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Downtown Menasha gained a new arts hub this winter. One Forty Main, a three-story collaborative art space, has taken up residence in Menasha’s former City Hall building. 

“We have this beautiful palette in the heart of downtown. It’s our canvas to let our creativity unfold as we get more collaborative mojo flowing,” says curator Jean Detjen. 

One Forty Main will house multiple spaces including a grab-and-go snack bar, lower-level restaurant for pop-up dinners by visiting chefs, an art gallery, co-working space and the Menasha Market, among others. 

The Menasha Market at One Forty Main is a curated boutique that showcases locally made artisan items such as prints, jewelry, ceramics, home decor, books, beauty products and food. Vendors must apply and, if approved, can rent space for terms of varying length so there is always something new to see. 

“We are bringing in collaborators and vendors of all types and creating a commerce opportunity for artists as well as a shoppable experience for people who live and work downtown,” Detjen says. “This is also an opportunity for us to create really cool experiences with live art like dance, music and spoken word.”

Adjacent to Menasha Market is a permanent art gallery that will host exhibitions throughout the year. First up is “The Seuss Perspective,” featuring the world’s largest private collection of work by Dr. Seuss.

The mission of One Forty Main is to provide artisan producers and entrepreneurs with resources and support to help develop their businesses while boosting local economic and workforce development.

“The idea is to use arts and culture as a means of making this a viable community and creating a better quality of life for all,” Detjen says. “We want to tap into our culture and celebrate what makes us special. We have a real gem of a community and we need to celebrate that together.” 

Menasha Market is currently under construction and will re-open January 30. For updates and vendor information, visit Menasha Market – One Forty Main on Facebook.