on more than one occasion, including plugs in GQ and on CNN. Looking at Rogue Buddha’s history, it’s not terribly surprising: Harper’s great eye has made the gallery a go-to zone for work by local up-and-coming artists like Ben Olson and Ryan Kelly, as well as established (and ultra-cool) guys like Jon Langford of The Mekons, who shows his paintings at Buddha whenever his band’s in town. 357 13th Ave. NE., (612) 331-3889, roguebuddha.com

Walker Art Center
Even if you’ve never been inside the Walker, you’ll recognize its distinctive architecture, with the new wing facing Hennepin Avenue like a burnished-steel robot head. The world-renowned multi-disciplinary institution is a major nexus in the Twin Cities’ cultural life, showcasing not only cutting-edge art, but film exhibitions, concerts, and so much more. Admission is normally $10, but every Thursday night you can get full access to the depths of one of the best-known galleries in the country. If you find yourself unable to wait until Thursday, make your way to the Sculpture Garden, which remains the popular price of zero dollars every day until midnight. 1750 Hennepin Ave., (612) 375-7600, walkerart.org

If these aren’t enough to get you started, almost every university and arts college has at least one free gallery. The University of Minnesota sports the Frank Gehry-designed Weisman Art Museum, an architectural wonder itself in addition to being home to hundreds of world-famous pieces. The U of M also sports galleries inside both the Minneapolis and St. Paul student unions. Macalester houses the Janet Wallace Fine Arts Gallery, which shows not only work by students but from artists around the world. No collection of school-based art galleries would be complete without Minneapolis College Of Art And Design’s, which is home to some of the first exhibitions from the artists you’ll start seeing everywhere soon, plus established regional artists.