United Arts Council and Services (Saint Paul, Minnesota).

From its inception the United Arts Council and Services has undergone many changes in title. Incorporated in March, 1954 as the St. Paul Council of Arts and Sciences, the organization later took the names: Saint Paul-Ramsey Arts and Science Council (1974-1980), The United Arts Fund (1980-1982), the Saint Paul-Ramsey United Arts Council (1983-1985), and United Arts (1986).

From 1949 to 1953 a community arts survey committee conducted studies and raised funds and public awareness to facilitate the formation of a central community arts program. After the St. Paul Council of Arts and Sciences was incorporated more funding was received from the St. Paul Junior League and the Louis and Maud Hill Family Foundation, as well as a public bond issue, enabling the St. Paul Council of Arts and Sciences to plan and construct an arts center building that would bring together all community arts organizations. The center, at Tenth and Cedar in St. Paul, was completed and dedicated in 1965. Since that time, the old Federal Courts Building (Landmark Center) was restored for cultural use and a new Science Museum of Minnesota facility was constructed across Wabasha Street from the arts center.

In 1986 the organization recognized that its activities, resources, and affiliate memberships were well beyond the confines of the St. Paul and Ramsey County geographic area. At that time, the board decided to purposefully extend its mission to the seven county metropolitan area and changed its name to reflect the expanded scope.

United Arts includes many major St. Paul cultural groups, including Community Programs in the Arts and Sciences (COMPAS), The Schubert Club, the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Minnesota Museum of Art, Science Museum of Minnesota, the Ordway Music Theater, and Minnesota Public Radio, as well as many Minneapolis organizations, including the Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies, Theatre de la Jeune Lune, and the New Dance Ensemble. The organization has also included such now defunct organizations as the Chimera Theater and Opera Saint Paul.

Historical information was taken from the collection.