Split Rock's Two Locations

Twin Cities Campus | Cloquet Forestry Center

Both Split Rock Shorts and weeklong workshops take place on the University of Minnesota’s Twin Cities campus. An easy nonstop flight from almost anywhere in the U.S., the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul offer the best of two worlds: the electric energy of a culturally vibrant metropolitan area, and the tranquility of beautiful parks and natural areas that showcase the Mississippi River and legendary chain of lakes for which the Cities are known. And with a geographic closeness that its name implies, moving between cities—be it by car, taxi, bus, bike, or blades, is simple.

Consistently ranked as one of the liveliest urban areas in the country, the Twin Cities is an artists’ paradise that offers unparalleled arts and cultural attractions, including the Guthrie Theater, Walker Art Center, Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Museum of Russian Art, and the University’s Frederick R. Weisman Art Museum, among countless other visual art, literary, and performing art venues.

Located in the core of this thriving arts environment, the University is a world-class center for learning and discovery and a major contributor to the cultural richness of the community. Split Rock takes place on two distinct campuses, and the University’s free shuttle makes getting from one campus to the other quick and convenient.

The Minneapolis East Bank campus is home to the Frederick R. Weisman Art Museum (where Split Rock’s orientation takes place), Coffman Memorial Union (where most writing workshops and several special events are held), and Yudof Hall, which provides accommodations for Split Rock faculty and participants.

The St. Paul campus is home to McNeal Hall (where art and design workshops are held).

Parking and Transportation
Driving to Split Rock? Close, convenient parking is available! Participants may purchase (either during registration or up to two weeks prior to the start date of the workshop) a six-day parking contract for $50 or four-day parking contract for $30. If you purchase a parking contract, you will receive a key card, along with instructions for its use, at Sunday's orientation. Key cards may not be purchased at orientation and are valid for workshop dates only.

Split Rock’s parking contract offers convenience because it allows participants to enter/exit two facilities, the East River Road Garage (Minneapolis East Bank campus) and the Gortner Avenue Ramp (St. Paul campus), as often as they wish. Both facilities are open 24 hours and are short walks from classrooms, studios, and venues for special events.

Participants also are free to make other parking arrangements. For detailed information about University parking and transportation options, including disability parking, visit Parking and Transportation Services. While other parking facilities are a greater distance from Split Rock classrooms and studios, some may have a lower rate than that of the Split Rock parking contract. (Note: It is important to remember that you must pay every time you enter and exit these facilities.)

If you are staying at Yudof Hall and your workshop is on the St. Paul campus, you may drive to/from your workshop or you may take the University’s free shuttle. Because the campuses are connected by a transitway that is reserved exclusively for shuttle and bicycle use, participants often find the shuttle to be a convenient way to get from one campus to another.

Dining and Groceries
From imaginative gourmet dining and al fresco cafés to an amazing array of ethnic eateries, the metro area has a bustling restaurant scene sure to satisfy all palettes and price ranges.

On the Minneapolis campus, participants may take advantage of the Comstock Hall Dining Center; fresh and fast-food in Coffman Memorial Union’s Minnesota Marketplace; or any of the numerous restaurants, pubs, and outdoor cafés for which this campus is known.

If you are staying at Yudof Hall and prefer to prepare your own meals, the Minneapolis campus is also home to three convenience stores and a co-op.

On the St. Paul campus, participants may take advantage of three campus eateries: the Bailey Hall Dining Center, the Terrace Café,and the Center Café; a University-run convenience store; and a handful of neighborhood restaurants, including Abu Nader, Mim’s, Lori’s Café, Muffuletta, Finnish Bistro, and Dunn Brothers Coffee.

Computer Access
All Split Rock participants have access to on-campus computer labs. Computer labs are located in Coffman Memorial Union—where creative writing workshops meet—and in McNeal Hall—where visual art and design workshops meet. Both labs are Mac- and PC-equipped.

People staying at Yudof Hall also have 24-hour-a-day access to that facility’s Mac- and PC-equipped lab.

Participants may use lab computers to access the World Wide Web or to work on projects and assignments. Complete information about Internet access, software, document storage, and printing is included in the Split Rock Guidebook that is mailed to participants in late May.

Cultural/Learning Resources
All Split Rock participants have access to the University’s renowned institutions and special collections, including: the Bell Museum of Natural History, Children's Literature and Research Collection, Frederick R. Weisman Art Museum, Givens Collection of African American Literature, The Goldstein Museum of Design, Humphrey Forum, Jean-Nickolaus Tretter Collection, Katherine E. Nash Gallery, Raptor Center, Special Collections and Rare Books division of the University Library (which includes the author collections of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Virginia Woolf, Sinclair Lewis, August Strindberg, and John Steinbeck, among others), and the Department of Horticultural Science’s Display and Trial Garden, not to mention the campus’ extensive collection of Public Art.

Recreational Facilities
Split Rock participants may purchase a daily or weekly pass that allows them to use three facilities: the University Recreation Center houses fitness centers, gymnasiums, handball, racquetball, and squash courts, steam rooms, saunas, and a pro shop; the University Aquatic Center houses three swimming pools and a diving well; and the St. Paul Gymnasium houses a fitness-equipment area, gymnasium, suspended track, aerobics studio, handball and racquetball courts, swimming pool, rock climbing wall, and bouldering cave. Outdoor facilities include volleyball and tennis courts, a softball field, and an outdoor track.

University Bookstore
The award-winning University of Minnesota Bookstore is one of the largest college bookstores in the nation and offers a comprehensive selection of art supplies, text and trade books (including those by Split Rock instructors).