Northwest Minnesota Arts Council News | |
The Latest in Regional Arts Opportunities | |
Exhibits, Grants, Announcements, Events, Trainings, Calls for Art, Awards, & More! | |
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- February 29 Arts Grants for Non-Profit & Gov't Entities Deadline
- February 29 Of the Year Nominations Due
- February 29 NW Art Exhibit Entries Due
- March 25 Drop off art for NW Art Exhibit
- March 27-April 21 NW Art Exhibit in Lake Bronson
- Ongoing School Residency Grants Applications and Quick Turn Around Grants for Individual Artists
Learn more about these programs, services, and events in this newsletter!
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There's still time to see the NWMAC Gallery exhibit | |
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Pulled in Many Directions
Photographs by Andy Hall
Northwest Minnesota Arts Council Gallery
Northland Community and Technical College in Thief River Falls
Open Now through February 26, 2024
There's still time to see the Northwest Minnesota Arts Council (NWMAC)'s exhibit Pulled in Many Directions Photography by Andy Hall.
Andy Hall has been a full-time photographer for more than 23 years. He lives in Climax and owns Sweetlight Gallery in Crookston. According to Andy, his subject matter “varies tremendously and my techniques are ever evolving. What comes to life through my camera is all but invisible to me until I quiet my mind and allow my eyes to see the perfection in the obvious and the stunning beauty of the often overlooked. I revel in discovering the extraordinary in the ordinary!”
Of his technique and methods, Andy explained, “The photographs that you see here were created with digital cameras, a variety of lenses, a handful of filters and a tripod. I own camera gear from several different manufacturers. I print on archival photographic paper and canvas. I spray coat my canvases with a water-based UV protection that also makes them quite durable. I perform all aspects of my craft.”
There are 45 pieces in this exhibit that are either wrapped in canvas or framed canvas. All are for sale. Andy can tailor make any print to multiple sizes and on a variety of mediums from framed or unframed canvas to metal.
Watch this video for a virtual tour of the exhibit at https://youtu.be/81b-LEr1S8c
An artist spotlight was held on Monday, January 22. Watch the recording of NWMAC staff in an online discussion with Andy Hall about his inspiration, technique, and much more at this link: https://streamyard.com/pjh6xzyyt6mj
An artist reception at the gallery with Andy was held at Northland Community and Technical College on Wednesday, January 24. This free event was welcome to everyone and included live music, drinks, and dessert.
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.
For more information about this exhibit visit northwestminnesotaartscouncil.org/blog/pulled-in-many-directions-exhibit-photography-by-andy-hall-is-open or for other information look to our website at www.NWArtsCouncil.org, or if you are an artist interested in exhibiting a body of work with NWMAC, please contact Trey Everett at (218) 745-8886 or email NWArtsCouncil@gmail.com. Please sign up for our e-newsletter on our website home page to see the latest news and grant announcements. Email director@NWArtsCouncil.org or call 218-745-8886 to reach our office during regular business hours.
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Want to Honor a Deserving Arts Advocate or Artist?
Nominations are Open for Of the Year Awards
Northwest Artist of the Year $500
Northwest Arts Advocate of the Year $500
Northwest Star Award for $5,000
Applications are open for nominations for the Northwest Minnesota Arts Council Of the Year Awards. Three awards are given each year to recognize artists and arts advocates within our region who stand out in terms of artistry or volunteerism in the arts. Often people serve in both roles.
Our Arts Advocate of the Year award honors someone who is a voice and advocate for arts within the community, local school, or our region. Arts includes all disciplines. It comes with $500 and often goes to a local leader who lives in the area where the artist reception will be held. However, anyone is eligible to be nominated.
Our Artist of the Year award can be given to any discipline artist including visual, performing, or creative writing who are emerging or at a mid-way point in their artistic endeavors. It is a cash award of $500 to use however they see fit.
Artists can only receive our Northwest Star Award once, as a lifetime achievement award. This award is for $5,000 and can be a wonderful gift to those who have chosen a hard career path related to artistic expression.
Our deadline for nominations is February 29.
Please consider nominating someone who you view as a deserving candidate from our seven-county service area in northwestern Minnesota. Persons who believe their nominee would qualify for this award and have questions should contact the Northwest Minnesota Arts Council office at (218) 745-8886, ext 1 or email director@NWArtsCouncil.org for more information. The nomination form is on our website in the grant software. Login and click on Apply and follow the directions. For more information, visit this page on our website:
https://northwestminnesotaartscouncil.org/nominations-for-of-the-year-awards
Or download this document to learn about the information needed for the nomination. Awards will be presented at the NW Art Exhibit reception at the Kittson County History Museum in Lake Bronson on Sunday, April 21, 2024. Funding for Northwest Star and Northwest Artist of the Year comes from The McKnight Foundation. Funding for Northwest Arts Advocate of the Year comes from the Minnesota State Legislature.
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Are you overwhelmed by the on-line system for nominating someone? You can start the nomination process by filling out this form and either emailing it to director@NWArtsCouncil.org or mailing it to our office. We don't want the process to stop you from nominating a deserving artist or arts advocate! Click to download the form here. | |
Submit Your Art for the NW Art Exhibit!c
We are pleased to announce our latest “Call for Entries” for the 2024 Annual Art Exhibit.
The deadline to submit your artwork is February 29, 2024.
This year, the annual Art Exhibit will be in Lake Bronson at the Kittson County History Museum from March 27 to April 21. Artwork will be dropped off on Monday, March 25 in Lake Bronson.
Artists and creatives from our 7 county- service region are invited to enter into this art exhibit and will be competing for $2,300 in cash awards. Artists must reside in Kittson, Marshall, Norman, Polk, Pennington, Roseau, or Red Lake counties to be eligible. Both adults and high school students are encouraged to enter. Exhibit cash award winners will be chosen while the exhibit is on display by a qualified juror. They will be recognized and receive their check at the Artist Reception at the Kittson County History Museum, 332 East Main Street, Lake Bronson on Sunday, April 21. Artists are welcome to have their work in the exhibit available for sale.
See https://northwestminnesotaartscouncil.org/nwmnartsexhibit-apply for more information, including the exhibit entry rules and directions. If you would like the application mailed to you, please contact our office 218-745-8886, ext 1 or director@nwartscouncil.org. The application must be submitted no later than February 29, 2024.
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Some FREE services offered in our office space! | |
Did you know that we offer free services in our office space?
We have an audio recording room, a grant writing station, meeting rooms, a photography room, and an enhanced art gallery that you are free to use at no cost!
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Our 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.
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Need an images of your art?
Take advantage of this free service to elevate your arts business.
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Do you need a headshot?
Or images of you performing your art?
Take advantage of the photography room.
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Upcoming Deadlines for Arts Grants Applications
Organizations, Individuals & Schools -- Apply Now
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 apply 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.
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. 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 deadline for these is 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.
Read more here about our grants and how to apply.
We offer 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.
Stay Tuned for Upcoming Trainings
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.
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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:
2.20.24 Heidi Danos Fosston Artist Heidi Danos spoke about the Firefly Center for Arts and Wellbeing in Fosston. The Firefly Center is reinventing the traditional approach to mental health care by creating a unique space that provides a place for all to connect through art and wellbeing events, but also brings professional mental health services to Fosston and the surrounding communities! Listen here.
2.13.24 Dana Kassel The Program Director for the McKnight Fellowships for Choreographers and Dancers at the Cowles Center provided details about the fellowships. These fellowships are for mid-career artists, are unrestricted, and statewide. Listen here.
2.6.24 Karlace Taylor Karlstad resident Karlace Taylor serves on the NWMAC board of directors. She has a music background and teaches private piano lessons in Karlstad and plays for special events and in churches. Listen here.
1.30.24 Andy Hall Photographer Andy Hall has an exhibit at our gallery at NCTC -- Pulled in Many Directions Photography by Andy Hall. Andy spoke about the exhibit, his photography, funding he received from the NWMAC, and Sweetlight Gallery, his shop in Crookston (including pieces he has for sale). Listen here.
1.23.24 Mara Hanel The NWMAC Director spoke about events, grants, exhibits, awards, and more that the Arts Council has coming up, including the Annual NW Art Exhibit, the Of the Year Awards, Upcoming Grant deadlines, Pulled in Many Directions Photography by Andy Hall, the photography exhibit at our gallery at NCTC in Thief River Falls, the traveling art exhibit, featuring adult and high school student art, at the Campbell Library in East Grand Forks until February 27, the Artists of NW Minnesota booklet that is being created right now. For all the details, listen here.
1.16.24 Anika Schneider The Director of Exhibitions and Artist Programs at the Minnesota Center for Book Arts spoke about the Minnesota Center for Book Arts and the McKnight Fellowships for Book Artists. She provided lots of information about the center and what they offer for artists statewide (this includes educational programming for adults and youth, book binding, print making, all of the arts surrounding book making, educational programming, exhibits, workshops, and more). The largest book arts center in the country partners with the McKnight Foundation to offer 2 fellowships each year for book artists. Fellowships are for mid-career book artists (over 8 years) and support book artists in a number of ways. Apply online by March 1. Listen here.
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Traveling Art Exhibit is
at the Campbell Public Library in East Grand Forks
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 East Grand Forks until February 27.
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
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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!
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March 5th marks Arts Advocacy Day 2024, and it's fast approaching! Join us in person to passionately advocate for the arts you love.
Can't make it in person? They will also be offering ways for you to participate remotely during the week. Learn more on how you can advocate for the arts during March 4-8th below.
Register Here.
ARTS ACTION WEEK!
Sign-Up to attend the in-person rally on March 5th and to receive links for our online Opening Rally and to attend legislator meetings.
JOIN ADVOCATES ACROSS MINNESOTA TO RALLY FOR THE ARTS!
It's time for the Minnesota arts community to come together! Help us "rally the troupes" and make our voice heard at the State Capitol and say thank you to legislators for securing over $100 million for the arts and to continue to advocate for additional arts Legacy/General funds. With your action-in-person and as part of Zoom calls with legislators-we can help legislators understand the importance of arts to funding at this critical time. They listened to your feedback from last year and are again giving you multiple ways to advocate from letter writing and legislative Zoom Meetings to a full in-person rally and day at the Capitol on MARCH 5th beginning at 10:00 AM.
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Afternoon Community Dance with
North Country Fiddle and Dance
Saturday, March 2nd
2 to 4:30 PM
All are welcome, all ages, all dances are taught and are easy to learn
American traditional folk dances- reels, squares, contras, circle mixers
East Grand Forks Senior Center, 538 Rhinehart Dr. S.E.
Music by O'Neil Family Band
Donations at the door
| 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! | |
Northwest Minnesota Arts Council
is on the Radio!
Tune in on Tuesdays
at 3:05pm to
Pioneer 90.1FM
as Ron West talks Art
with our latest guest!
Would you like to be featured on our radio program?
Email Kristin Eggerling
The podcast of the interviews on our website. This is a great way to promote your art! Listen here!
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