The Celtic Junction Arts Center (CJAC) in St. Paul, Minnesota, will launch the second phase of its capital campaign on October 11 at its annual fundraiser, propelled by a $120,000 matching gift from Cossack Foundation. As Phase 1 nears completion, the Center stands at a moment of renewal: locally grounded, globally connected, and looking toward the future.
The Center recently completed major improvements focused on sustainability, including the installation of solar panels and enhancements to lighting, waste management, and Wi-Fi. These efforts mark the first stage of a four-phase, $2 million plan designed to improve CJAC’s efficiency and accessibility while expanding the space it urgently needs to serve a growing community.
Through partnerships with Minnesota Interfaith Power & Light (solar installation), MN Waste Wise (recycling improvements), and Capitol Region Watershed District (stormwater management), CJAC has taken meaningful steps toward a resource-efficient future.
“These improvements are about more than bins, panels, and paint,” said Executive Director Natalie O’Shea. “They’re about strengthening a mutual home for an international community with shared values, making it green, safe, and welcoming for generations to come.”
Executive Director Natalie Nugent O'Shea with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz
The trip connected Minnesota’s creative and business communities with Irish partners, fostering dialogue on education, innovation, and cultural exchange. O’Shea’s participation helped position CJAC as a bridge between the arts and enterprise, linking Minnesota’s Irish community with organizations and industries in Ireland that share an interest in collaboration and investment.
“Our work as cultural entrepreneurs naturally intersects across education, business, and diplomacy,” O’Shea said. “Our strength is big-picture thinking — working outside the box. When we connect that kind of thinking across industries, we strengthen both community and opportunity on both sides of the Atlantic.”
Architect's sketch of lobby after Phase 2 is complete.
Back in St. Paul, those same values guide CAJC’s next steps. Phase 2 of the capital campaign focuses on accessibility and inclusion through practical improvements and community-minded additions. With an immediate fundraising goal of $250,000, this phase includes a three-floor elevator to make Celtic Junction’s classroom, library, recording studio, and partner offices fully accessible. It will also introduce a small onsite shop — offering Irish tea, snacks, goods, and dance shoes — added at the request of CJAC’s active community.
Momentum builds toward the October 11 fundraiser, featuring music by One for the Foxes, hosted by Éamonn de Cógáin, and attended by Ireland’s Consul General Brian Cahalane.
“The Consul General’s presence underscores that what we’ve built here matters, not just to Minnesota, but to Ireland itself,” said O’Shea. “CJAC is a model for what can happen when a community invests in its culture. It’s a story worth celebrating — and supporting!”
Celtic Junction Arts Center (CJAC) is a multidisciplinary arts center in St. Paul’s Creative Enterprise Zone, offering classes, research facilities, and a state-of-the-art performance venue. Since 2009, CJAC has hosted traditional and contemporary music, dance, cultural, and networking events. It is home to the Center for Irish Music, Irish Fair of Minnesota, Ireland Network Minnesota, and O’Shea Irish Dance.
To learn more or contribute to the capital campaign, visit the Celtic Junction website.
