In this issue:

• Prairie Star & Disciples Nominations due April 15th

• Register today: SMAC's Annual Artist Retreat

• SMAC Awards $9,972 to local organizations & artists

• In the SMAC Gallery



• Upcoming Opportunity: Place Making Symposium

• Arts Action Day Recap: The Importance of Sharing Arts Impact with our Representatives



• Impact Story: Art Project Grant for Canby Area Arts Council

• Upcoming Grant Deadlines

• SMAC Welcomes New Murray County Board Member



• Arts Ambassador Check In: Tisha Interviews Andrew Prekker

• & More!

Pictured: Artwork "White Oleander" by Gabriel Neegaard, who received a SMAC Quick Support for Artists grant to support his illustration skills.

Deadline is April 15th! Nominate someone in your community for our Prairie Star & 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.

Prairie Star Award, $5000

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. Nominations require letters of recognition from community members and peers. Start your nomination today!

The Prairie Disciple Award, $1000

This award 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. This year nominations are limited to educators only. 

To learn more and see past recipients, visit our Prairie Disciple webpage. Nominations require letters of recognition from community members and peers. Start your nomination today!

Registration for SMAC Annual Artist Retreat is open!

It's that time of year again! Join SMAC and artists from across Southwest Minnesota for 1 & 1/2 days of networking and arts inspiration for our annual Artist Retreat on May 3th & 4th! The retreat will once again be held at Danebod Folk School in Tyler (140 Danebod Court), MN for a “get-away” learning atmosphere. Overnight accommodations will be available, but not required; you can choose to come for one or both days! Friday evening (7:30 pm) we'll have a live music performance from Nautical Moth (Tim Pehrson & Betsy Pardick of Clarkfield) that will be free and open to the public! 

Pictured: Nautical Moth

Registration deadline: April 26, 2024

 **Registration is limited to the first 60 people**

Location:

Danebod Folk School

140 Danebod Court, Tyler, MN 56178

View on map

Date:

May 03, 2024 12:00pm – May 04, 2024 05:00pm

Date Details

Friday afternoon/evening, May 3 and all-day Saturday, May 4. You may choose to attend just Friday, or just Saturday… or join us for the entire event along with overnight lodging at the historic Danebod Folk School.  Overnight accommodations will be available, but not required.

Fees

• Friday afternoon only: $20 for workshops & meals*

• Saturday only: $20 for workshops & meals*

• $40 total for both days

• Overnight Lodging-Private Room: $35

• Overnight Lodging-Private room with private bath: $75 (SOLD OUT)

*Attendees living outside SMAC Region: $30/day

Classes

For updated list of classes and schedule, visit our Artist Retreat webpage

• "A School of Fish" Reverse Acrylic Painting with Kathleen Marihart
• Handbuilding with Clay with Sarah Bednarek
• "The Way of the Masters" Picture Book Writing with Daniel Bernstrom
• Dry Needle Felting with Kristen Brichler
• Photographic Alchemy with Jessica Stölen
• Canvas Creations (Open Class with limited instruction)
• Fiddle for Complete Beginners with Darlene Schroeder (CLASS FULL)
• Zine Making Magic with Brian Paco, Oak Kelsey, and Josh Tedrick
• The Creative Process & You with Maria Novak
• Community Painting (acrylics) with Latisha Wade
• Grants for Artists with SMAC Staff
• Show & Tell about your art & practice

SMAC Awards $9,972 to local organizations & artists

The SMAC board voted on March 26 to award $4,972 to organizations and $5,000 to artists

The following two organizations have been awarded a SMAC Quick Support for Organizations grants. These grants provide organizations 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. 



• 2B CONTINUED of Glencoe was awarded $2,500 to partner with Suicide Survivors Club to provide a workshop facilitated by art therapist Kris Frykman that teaches participants how to use a variety of art types – collage work, journaling, painting, drawing, and freeform creative arts – to express difficult emotions such as trauma, grief, and loss. 

• Montevideo Community Education has been awarded $2,472 for a youth summer art camp during the Fiesta Days celebration in June 2024. The camp will include three two-hour sessions each for two different age groups led by artist SammyJo Miller, concluding with a public art exhibit featuring the student’s artwork at the Fiesta Days community picnic.

The following artist was awarded a SMAC Artist Equity grant. Our Artist Equity grants provide up to$4,000to aid Black, Indigenous, and other artists of color with projects that will advance their skills and artistic career.

• Daniel Bernstrom of Worthington was awarded $4,000 to participate in the Whale Rock writing mentorship program, working with Gary D. Schmidt to edit his middle-grade fiction book entitled, The Five. The story is about a diverse family that moves to Southwest Minnesota and the eldest daughter, who is afraid of the unknown. 

Picture of Daniel Bernstrom explaining picture books at the New Ulm Public Library.

The following artist was awarded a SMAC Quick Support for Individual Artists grant. These grants provide artists with up to$1,000for activities such as purchasing supplies, attending classes, and small artist-led community projects.

• Michael Magee of Jackson has been awarded $1,000 to purchase a new camera to photograph and write about the beauty of some of our National Parks before they possibly are altered.

Pictured left: Photography by Michael Magee in Boulder, CO.

In the Gallery: Mark Thode

Currently in the gallery is Mark Thode of Pipestone! Mark will be exhibiting through April 26, 2024.

Mark received an Artist Growth grant from SMAC in 2023 to to assemble a portfolio of work that he created for community theaters and performing arts centers in the past 15 years. For this, Mark created a new website, Skycloth Creative, that displays his work, with the intention that it can be used as a visual tool to connect with future projects. The body of work in the portfolio consists of posters, playbills and other supporting design collateral used to create a brand for a performance or production, as well as production photography. Learn more about this Mark Thode and this exhibit on our gallery webpage

Upcoming Virtual Reception, Gallery Tour & Artist Talk

Thursday, April 4th

at 5:30 pm

Meeting ID 849 1376 6476

Passcode 415122

Zoom Link

Place Making: Not Just a Buzzword

Plan to join SMAC and the Granite Falls Community Artist in Residence Program (GF CAIR) on Friday, April 12th for a Place Making Symposium at Prairie's Edge Casino outside of Granite Falls. The event will take place from 10 am to 6 pm with a happy hour from 6-8 pm.

The GF CAIR, in partnership with SMAC, will be hosting the Symposium on Placemaking. This event unique event is open to:

• Tribal and City Chairs, Mayors, Council Members, Administrators & Employees
• Economic Development Authority Professionals
• Executive Directors of Arts and Culture Organizations

from anywhere in Minnesota or it's geographic boundaries.

Place Making is a hot, "buzzy" term we keep hearing in economic development. Likewise in public art. Buzzwords are fickle and grant cycles move on but every so often trends hit on something deeply rooted. What is the value of place? Can we work together across sectors to seed growth of local resources and build stronger and more sustainable communities?

This symposium is free to all attendees. The hosts hope this invites a dynamic mix on the day, and allows resources to de devoted to your travel and stay.

Get to know your hosts: The Granite Falls Community Artist in Residence (GF CAIR) is a rural initiative devoted to building community connectivity through art.

Arts Action Day at the Minnesota Capitol

Over 400 individuals took action for the arts by registering, attending, or sending a letter for Arts Action Week. Attending in person from SMAC were: Kristine Shelstad (Madison), Suree Sompamitwong (Worthington), Betsy Pardick (Clarkfield), Luwaina Al-Otabi (Granite Falls) and SMAC staffers: Nicole, Caroline and Latisha (all pictured below with Senator Gary Dahms). MCA organized over 100 legislative meetings held either in person or over Zoom. 

This interaction with our legislators, lobbyists and advocacy groups is essential to keeping our continued level of funding. The Arts & Cultural Heritage Funding (nicknamed Legacy Funding) is more than 85% of our SMAC budget. Without it, we would have only 1 part-time staff person and be limited to 10 or fewer grants each year. That means your voice matters when sharing the impact of our arts funding. This year SMAC staff produced 4 Impact Stories that were shared with capitol decision makers. Check out these first four stories on our website: Impact Stories or read below for one story, with more to follow in future SMAC newsletters!

SW MN Arts Impact Story: Art Project Grant for Canby Area Arts Council

Art Project Grant: 2023 Connect & Create

$5,119 Arts & Cultural Heritage Funds

Project involved: 6 teaching artists & 116 attendees of all ages

The Canby Area Arts Council requested funding for 8 Art Classes held in various accessible locations: 

• "Play with Clay" Intro to Hand-building Pottery at Canby Central Park 
• Intro to the Pottery Wheel at Canby Central Park 
• Advanced Functional Wheel-Thrown Pottery at Canby Central Park
• Plein Air Painting at Lake Sylvan Park 
• Intro to Watercolor Painting at Sanford Health Sylvan Court Long-term Care
• Intro to Watercolor Painting at Sanford Health Sylvan Place Independent Assisted Living
• Intro to Watercolor Painting at Canby Community Center
• Intro to Watercolor Painting at The Connection Youth Center 

Use the QR code to the left, or click here to Watch the Impact

This arts funding allowed community members to come together, connect and participate in watercolor painting, Plein Air painting and pottery sessions for beginners to advanced including facility-bound elders. It has allowed Canby Area Arts Council to employ teaching artists from rural communities. We live in a geographically arts-challenged area as people would have needed to drive at least 4 hours one-way to find similar arts experiences.  

Arts Impact

The Canby Area Arts Council’s “Connect and Create” program provided opportunities in the spring and summer of 2023 for the public to take part in painting and pottery classes. Overall, the response was very positive, noted Art Council’s Sarah Bednarek. “The impact it has on a community is profound in my opinion. In today’s world where things can be so divided and gloomy, bringing people together on common ground is so important.” 

The arts council was formed back in 2012 by like-minded community members. “The intention was to bring the arts to the community,” said Joyce Meyer, past chair of the council, adding that “arts access in a community is an important part of good quality of life.” 

The success of these programs is made possible by many individuals including artists, board members, community volunteers and grant funding from the Southwest Minnesota Arts Council. “The art materials are unbiased and adaptable and thanks to SMAC & CAAC, they are also accessible,” Bednarek noted. Without the funding and support, most of these programs would not be available in rural communities. 

“I hear so many times during our classes that we need more of this! It's consistently been on our SMAC grant surveys too,” said Ms. Bednarek. “The feedback from the community is clear...we need MORE art!” 

“In the grant-sponsored classes that I've attended or taught, I hear stories from folks about how they haven't done this in years, or since they were in school, and some are excited to try for the first time!” Sarah Bednarek mentioned. “Teaching the hand-building and intro to pottery classes has given me a sense of purpose in our community.”

“The SMAC grant has allowed me to be a part of something bigger. Bigger than my own personal journey with my art. It has given my art, my skills, my experiences a purpose for the greater good. Connecting with community members on common ground has been art in and of itself.” 

• View the PDF flyer for Canby Are Arts Council Arts Impact Story
• Read the full article on SMAC's website: Canby Impact Story

As our fiscal year draws to a close at the end of this June, that means most of our funds have been exhausted for grant programs; however, we still have funds left in our Quick Support for Artists grant program! Applications are due by May 1st by 4:30 pm. After May, the next deadline in this program will be August 1st, 2024. (As a reminder, we also take nominations for our Prairie Star & Prairie Disciple Awards until April 15th.)

Upcoming Grant Deadlines

1st of the Month through May 2024:

• Quick Support for Organizations (watch Quick Support for Organizations recorded webinar)

• Arts in the Schools (watch Arts in the Schools recorded webinar)

• Quick Support for Artists (watch recorded webinar for Artist Grants)

April 15: Prairie Star & Prairie Disciple Nominations Due

View our current grants calendar

including descriptions of the grants and funding amounts, deadlines, earliest project start dates, and webinar dates for our new fiscal year, starting July 2023 through June 2024.

Visit SMAC's Workshop & Assistance page

Options for Grant Assistance:

Visit SMAC's Workshop & Assistance page

SW MN Arts Council grants administrator Caroline Koska (pictured left) is available to meet with you by phone, web conference or in person 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.

Every month we hold "Open Office Hours" for grant support on the second Tuesday of the month. The office hours are from 10 am to 2 pm and the next one will be Tuesday, April 9th. You can use this time with SW MN Arts Council staff to talk through project ideas or get help with finding the right grant program, filling out your application, preparing work samples or budgets, or completing your final report.

You can also 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. View SMAC's Access page for more information.

SMAC introduces new board representative for Murray County!

Please help SMAC welcome our new board representative for Murray County, Tiffany Holmes! Tiffany Holmes is a classically trained concert violinist. Having started violin at the age of three, Tiffany studied with some of the best violinists in the business, such as Adam Han-Gorski---himself a student of the legendary Jascha Heifetz.

Having grown up in a musical household, Tiffany not only plays classical violin but all types of fiddle (such as Scottish, Celtic, Bluegrass and, Scandinavian) as well as Klezmer. That musical household and family also gave her a love of other genres of music such as opera (her mother's brother is an opera singer who helped open both Lincoln and Kennedy Centers with an opera written specifically for him) and musicals. 

Also, her mother has a degree in music theory and composition as well as piano and pipe organ performance. (The mention of organ brings up a fact that is very concerning. Pipe organs are being destroyed and there are no trained organists left in the area. Also, another musical tradition that is sadly falling by the wayside is the A Cappella choir.)

It was her mother's knowledge and experience that allowed Tiffany to excel at violin, giving her first professional debut at the age of 6 and going on from there.

As well as violin, Tiffany has a background in ballet, having studied at the Andahazy School of Classical Ballet (from the age of 6 she was a regular at concerts of the Kirov Ballet), an art form for which she still retains a knowledge and respect. 

Also, she is a great admirer of the works of Shakespeare and classic theatre, in general. Specifically, the acting of Olivier, Leigh, Gielgud, etc and has insight from friends in the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art community.

She believes it's not necessary to throw out the old for the new. Our brains can retain and learn from all of it.

Ultimately, Tiffany sees a definite decline in arts in Southwest Minnesota and finds that very disheartening. She hopes to try to bring an awareness to that in her county and is optimistic that, with the help of her colleagues at the Southwest Minnesota Arts Council, some good can be done.

SMAC Board: Will YOU join us and represent your county?

SMAC is seeking representatives from five counties to serve on our board of directors: Big Stone, Jackson, McLeod, Renville and Yellow Medicine

Do you live or work in one of these counties? Do you want to volunteer in a meaning way? Are you interested in helping your community? Are you passionate about arts awareness & funding and where & how those funds are distributed?

SMAC's Board of Directors has five vacant board seats. We are seeking a representative from each of the counties listed above to serve. The Board meets monthly on the 4th Tuesday evening at the SMAC office in Marshall or on Zoom to set policies, make final decisions on grant awards with input from grant review panels, share ideas and information from their representative counties, and to design programs that enable SMAC to best serve our communities.

Other opportunities include serving on several grant panels a year to evaluate applications, attending a yearly board retreat in January, learning opportunities and trainings on Access, Equity, Inclusion & Diversity and more!

To learn more and to fill out an application visit SMAC's Become A Board Member Page. You can also schedule a meeting with our Executive Director, Nicole DeBoer, for further questions.

Arts Ambassador Check In: Tisha Interviews Andrew Prekker

Andrew Prekker, an artist from our region, has recently garnered attention for his contribution to the design of the new Minnesota flag. Andrew's journey from graphic designer to flag designer embodies the power of creativity and community support.

"I'm Andrew Prekker. I am 25 years old and I live in Luverne, Minnesota, which is in the far southwest corner. It's kind of a small town," Andrew describes. Andrew dreams of becoming a fiction author, a passion he nurtures alongside his design endeavors.

Growing up in Luverne, Andrew found solace in the town's quiet vibe. Although primarily homeschooled during his formative years, Andrew's artistic life was encouraged by his mother, leading him to explore various art forms and eventually pursue a formal art education at Minnesota West Technical College.

Andrew's journey into flag design unexpectedly began when he stumbled on a website called Minnesotans for a Better Flag which advocated for a new Minnesota flag. Curious by the movement, he crafted his own design and shared it online. Little did he know that fate would intervene, leading to his involvement in the official commission's flag redesign process.

Reflecting on the design process, Andrew recounts the revisions and feedback he received from fellow enthusiasts and experts alike. Despite his initial lack of experience in flag design, Andrew's dedication and passion drove him to create multiple iterations, eventually leading to the submission of three designs, with one emerging victorious.

The significance of the new Minnesota flag extends beyond its visual appeal. For Andrew, it represents a symbol of unity and inclusivity, honoring the diverse communities, including the indigenous peoples of Minnesota.

Engaging in the redesign process deepened Andrew's understanding of flags as potent symbols of identity and representation. "Flags are so important. They're not just this superficial thing. They represent people," Andrew highlights the significant impact flags have on communities and their shared heritage.

As the new Minnesota flag gains traction among residents, Andrew remains humbled by the opportunity to contribute to his state's narrative. Andrew's odyssey stands as a testament to the transformative power of art and collaborative community efforts. As Andrew embarks on the journey ahead, he remains grateful for the support he has received.



Prekker’s journey exemplifies the importance of providing artists with opportunities to practice and showcase their talents within their communities. Through the collaborative process of designing the new flag, Andrew not only honed his skills as a graphic designer but also deepened his connection to his fellow Minnesotans. By fostering an environment where artists are encouraged to contribute their unique perspectives and talents, communities can create meaningful and inclusive symbols that resonate with their shared values and heritage. Andrew's story serves as a reminder of the transformative power of art and the profound impact it can have when given the opportunity to flourish within a supportive and collaborative community setting.

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

For more opportunities and resources be sure to check out our latest news posts on SMAC's website.

Looking for arts events to attend? Check out our 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! Remember, these don't have to be SMAC grant funded events, just arts events in our 18-county region!

Have something that's not an event, but an arts opportunity, like a RFP or call for local artists? We'll add it to our opportunities posts! Send us those, too!

 Memberships

From February 29 to March 29, 2024

Contributors: Tiffany Holmes, Dovray • Mary Jane Striegel, Marshall • Mni Sota Arts, Morton • Adrienne Herbert, Lakefield • Su Kyung Lee, Lamberton • Pam & Duane Blake, Tyler • Cheryl Avenel-Navara, Worthington • Margaret Hurlbut-Vosburgh, Worthington •

Supporters: Tokheim Stoneware, Dawson • Kathleen Marihart, Madison • Jan Craig Nelson, Redwood Falls •

Sustainers: Farmers & Merchants State Bank, Appleton • John & Leanna Ginocchio, Marshall

SMAC Members will get an "I Love Rural Arts" Sticker! (pictured left)

Other Donations

Buffalo Ridge Chorale, Hendricks • Su Kyung Lee, Lamberton •

Would you like to become a contributing member of SMAC or make a donation?

You can help by contributing online or by mail, for more information, visit Become a SMAC member!

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE ARTS!

2024 SW MN Arts Council BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Big Stone - OPEN

Jackson - OPEN

Lincoln - Mark Wilmes

Meeker - Darlene Kotelnicki

Pipestone - Erica Volkir

Rock - Shawn Kinsinger

Chippewa - M E (Maggie) Fuller

Kandiyohi - Ana Serrano

Lyon - Dr. Erin Kline

Murray - Tiffany Holmes

Redwood - Su Kyung Lee

Swift - Jessica Mata

Cottonwood - Anna Johannsen

Lac qui Parle - Kristine Shelstad

McLeod - OPEN

Nobles - Cheryl Avenel-Navara

Renville - OPEN

Yellow Medicine - OPEN