Circle Up Cultural Arts Festival
Groundswell
Common Ground
Seismic Transformation
Cross Cultural Understanding
May -July, 2026 + August -October, 2026
About Circle Up
Cultural Arts Festival
Full Circle’s Circle Up Program is committed to the development of new work by Twin Cities artists including training and mentorship. The Groundswell Cultural Arts festival runs for 8 weeks in the spring featuring partnerships and accessible workshops, gatherings and events in St. Paul, South & North Minneapolis, St. Anthony, Rochester, Worthington, Richfield and Faribault.
2026 artists include actors, playwrights, poets, directors, choreographers, design artists and dramaturgs; Alex Baretto-Hathoway, Mohammed Badoon, King Jackson, Nora Montanez-Patterson, Taja Will, Nathan Yungerberg, Quinci Bachman, Iris Hernandez, Cicada Brown, Laurine Chang, Aishe Keita, Jacquline Stauder, Skye Seiler, Jess Henning, Arantza Martinez-Miranda, Tristen Rey and more. The community is invited to participate in one or many offerings. Events are free of charge with invited donations.
Upcoming Events
Come play with clay! Lead by Scenic/Lighting Designer Jacqulin StauderThu, Aug 13Boom Island Park
Circle Up Groundswell: Fade by Tanya Saracho, Dir. Nora Montañez PattersonMon, Jul 13Carleton Artist Lofts
Circle Up Groundswell: Embodied Stretch + Breath w/ AsheMon, Jul 13Northside Artist Lofts
Circle Up Groundswell: '04 By King JacksonMon, Jun 291310 Quincy St NE
Featured Events
June
Activate
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Conversation series: Black Leadership: Surviving vs Thriving - Virtual, Hands On
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June 10 Cultivate - Virtual 5:30-7:00pm
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Play with Clay with Designer Jacqulin Stauder - Boom Island
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Staged Reading: Errands by King Jackson - Virtual
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Stage Management with Quinci Bachman - Monday June 15, 19, 29. 6:00pm
Experiment
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Storytime for Tots: with Ashawnti Sakina Ford - June 6, Capri Theater Festival, 12:00pm
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Conversation series: Black Leadership: Cultivating Success - Virtual
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Workshop: Poetry & Open Mic with Laurine Chang - June 13, 6:00pm, Indigenous Roots
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Workshop: Digging into Heightened Text with Sha Cage - Wednesdays 6:00pm
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Storycircle with Granite Falls residents and Alex Barreto Hathaway
Release
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Herbs + Creative Healing Space with Aishe Keita - Virtual June 12, 5:30pm
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Vocal play with Kashimana Ahua - Stillwater, MN
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Conversation series: Black Leadership: Expanding Capacity - Virtual
July
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Embodied Movement for Immigrants with Ashe Jaafaru - Northside Artist Lofts
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Training, Working with Ntozake Shange's Choreopoems - Rochester MN, July 7th 4:00pm
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Filmmaking workshop for beginners on cell phones - Rochester MN, July 8th
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Reading: For Colored Girls - Rochester MN, July 8-9th 4:00pm
Awaken
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Reading, FADE Directed by Nora Montanez Patterson featuring Isa Condo and James Rodriquez, - Virtual, July 12, 9:30am
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Collaging: Open Streets Lyndale - St. Paul Park . All abilities, and levels welcome (Email w/ interest)
Stretch
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Explore Sound: A Workshop on Q-Lab - A great skill to know for stage managing/sound designing a show
Email Full Circle Academy with Interest and date requests.
August
SHATTERED
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A Partnership w/ Refuge Church on topics of Family, Community and Addiction.
October
ALMA
by Benjamin Benne w/ Discussions on Citizenship and Displacement - October 28-November 2nd.
November
OURS
curated by Shá Cage with Conversations on Nourishment and Food Insecurity
featuring BakiBakiBaki, Ashe Jafaaru and Arantza Martinez-Miranda
- Select Dates in October + November 2026 (weather reliant)
Performance and Ticketing Information
Pricing
Every event is Pay as You Are Able in accordance with our Mission and Core Values.
Those who are able, are asked to pay the fair market price of $35-45 per ticket. All patrons are able to pick a sliding ticket price from $15 - $55.
A select number of all access complimentary $0-14 tickets are available for community members who need them most.
No one turned away. Email us at info@fullcircletheatermn.org to request this ticket two days prior to your visit.
For those who are able to pay above the market price, your additional dollars will support the ticket price of those who need it most.
All events are General Admission.
For box office questions email: fullcircletheatertickets@gmail.com
Covid-19 Policy
Audience Vaccination policy
It is no longer required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or negative test results to attend performances.
Audience Mask Policy
Masks are required for all Saturday matinee performances of Cost of Living.
Audience Responsibility
We ask that guests stay home if they are sick or exposed to COVID-19. Please contact the box office to transfer your tickets to another performance, donate your tickets, or request a refund. Contact the ticket office at fullcircletheatermn.org
We will continue to update this page as we gather new information and will share pertinent updates through email and social media. Please check back as the details and requirements may change.
Thank you for your support and adaptability and we look forward to seeing you at the theatre!