In this issue:
- Grants Awarded: $120,770 to local organizations and artists
- Save the Dates: MN Arts Advocacy Days
- Prairie Star & Disciple nominations are open
- SMAC grant updates: Upcoming grant deadlines & webinars
Pictured: Artist Dan Wahl received an Individual Artist Grant from SMAC to support his Don't Doubt Your Horses interactive exhibit in Walnut Grove; pictured is a family drawing their horses to add to the collection. Photo by Nate Scharf and used with permission from Dan Wahl.
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SMAC Awards $120,770 to local organizations and artists
The SMAC board met on January 22nd and awarded a total of $120,770 in grant funds to twelve organizations and four artists within our SW MN region for a total of seventeen grants awarded.
The following three organizations have been awarded SMAC Art Legacy Project grants. Art Legacy Project grants provide organizations in the SMAC region with up to $20,000 to stimulate and encourage the creation, performance and appreciation of the arts through large-scale projects that will leave an arts legacy in Southwest Minnesota.
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The City of Marshall was awarded $20,000 for their 150th Community Art Project, the installation of a large-scale community art piece. The project is meant to celebrate the community's history as well as look to the future of their city. The art piece will include a curved metal sculpture created by local metal fabrication business Bend Rite, as well as mosaic murals showcasing the City of Marshall's brand and imagery that takes viewers through the community's history. The art piece will be located at Independence Park and will be designed by artist Tamara Isfeld (of Granite Falls). Development and design will include community input through free community education programming and outreach, resulting in community members working with the artist throughout the creation of the art piece. The applicant said that this will be a community-based project that will bring people together to create a stunning art piece to be enjoyed by future generations for years to come.
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The Crow River Players in New London have been awarded $20,000 for their 2022 Small Stages Artist Residency, modeled after their 2021 artist residency. The plan is for a four to six week artist residency, with the artist being housed in New London for the duration. The Little Theatre Auditorium would dedicate theatre space and technical resources to the development of the artist's new, original works. The artist must engage the New London community through workshops or teaching events as part of their art-making process. The larger goal of the project is to design the residency as a step for the New London community to recognize artists as economic drivers, culture bearers and community builders.
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Department of Public Transformation in Granite Falls was awarded $20,000 for developing and hiring the position of a Community and Events Coordinator who will be based out of the Yes! House in Granite Falls. The applicant said that this new position will help their organization and their community regroup, reconnect, and re-engage after the 18 months of social distance by curating a series of events centering on listening to how residents' needs and wants have changed during the pandemic. In addition, the Coordinator will help to amplify the creative energy already present in the region, diversify arts representation and participation, and expand Granite Falls’ draw as a hub for touring artists, establishing a living legacy of high-quality arts engagement in Southwest Minnesota.
The following nine organizations have been awarded SMAC Art Project grants. Art Project grants provide organizations in the SMAC region with up to $7,000 to stimulate and encourage the creation, performance and appreciation of the arts.
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Canby Area Arts Council was awarded $7,000 for their Art in the Park events. These will include arts-related workshops and live music at events, such as the Canby Farmer's markets and at the Sandford Health Courtyard for residents in the care center and at the assisted living center. Workshops will include a Community Theater Camp with COMPAS teaching artist Jen Scott, a traditional and experimental paper making workshop with instructor Don Sherman, Intergenerational "Play with Clay-Intro to Hand Building" with artist Sarah Bednarek and "Play with Clay-Intro to Wheel-Thrown Pottery".
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Cultural Awareness Organization in Worthington has been awarded $6,000 for their annual Worthington International Festival. The festival will take place July 7-9, 2022. The Festival's components include evening immigrant stories and panel discussion, folk and traditional artist performances, food vendors, artisan booths, ethnic cultural education booths, and activities for children. The applicant said they seek to include as many different folk and traditional artists as possible into the schedule. The festival focuses on showcasing culturally authentic, well-qualified Minnesota based artists who represent various areas of the world.
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Hutchinson Center for the Arts has been awarded $2,600 for their 2022 Visual Arts Exhibition Season. The funds will go towards artist stipends, exhibit installation expenses, public receptions, and marketing. The series will present five professional exhibits featuring six Minnesota artists and two community showcase exhibits. The community exhibitions include the Annual Youth Art Exhibition for school age children, and the Annual Community Showcase exhibit which is open to artists and creatives ages 17 and older who reside within the SMAC 18 county region.
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The Kerkhoven Arts Council was awarded $7,000 for their summer youth musical program, which will wrap up with an outdoor musical production. They are hoping to do Aladdin, Jr. (pending rights) during the Kerkhoven Town and Country Days festival in July. Leading the project is Ali Finstrom, who brings years of experience acting and directing projects in the Duluth area, as well as at Chanhassen Theatre and the Guthrie.
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Loose Gravel Music Festival in Walnut Grove was awarded $7,000 to support the second year of their outdoor music festival. The festival will be held on July 29 & 30, 2022 at the Laura Ingalls Wilder Outdoor Amphitheater west of Walnut Grove. It will host six to eight live bands featuring Americana, Roots and Bluegrass music. Updates from the last festival will include 2 days instead of one, limited onsite camping, and more extensive marketing.
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The Prairie Arts Chorale of Marshall has been awarded $4,655 for their spring concert season for 2022. Their theme is "Words of Wisdom," incorporating songs that give advice about love, life, and healing. A variety of choral music, including Broadway, popular, and sacred, will be used. The group will do five performances throughout April in Redwood Falls, Willmar, Spicer, Marshall and Montevideo.
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The Prairie Dance Alliance was awarded $5,740 for their 2022 Dance Camp. This is a three day intensive dance camp for dancers up to age 18. Professional instructors will teach a variety of dance styles and techniques, expose young dancers to professional artists and training, and offer individual or small group Master classes on a single focused topic. There will be a community Hip Hop public event, "Jump in Line" at the Marshall YMCA on July 21, 2022 at 3 pm. Instructors for the dance camp include Ballet classes from Casey Juul, Contemporary and Lyrical dance with Kelsey Thiele and Hip Hop with Kellie Peterson.
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Southwest Minnesota Orchestra (SMO) of Marshall has been awarded $6,475 for their 2022 Beethoven Concert Series. SMO will present three concerts in continued celebration of the 251st anniversary of Ludwig van Beethoven's birth in December 1770. The concerts will feature Beethoven masterworks including Piano Concerto No. 3 and Symphony No. 5 on Sunday Feb 27, 2022, Piano Concerto No. 2 on Tuesday April 5, 2022, and Piano Concerto No. 4 and Symphony No. 7 on Sunday, May 1, 2022.
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Winsted Arts Council was awarded $5,300 for bringing in JigJam, a multi-award winning quartet from Ireland, for two concerts. The first concert will be a shorter matinee in the afternoon for area school children and older seniors. Local volunteers will provide transportation from the center for adults with disabilities, the nursing home, memory care facility, and assisted living residents. The second concert will be in the evening for the community at-large. Both concerts will take place in Windom at the Blue Note Ballroom.
The following organization has been awarded a SMAC Quick Support for Organizations grant. Quick Support for Organizations grants provide an organization with up to $2,500 for activities such as planning for an Art Legacy project, strategic planning or board training, costs to apply for 501(c)(3) status, small equipment purchases, or small arts projects.
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The Winsted Arts Council was awarded $2,000 to support arrangements for an administrative consultant and intern. The intern will help the council with formalizing processes in a more systematic fashion, perform and analyze research, and catalogue resources. The applicant said with these improvements in place, the organization will be better positioned for sustainable growth.
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The following three artists have been awarded SMAC Quick Support for Artists grants. Quick Support for Artists grants provide an artist with up to $1,000 for activities such as purchasing supplies, attending classes, and small artist-led community projects. |
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Mark Derby of Marshall was awarded $1,000 to produce the first documentary in a series he is calling Crow Media's Small Stories, which will "tell distinctive stories of real people who do uncommon work and live interesting lives." This first story will focus on the volunteer leaders and artists involved in the Hinterland Art Crawl, which was held in 2019 and 2021. The applicant said, "the making of the Hinterland Art Crawl is a remarkable small story about community building across a largely dispersed area." You can watch Crow Media's short documentary on local Marshall artist Oak Kelsey here.
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Jessie Hennen of Woodlake has been awarded $1000 for filming a sketch comedy show, "A Granite Falls Home Companion". Jessie, with other writers and comedians, performed two live versions of this parody of MPR's "A Prairie Home Companion" at the Bluenose Gopher in Granite Falls for audiences in November and December. With COVID cases on the rise, the group has decided to put the live show on hiatus for the time being but will produce a filmed version (that will also be live streamed when it premieres) to keep up the momentum and interest they've built from previous shows. Most of the material in the filmed show will be new.
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Andrew Rivera of Hutchinson was awarded $1,000 for tools that will enable him to create an artist work space within his studio for his pottery. With this grant, Andrew will build a movable worktable and shelving for wet-work storage and organization. Pictured right: Molinillo Vase by Andrew Rivera.
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The following artist has been awarded a SMAC Artist Equity grant. Artist Equity grants provide up to $4,000 to aid Black, Indigenous, Latinx, and other artists of color with projects that will advance their skills and artistic careers.
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Ana Serrano of Willmar was awarded $4,000 to study the painting techniques of John Singer Sargent and produce four large scale paintings (6.5' by 3') on the themes of Childhood, Adolescence, Adulthood and Mexican Icon "Calabera Catrina". Ana said, "In this project I will create pieces that are inspired by Singer Sergeant's works and impasto techniques, while adding my personal feeling and vision of growing up as a Mexican American." Pictured left: China Poblana, oil on canvas, 5'x3', 2018.
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NOTICE:
SMAC Office & Gallery will be closed:
- Tuesday, February 15
- Monday, February 21
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JOIN US for an “Arty Party” in Kandiyohi County:
Thursday, February 24 from 7 to 8:30 pm!
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YOU are invited to network with artists and arts supporters in the Kandiyohi County area! This event will take place at The Barn Theatre in Willmar. Enjoy music from Andrea Limoges, Reagan Toedter and Patrick Gilmore as well as appetizers from a local restaurant (more details coming soon)! The Barn Theatre will supply a cash bar. Keep up to date about this event through our social media on Facebook and Instagram, or you can always email us for details: info@swmnarts.org.
This will be our sixth program in our 18-month series networking events for every county in our region. SMAC staff will be available to connect with attendees and get the word out about who SMAC is, what we do, and what services and assistance we can offer for our communities.
We look forward to p(art)ying with you!
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In the Gallery: John Sterner
John Sterner of Marshall is exhibiting in the SMAC gallery through February 25th, 2022. John received an Individual Artist grant from SMAC in 2021 to transform ink and marker drawings into larger scale paintings. John said his themes are always related to his journey of self-discovery and his Sicangu Lakota heritage. You can follow John on Instagram under melauha.
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Artist Statement from John:
I am an Artist, Teacher, Coach, Sicangu Lakota, Parent, Husband, Brother, and Son. I have been involved in art in so many aspects; I teach, 28 years first grade (Lakeview Public Schools) through university (Southwest Minnesota State University). I have taught workshops, small groups, community programs and university connected presentations. I make personal and public Art; I work in many mediums: I sculpt in bronze, iron and fabricated steel, I make graphic art on the computer and paper, and I love to paint. The plains of Minnesota and South Dakota are my heritage, what makes me who I am. I live in southwestern Minnesota, near Marshall, and was born in Flandreau, South Dakota. The opportunity to create art that is culturally incorporating my heritage is an important part of my personal journey to find who I am as a person, instructor and artist. My personal work is and always has been the search for my belonging to my relatives. In almost all my work I include Wanbli (eagle) or the world they see. I see their image in all my work and whenever I am creating, their image appears and I am driven to draw and sculpt them or what the Wanbli sees. The eagle represents my spiritual and holy side as well and my connection to family. Much of my painting work is finding my heritage, but within the last six years I have been exploring my heritage and who I am through painting. The world around me is the vision of the Wanbli and it is my connection, Plein Air has become my Love and a majority of my creative focus of late. I really enjoy being outside, really enjoyed the connection between me and the world around. My heart-rate changes, my thoughts become serene, almost placid. I feel a connection between me and a spiritualness arise and I feel enlightened. My vision becomes clear, I gain energy and focus as I see image appear on my panel. I really feel a connection to my heritage as I paint, draw, and sculpt.
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Next in the Gallery: David Strom |
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Pictured: Guest at SMAC's Cottonwood County Arty party, which took place at David Strom's studio in Windom, looking at the acrylic paintings paired to their corresponding pen and ink drawings. |
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David Strom of Windom will be exhibiting at the SMAC gallery March 10 through April 29, 2022. David received an Individual Artist grant from SMAC in 2021 to paint twelve large-scale acrylic paintings that visually related to and paired with twelve previously created pen and ink drawings. David said, "My pen & ink drawings are two-dimensional interpretations of our Southwest Minnesota landscape. I portray grain bins, wind turbines and round bales in the contours of our land as defined by fields of row crops, roads and lakes. It is an abstract definition of the land using maps and specifically plat maps, all tied together with a ribbon running through, pieced together like a quilt." This body of work is displayed in pairs; the black ink drawing next to the corresponding acrylic painting.
Save the dates:
- Thursday, March 10 from 5-7 pm join us for an in-person artist reception with David Strom in Marshall. Special guest band "Happy to Be Here" will provide live music!
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Please let us know of any accommodations needed for you to enjoy any of our events, virtual or in-person: info@swmnarts.org.
These activities are made possible by the voters of Minnesota thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.
Funding provided by the McKnight Foundation. Minnesota thrives when its artists thrive. The McKnight Foundation supports working artists to create and contribute to vibrant communities.
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Save the dates for Arts Action week: March 14th-18, 2022
Southwest Minnesota Arts Council and Minnesota Citizens for the Arts invites YOU to join US! Together with your fellow Arts Advocates from across Minnesota you will help our voice for the continued support of the arts in our state. With your action – online and as part of Zoom calls with legislators – we can help legislators understand the importance of the arts to guarantee funding at this critical time. We may be at our own computers again this year, but we can still connect and work together to advance our community.
Minnesota Citizens for the Arts is a recognized national leader is arts advocacy. Arts Action Week helps to preserve our Legacy Amendment and state grant funds.
Attend Arts Advocacy Day and help protect the arts funding you love!
Like last year, all programs and meetings will be virtual. Look forward to:
- Opening rally webinar to learn the message of the week, celebrate arts supportive legislators, and hear from other special guests
- Facts and figures from Creative MN to help you make your case
- First time advocacy training
- Virtual Happy Hour to wrap up
SMAC will continue to communicate more information as we receive it to make sure you can register for this important event. Keep an eye out in your inbox, our website, and our social media: Facebook and Instagram
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SMAC Staff accompanied Ashley Hanson from the Department of Public Transformation (DoPT) to visit the cities of New London (lower right), Milan (pictured above) and Tracy (lower left) for their first meeting in a six-month Civic Arts learning exchange. This is an initiative funded by SMAC for DoPT to lead three cities through research, consultation and workshops on exploring the possibilities of a City Artist in Residence program. These cities will be given the opportunity to explore what it takes from a process and funding perspective to plan, recruit and secure an artist in civic service to their community. The possibilities of how an artist can build community are endless! All three cities will workshop with each other in a cohort to share ideas and knowledge.
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SMAC Board Updates
Every year in January the SMAC Board gathers for a day of refocusing and learning. This year we had a "History of Place" presentation by Cheyanne Stjohn, Tribal Historic Preservation Office at Lower Sioux Indian Community. We are so grateful to have such knowledgeable and dedicated individuals in our region!
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Southwest Minnesota Arts Council Nominations are now OPEN for our Prairie Star and Prairie Disciple Awards!
The Deadline for both nominations is April 15, 2022 by 4:30 pm. Nominations forms are short, but we do recommend letters of support from multiple community members, so the sooner you can start collecting, the better! It is SMAC's intention that in recognizing these individuals publicly, the awards will raise the profile of the arts in their community and throughout the SMAC region.
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Every other year, the Prairie Star Award ($5,000) recognizes an individual artist whose body of work has made a significant contribution to the arts over an extended period of time, who has been recognized by their artistic peers, and who has best exemplified the highest quality of work in the SMAC region. To learn more and see past recipients, visit our Prairie Star webpage.
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The Prairie Disciple Award ($1,000) provides awareness and recognition of one individual per year from southwest Minnesota, whose activities and involvement have substantially contributed to the arts over an extended period of time. The accomplishments of arts advocates working in the region are often not widely known or appreciated, and this award aims to correct that. This year nominations are limited to educators only. To learn more and see past recipients, visit our Prairie Disciple webpage.
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Provides up to $500 to allow young artists entering grades 5 – 12 to attend an enrichment camp or specialty study. Standard weekly lessons (such as piano or voice lessons) are allowed only for those students who qualify for the federal free or reduced lunch program. Arts supplies costs are allowed for students attending a MN public arts high school. No match requirements. **Register for February 15, 2022 Webinar, 7-8 pm**
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Every other year, the Prairie Star Award ($5,000) recognizes an individual artist whose body of work has made a significant contribution to the arts over an extended period of time, who has been recognized by his or her artistic peers, and who has best exemplified the highest quality of work in the SMAC region.
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The Prairie Disciple Award ($1,000) provides awareness and recognition of one individual per year from southwest Minnesota, whose activities and involvement have substantially contributed to the arts over an extended period of time. The accomplishments of arts advocates working in the region are often not widely known or appreciated. In recognizing these individuals publicly, this award will raise the profile of the arts in their community and throughout the SMAC region. This year nominations are limited to educators only.
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Upcoming SMAC Grantwriting Webinars: February
Please let us know of any accommodations needed for you to attend any of our events, virtual or in-person: info@swmnarts.org. While these grant workshop webinars are free, participants must register to be able to join the meeting.
February 10, Noon-1 pm: Art Projects Grants Webinar
February 15, 7-8 pm: Art Study Opportunity for Youth Webinar
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Meet With Our Grants Administrator
SW MN Arts Council grants administrator Caroline Koska is available to meet with you by phone, web conference or in person at our office in Marshall to answer your questions on grant eligibility and using the application system or to review a draft of your application. Schedule a time with Caroline Koska.
As a reminder, Koska also holds monthly in-person open office hours at the SMAC offices in Marshall on the second Tuesday of every month from 10 am to 2 pm. The next one will take place February 8th.
Call 800-622-5284 or email us info@swmnarts.org with your questions. Please let us know of any accommodations needed for you to attend any of our events, virtual or in-person.
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Would you like to help SMAC review and score grant applications?
The SMAC Board of Directors continually seeks panels of artists, arts administrators, arts volunteers, and arts appreciators representing multiple artistic disciplines from throughout the SMAC geographic region and from all our communities including BIPOC, people with disabilities, and LGBTQIA2S+ individuals. Being a grant panelist is a positive way to strengthen your grantwriting skills by understanding the process as a whole. It's also a great way to learn and support what exciting projects are happening in rural SW MN! Panelists are compensated $75 for a panel. More details on being a SMAC panelist
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For more opportunities and resources be sure to check out our latest news posts (updated DAILY!) on SMAC's website
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Regional arts calendar
We are continuing to post both in-person and virtual arts events in our region on our website calendar. If you have events to let us know about, please email the details to info@swmnarts.org!
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Memberships
From December 23 to January 31, 2022
Contributors: Sirrina Martinez, Lake Benton • Prairie Arts Chorale, Marshall • Adrienne Herbert, Lakefield • Robert Mattson, New London • Cottonwood County Historical Society, Windom •
Supporters: Richard Hauck, Alexandria • Brad & Maggie Madsen, Dawson • Ginger Homme, Granite Falls • Delores Runge, Pipestone • Mark Thode, Pipestone • Tammy Makram, Worthington •
Sustainer: Marie & Tim Ostby, Spicer •
Patron: James and Sydney Massee, Appleton • Ken & Marlys Knuth, Slayton •
Benefactor: Peggy Crosby & David Pederson, Dawson • Jackson County Commission, Jackson • McLeod County Commission, Glencoe • Yellow Medicine County Commission, Granite Falls • Meeker County Commission, Litchfield • Lyon County Commission, Marshall • Murray County Commission, Slayton • Renville County Commission, Olivia • Big Stone County Commission, Ortonville • Nobles County Commission, Worthington •
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Other donations: Margaret Erickson, Worthington • |
Would you like to become a contributing member of SMAC or make a donation?
THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE ARTS!
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2022 SW MN Arts Council BOARD OF DIRECTORS |
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Big Stone - Judy Beckman
Lincoln - Mark Wilmes
Meeker - Darlene Kotelnicki
Pipestone - Erica Volkir
Rock - Shawn Kinsinger
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Chippewa - Georgette Jones
Kandiyohi - Cheri Buzzeo
Lyon - Michele Knife Sterner
Murray - Jessica Welu
Redwood - David KelseyBassett
Swift - Alison Nelson
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Cottonwood - Anna Johannsen
Lac qui Parle - Kristine Shelstad
Nobles - Cheryl Avenel-Navara
Yellow Medicine - Betsy Pardick & Michele Huggins
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Executive Director - Nicole DeBoer
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Grants/Financial Administrator - Caroline Koska
Marketing Coordinator - Krystl Louwagie
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SW MN Arts Council
The Southwest Minnesota Arts Council (SMAC) is a non-profit organization committed to promoting and encouraging the development of the arts in the eighteen counties of southwestern Minnesota by serving as a source of funds and technical services which enable local organizations, educational institutions, and individuals to sponsor and/or create and promote the arts in their communities.
SMAC receives funding from individuals, businesses, organizations, schools, cities, counties, private foundations including the McKnight Foundation, an allocation from the State of Minnesota, and a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund, made possible by the voters of Minnesota.
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