Editing Rochester, Minnesota (section)

==Arts and culture==
A number of Rochester buildings are on the [[National Register of Historic Places]], including the historic [[Chateau Theatre]], which the city purchased in 2015 for preservation, and [[Avalon Music]], formerly a hotel important in the local [[civil rights movement]].<ref>{{cite news| title=Rochester to buy, preserve historic Chateau Theatre| date=March 16, 2015| work=Minnesota Public Radio News| first=Elizabeth| last=Baier| url=http://www.mprnews.org/story/2015/03/16/chateau-theatre-rochester-minnesota| access-date=October 11, 2021}}</ref> In 2019, after renovations and a public RFP, the Chateau Theatre has re-opened as an exhibition venue.<ref>{{Cite web| url=https://www.medcitybeat.com/news-blog/2019/edg-contract-city-chateau-theatre| title=5 things to know about the city's agreement with the new Chateau operator| website=Med City Beat| date=August 21, 2019| language=en-US| access-date=September 16, 2019}}</ref>

Founded in 1946, the Rochester Art Center is located downtown, just south of the Mayo Civic Center. In 2017, the Rochester Art Center's financial troubles<ref>{{cite news| title=Audit: Rochester Art Center in deep financial trouble| date=March 28, 2017| last=Richert| first=Catharine| work=Minnesota Public Radio News| url=https://www.mprnews.org/story/2017/03/28/audit-rochester-art-center-in-deep-financial-trouble| access-date=October 11, 2021}}</ref> brought a renewed focus on the need for both formal and informal arts spaces in the city.<ref>{{ cite news| title=What's wrong with Rochester's art scene?| last=Stolle| first=Matthew| date=May 17, 2017| newspaper=[[Post-Bulletin]]| location=Rochester| url-access=subscription| url=https://www.postbulletin.com/magazines/507/what-s-wrong-with-rochester-s-art-scene/article_14876f38-3b25-11e7-9520-b7f776e11888.html| access-date=October 11, 2021}}</ref>

In the summer from June to the end of August, every Thursday the city puts on Thursdays Downtown <ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.downtownrochestermn.com/events/tof| title=Thursdays on First & 3rd| website=www.downtownrochestermn.com| access-date=January 9, 2019| archive-date=January 10, 2019| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190110014558/https://www.downtownrochestermn.com/events/tof| url-status=dead}}</ref> where local restaurants and artists can set up booths all along First Avenue downtown Rochester. There are two stages where bands perform and provide entertainment. There are also a number of street musicians sitting on walls or standing on the sidewalks.

The oldest cultural arts institution in the community, Rochester Symphony Orchestra & Chorale was founded in 1919 as a professional performing arts organization called the Rochester Orchestra. Its earliest ensemble, the Lawler-Dodge Orchestra, was founded in 1912 as a volunteer orchestra, driven by Daisy Plummer, wife of Mayo Clinic physician, [[Henry Stanley Plummer|Dr. Henry Plummer]], and directed by Harold Cooke. In the early years, the Orchestra appeared in the former [[Chateau Theatre]] where they performed background music for silent movies.

The Gray Duck Theater, an [[independent movie theater]], opened in 2019.<ref>{{ cite news| title=Minnesota couple raise the curtain on 66-seat microtheater in Rochester| date=May 24, 2019| newspaper=[[Star Tribune]]| location=Minneapolis| url=http://www.startribune.com/minnesota-couple-raise-the-curtain-on-66-seat-microtheater-in-rochester/509483832/| last=McKinney| first=Matt| access-date=October 11, 2021| url-access=subscription}}</ref>

Rochester also houses the [[Rochester Public Library (Minnesota)|Rochester Public Library]] near the Civic Center. It is one of the largest libraries in the area and has been awarded the [[National Medal for Museum and Library Service]] in 2018.