FIRST FRIDAY | Center Street

Host: Mainframe Studios, Ballet Des Moines, Ruby B's, Tangerine Food Co, and more!

Time: 5:00 PM — 9:00 PM

Mainframe is pleased to host a special evening honoring the history of Center Street when it was a hub for Black culture and commerce.


Business and hundreds of households were displaced by the building of I-235 and the urban renewal projects that followed.

As Little Village has illustrated, Mainframe Studios is located near the former Sepia Club, which attracted the best local jazz and blues talent as well as traveling national acts. With the hope of sparking awareness and conversation, Mainframe has a full line up planned. We look forward to seeing you!

BALLET DES MOINES // 1st Floor |Experience a community-driven installtion titled We Who Care by artist Akwi Nji | Learn more |

SEPIA CLUB REVIVAL // 1st Floor | Your host Abena Imhotep of Sankofa Literary & Empowerment Group introduces appearances by: 

RUBY B's KITCHEN // 1st Floor | Pop-up dinner options brought to you by Southside proclaimed"legacy of love!"Plus a full bar of options by Tangerine Food Co. 

CENTER STREET // 2nd Floor | Learn local history through documents and images from the area provided by Little Village and the State Historical Society of Iowa.

CAMERON GRAY // 4th Floor | An exhibition of new work of video projects. [Bonus: Mark your calendars for an artist talk happening at 5PM on February 24] | Learn more |

OPEN STUDIOS // All Floors | Mainframe is excited to celebrate our latest addition of 2nd Floor Studios! Now visitors can explore all five floors and discover the extensive talent of Mainframe's creative community. 

FREE OF CHARGE | Mainframe hosts themed open studio events every First Friday of the month that are fee and open to the public. With food, drink and music, it is the perfect opportunity to come make a night of it with family and friends at Mainframe!

A special thank you to John Martin, Party On Des Moines and Des Moines Music Coalition for our Center Street First Friday assistance. Save the date for a special ticketed Sepia Club Revival event happening Friday, Feb. 24. Details to come. 

MAINFRAME STUDIOS is a financially self-sustaining nonprofit providing affordable workspaces to advance equity and opportunities in the arts. We are also the largest nonprofit studio building in the nation. Mainframe envisions a dynamic arts ecosystem in Iowa that elevates artists and cultivates leading-edge creative production. Follow us at mainframestudios.org and @mainframearts on social media.