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Northwest Minnesota Arts Council News

The Latest in Regional Arts Opportunities

Exhibits, Grants, Announcements, Events, Trainings, Workshops, & More!

Ongoing School Residency Grants Applications
October 31 Non-Profit, Govt Arts, School Equip Grants Deadline
November 1 Individual Artist Grant Training 10 AM
November 15 Individual Artist Grant Applications Due
January 10 Artists of NW MN Booklet Applications Due

Learn more about these programs, services, and events in this newsletter!

NWMAC Gallery Exhibit

Figures of Ghosts and Dreams: The Artwork of Stephanie Olson

Northwest Minnesota Arts Council Gallery

NCTC in Thief River Falls through November 29, 2023

Figures of Ghosts and Dreams: The Artwork of Stephanie Olson is open through Wednesday, November 29 at the NWMAC Gallery at Northland Community and Technical College in Thief River Falls.

Stephanie Olson works as a public-school English teacher in Goodridge and lives with her husband and kids in rural Thief River Falls. She holds a Writing MFA degree from Hamline University. Her visual work has appeared several group shows, including past exhibits with the Northwest Minnesota Arts Council, two This Week Only exhibits at the North Dakota Museum of Art, and a group show at the Vine Arts Center in Minneapolis.

Figures of Ghosts and Dreams includes 42 pieces of watercolor on paper, India ink on paper, and acrylic on wood, cork, and canvas. Stephanie explained, “This exhibit reflects the art that comes to me. When I sit down with an idea, with a plan, my art fails almost every time. But when I sit down with no intention, it's like a door is left open. In the beginning, my art was more abstract: lines, color, depth. Now, I have these figures. Sometimes they seem peaceful, as if visiting from a dream. Sometimes they remind me of loved ones who have passed on, like visiting ghosts. I must let it all come as it is, like the weather. I wouldn't say it's like the notion of a muse taking over, not at all. It's more like a house filling up with guests. I'm never sure how long they'll stay, but this is what I find when I manage to steal time to sit down and paint. It's always a surprise.”

Want to see the exhibit? Here’s a virtual walkthrough of it: here.

An artist reception was held at the gallery on Wednesday, October 18 with live fiddle music by Lexi Conwell, refreshments, and live painting by Stephanie.

Stephanie’s art is available for purchase.

The NWMAC Gallery is located at Northland Community and Technical College in Thief River Falls. The gallery hours are Monday-Friday from 8:30-5 PM and at other times when events are held at the college. Enter through Door B, which is right next to the gallery. Visitor parking is free.

Learn More About This Exhibit

Submit your entry for our upcoming Artist Booklet!

It's time to submit an entry for the 6th edition of our Artists of NW Minnesota booklet. Learn more and download an entry form on our website here. Or download Artist Entry Form. Or for businesses and organizations, download and submit this Group Entry Form..Or email director@NWArtsCouncil.org or call our office at 218-745-8886 to receive a form via mail. The cost is only $20 for a listing + you receive 20 copies of the booklet! What a deal!

Submissions will be accepted for Artists & Business/Organization listings until January 10.

Find our a free print edition of our current booklet Artists of Northwest Minnesota at your local library, from featured artists, or in other public spaces throughout our region. This is the 5th edition of this publication. The directory lists fine craft and visual artists, photographers, writers, and performing artists who answered our call for entries, as well as arts organizations. It's an invaluable resource when you are looking for art and artists in our region.

Download Artist Entry Form Here

Download Business/Organization Entry Form

Some services we now offer in our office space!

Need an images of your art?

We can help!

Do you need a headshot?

Or images of you performing your art?

Take advantage of the photography room.

Fall Deadlines for Arts Grants Applications

Organizations, Individuals & Schools -- Apply Now

Grant training for Individuals on Wed, Nov 1 at 10 AM

Applications are open for arts grants to nonprofit arts organizations, communities, schools, and other nonprofit organizations. Applications are being accepted from our seven county Minnesota service area including Kittson, Marshall, Norman, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake, and Roseau counties.

Nonprofit arts organizations can start applying for general operating funds. Applications are open now. The eligible grant amount is based on total expenses within the previous two completed years and the organization's history of arts programming. These organizations will be able to add to this grant, as the year progresses, if they need additional funding. Funding sources for these grants come from Clean Water, Land and Legacy funds and general allocation funds from the State of Minnesota.

Individual Artist Grants have a November 15 deadline for $1,500. Quick turnaround grants for $500 will be available on an ongoing deadline starting in January. These grants are awarded to performing artists, visual artists, media artists, and creative writing artists from our seven county Minnesota service area including Kittson, Marshall, Norman, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake, and Roseau counties.

Individuals must be out of high school and at least 18 years of age to be eligible. College tuition is not an eligible expense. This is the main category that individuals use to support their artistic business or advance their technical skills. This category is for non-hobby artists who make substantial yearly income from their art. Grants are awarded annually with $1,500 going to four individuals and $5,000 going to four individuals. Support for this program comes from The McKnight Foundation.

Individuals absolutely must reside in our region (for one year prior) and remain living in our region during your entire grant year (2024). In the case of college students, your school or your home mailing address must be in our region. You will have to show proof of residency, usually your driver’s license.

All other nonprofits and government organizations can apply for one arts project at a time. Upcoming grants deadlines for these are October 31 and February 29. Grants are between $500 and $10,000. Funding sources for these grants are Clean Water, Land and Legacy funds and general allocation funds from the State of Minnesota.

Organizational arts activities funded through these two very important grant opportunities include festivals, community theatre projects, folk music entertainment, sponsorship of visual demonstrations, creative writing workshops and many other activities that improve the quality of life of people in our communities.

Schools in our seven-county region can also apply now for an Artist Residency grant of $2,600 plus an additional $400 if the residency needs supplies. Our teaching artist roster is a great resource to view artists available to teach in our area and is available on our website at www.NorthwestMinnesotaArtsCouncil.org under the artists tab. Another resource to view artists available to enhance curriculum is COMPAS.

Schools can initially apply for one residency. Then based on remaining funding, can request up to three additional residencies into spring and summer. Funding for residency activities comes from the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment in Minnesota.

Schools can also apply for Arts Equipment for their school by October 31 each year. Grants are for up to $3,000 with a 25% cash match requirement. Funds for this arts equipment in schools grant program come from the general fund of the State of Minnesota.

Read more here.

We are offering several grant training workshops via Zoom or in person at the NWMAC office in Warren. You must RSVP to attend. Email director@nwartscouncil.org to RSVP or with questions. Don’t let your questions about the grant process keep you from applying! We are here to help.

Upcoming trainings will be:

· November 1 at 10 am. Individual Artist grant training

To learn more about grant programs and start an application visit www.NorthwestMinnesotaArtsCouncil.org. The grant application process is completely online and NWMAC's Director Mara Hanel can help walk you through the process of using the grants portal to get accustomed to it. Please contact her at director@NWArtsCouncil.org or call 218-745-8886.

Let's Talk Art is our weekly radio interview and podcast with Pioneer 90.1's Ron West.

Let's Talk Art Podcast

Do you listen to our weekly podcast? If not, you are missing out! We feature artists, arts organizations, and arts events in our region. The podcast begins as a radio interview on Pioneer 90.1 radio. The interviews air on Tuesdays at 3:05pm. Then, we put the interviews on our website so you can listen to them at any time. It's a simple and entertaining way to learn about all the arts happenings in our region and even about some statewide arts organizations and efforts. To hear all of the past podcasts visit our website here.

Some of the recent podcasts include:

10.17.23 Stephanie Olson Thief River Falls Artist and Goodridge English Teacher Stephanie Olson is the featured artist in our current exhibit -- Figures of Ghosts and Dreams: The Artwork of Stephanie Olson. Learn about her artwork, the exhibit, the Artist Reception on Wednesday, October 17, her inspiration, and more! Listen here.

10.10.23 Mara Hanel Learn about upcoming grant deadlines (and changes to those deadlines), as well as grant requirements, our current exhibit featuring Artist Stephanie Olson at the NWMAC Gallery at NCTC in Thief River Falls through November, the Artist Reception on October 18 including fiddle music, and other area happenings from the NWMAC Director. It’s always a great opportunity to hear about the arts in NW Minnesota when Mara is the podcast guest. Listen here.

10.3.23 Chris Trostad Highland Elementary School Principal Chris Trostad from the Crookston School District spoke about a grant that the school received from the NWMAC for a visual art residency and mural last spring. Artist Trey Everett created a mural outside the Student Success Center at Highland Elementary School that included positive words and phrases to encourage and inspire students to be kind and respectful to others. Students were given the opportunity to submit words or phrases that are important to them and that compliment the theme. They also spent time learning with Trey during the week. Listen here.

Traveling Art Exhibit is

at Godel Public Library in Warren

The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council (NWMAC)'s annual Traveling Art Exhibit is touring NW Minnesota libraries. This year the exhibit includes 15 original pieces of art by regional adult and student artists, chosen from works submitted for our annual juried exhibit. The exhibit is in Warren until Nov 28.

The 2023-2024 Artists and Artwork:

Adults

Ross Hier, Crookston, Watercolor
Tim Anderson, Goodridge, Wood Bowl
Nancy Vraa, RLF, Hat and Mitten Set
Lillian Ramsey, TRF, Acrylic Painting
Kathy Panek, Goodridge, Acrylic Paint
Jodi M Smith, EGF, Photography
Dennis Lee, RLF, Acrylic Painting

Students:

Madilyn Crompton, Borup, Digital Photo, Ada-Borup-West
Makaela Longoria, Ada, Ceramic Sculpture, Ada-Borup-West
Emma Gunderson, Crookston, Acrylic Painting, Crookston School
Kaydence Skibicki, Fertile, Silk Screen Print, Fertile-Beltrami School
Carter Lee Johnsrud, Goodridge, Mixed Media Graphite Pencil, Goodridge
Quinn Pittman, Greenbush, Pen Drawing, GMR School
Rhiana Utter, Greenbush, Linoleum Print, GMR School
Maryjane Crane, RLF, Acrylic Painting, RLF School

Watch for the exhibit to make its way to your town!

Need a Head Shot or Photos of Work Samples? We’ve got you covered!

We now offer a photography room for artists to create work sample shots at no cost at our office space in Warren. The photography room offers amateur headshots, photography of instruments and samples of art pieces, as well as live recording shots.

You must make an appointment for this service. director@NWArtsCouncil.org or 218-745-8886.

Sista's Corner in Crookston and Tonnabell’s in Thief River Falls showcase local artist's works.Both stores are looking for artists who would be interested in teaching classes or demonstrating their art. Reach out to Kelly at Tonnabell's or Shirley at Sista's Corner to inquire.

Kate Hammer's Art of Addiction pieces are in our display case at NCTC near our gallery through the end of the year.

The most recently created space features the work of Thief River Falls Artist Gail Ose, who is the owner of Serendipity Art Hub. Her work is exhibited in a display case near our NWMAC Gallery at NCTC. Stop by and see it!

Fiber art created by Roseau Artist Aliza Novacek-Olson is displayed in one of the display cases outside of our NWMAC Gallery at Northland Community and Technical College in Thief River Falls. Aliza’s work will be displayed until the end of the year. Stop by to see it!

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To see all the trainings, events and other resources that Springboard for the Arts is offering, visit their events webpage here. These include zoom sessions on copyrights, trademarks, record keeping, pricing, websites, and more!

Minnesota arts & cultural organizations offering accessible programs and services are welcome to list events on the Minnesota Accessible Activities Calendar. An account is required; register today or log in to submit events. New accounts need to be approved by the Minnesota Access Alliance board before you’ll be able to submit events. Please allow 48 hours for your registration to be approved.

The Minnesota Access Alliance (MNAA) provides this Accessible Arts & Culture Calendar for patrons who use accessibility accommodations. At the their website you’ll find listings of (in order):

* Captioning,

* ASL interpreting,

* Audio Description,

* Sensory-friendly accommodations, and

* Disability-related events.

Each listing links to more details on MNAA’s online calendar (https://calendar.mnaccess.org). Be sure to check the listing or venue to find out its COVID-19 protocol and if you need to make an advance reservation for the accessibility service.

Minnesota Accessible Activities Calendar is here: https://calendar.mnaccess.org

If you previously had an account to submit events to VSA Minnesota’s Accessible Art Activities Calendar, your credentials for that calendar are still valid here.

This calendar only lists events that provide explicit accommodations for people with disabilities. Information about the accessibility of the event location and provided accommodations is a requirement in order to be listed.

To submit events and register start at this page: https://calendar.mnaccess.org/calendar/submit/

If you know of other accessible events, please ask those venues to submit their events to the MNAA Calendar (and to MinnesotaPlaylist.com).

Anyone can get this monthly calendar: email mactfactor@icloud.com and/or info@mnaccess.org and indicate which list you want: the entire list or specifically ASL Interpreting, Captioning, Audio Description, Sensory Friendly accommodations or Disability-related topics.

Join our board! Would you like to be more involved in the arts in northwest Minnesota? Consider becoming an Arts Council Board Member! The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council has openings for representatives from Red Lake, Pennington and Norman. We are also looking for one at-large member who can be from any of our seven counties of Kittson, Marshall, Norman, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake, and Roseau.

The Arts Council meets five times a year usually in Warren or virtually and reviews and approves arts grants and arts policy and arts services for seven counties in Minnesota.

For more information and to receive a nomination form for yourself or a friend, contact Mara Hanel, NWMAC, at 218-745-8886; or email her at director@nwartscouncil.org. Visit our website here to learn more and for the nomination form.

Grant writing training will be offered 2 weeks before each deadline ... Nov 1, 2023 and Feb 16, Apr 17 2024. Reach out if you need help!

Come one, Come all !!

Fall Community Dance

Hosted by North Country Fiddle and Dance & East Polk Heritage Center

Saturday, October 28, 2:30 to 5:00 PM

Embassy Community Center, 603 3rd St. N.E. Fosston, MN

Music by O'Neil Family Band

Caller-Jeanne O'Neil

North Country Fiddle and Dance Community Dance

Saturday, November 18th 7:30 to 10:00 PM

East Grand Forks Senior Center, 538 Rhinehart Drive, EGF

Music by O'Neil Family Band

Caller - Robin Nelson, Minneapolis

Everyone is invited to a Community Dance with North Country Fiddle and Dance

These events are made possible in part by a grant provided by the Northwest Minnesota Arts Council through funding from the Minnesota State Legislature with money from the State's general fund.

COMPAS Teaching Artist and drummer for The Lovin’ Spoonful Mike Arturi will be facilitating a music workshop at the Campbell Public Library of East Grand Forks on Tuesday, October 24 @ 6 PM. The event, funded through a grant from the Northwest Minnesota Arts Council, is free and open to all ages. No drumming experience is needed!

Get Spooky with NDMOA Family Day! Calling all ghouls, ghosts, and art-loving families! Mark your calendars because NDMOA (North Dakota Museum of Art) is thrilled to present a morning filled with eerie creativity and family fun for Halloween!

October 28th, 2023 from 10 AM to Noon at the North Dakota Museum of Art

261 Centennial Drive, Stop 7305, Grand Forks, North Dakota 58202

Spooky Art Workshops: Let your inner artist come to life with creepy-crawly crafts suitable for all ages.

Come in Your Best Costume: Show off your spookiest, funniest, or most creative Halloween attire!

ndmoa.com/family-day

Area artists like Kate Hammer of Pretty Dirt Pottery in Roseau will have their art for sale at this event.

This concert sponsored by Northern Lights Concert Association will be Sunday, October 29th featuring JASON LYLE BLACK FROM BLOCKBUSTERS TO BROADWAY: 100 HITS FROM SCREEN TO STAGE!

Show is in the Roseau High School Theatre at 7:30 PM

Jason Lyle Black is an award-winning piano entertainer whose clever arrangements, fun stories and onstage charm has won countless fans throughout the world.

Join the Aurora Center for the Arts November 4th at 7PM in Fosston.

Tugging on heartstrings and bringing smiles to faces since 2020, Turner and Hajnasiewicz have been captivating audiences throughout the Midwest with their charismatic storytelling, sweet harmonies, and transcendent songs about the universal human condition. Tickets sell out fast! Purchase online or pick up in person at Nord’s Pharmacy & Gifts in Fosston.

The 2023 Daisy Hagen Auction for the Arts

Sunday, November 26, 2023

1:00 PM Preview items; Live auction starts at 2 PM

FCLAA, 403 Foss Ave NorthFosston, MN 56542

Mental Health Awareness Mural Check out the Mental Health Awareness mural created by artist Victoria German in Downtown Thief River Falls

If you're in Bemidji don't miss the Bemidji Sculpture Walk 2023. Roseau Metal Artist Sue Suess's piece "Strolling with the Wind" is one of the featured works of art!