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Northwest Minnesota Arts Council News

The Latest in Regional Arts Opportunities

Exhibits, Grants, Announcements, Events, Trainings, Calls for Art, Awards, & More!

October 16 Grant Writing Session at 4 PM
October 31 Grant deadline for Organizations
November 4 Grant Writing Session for Individuals
November 15 Grant deadline for Individual Artists
December 2 Deadline to Submit Art for Around the Farm Exhibit

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

Check out the current NWMAC Gallery exhibit

The Portrait Gallery

August – September 30

Featuring Artwork by Pamela Edevold, Heidi Danos, Therese Masters Jacobson, & Jessica Ross

Northwest Minnesota Arts Council Gallery

NCTC in Thief River Falls

Artist Reception TBA

The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council (NWMAC) is pleased to announce The Portrait Gallery, open until September 30. This gallery exhibits 33 portraits in acrylic, watercolor, digital, and colored pencils created by four area artists. Ten of the portraits are of Native American Dancers and 13 are of dogs, cats, chickens and a horse.

You won't want to miss this incredible exhibit open through September at the NWMAC Gallery at Northland Community and Technical College in Thief River Falls. Details about an artist reception will be announced soon. Many of the portraits are for sale.

Pamela Edevold is a realist artist specializing in portraiture and figurative painting. In this exhibit she is showcasing ten acrylic paintings featuring local Anishinaabe dancers of all ages, accompanied by their narratives of the cultural and personal meaning of their regalia. Pamela is originally from Grafton, North Dakota and lives in Bagley now.

Fosston artist Heidi Danos has four digital portraits in this exhibit. She explained, "Creating helps me shut out the noise, and sometimes even capture it. I enjoy exploring different mediums and don’t foresee myself getting boxed into a single style anytime soon, if ever."

Therese Masters Jacobson of Alvarado has four watercolor and two acrylic portraits. Therese said, "Since relocating to northern Minnesota at fifty, I’ve continued to enjoy life as a painter, art teacher, and living an artful life in my seventies. My paintings and drawings are usually water-based acrylics, watercolor, or pen and ink. I paint commissions on request."

Jessica Ross of Thief River Falls has 13 animal portraits in this exhibit. Jessica shared, "My companion portraits take colored pencils to a different level using both fixed and malleable qualities, with loose under tones and detailed markings. Each portrait is unique and being able to commemorate these important family members gives me a sense of pride. I believe our lives are forever changed by their presence."

Watch this video for a virtual tour of the exhibit at youtu.be/sscycjJdSII.

An Artist Reception will be held at the gallery. Watch our website or social media for details about the date and time.

The NWMAC Gallery is located at Northland Community and Technical College in Thief River Falls. The gallery hours are Monday-Friday from 8 - 5 PM and at other times when events are held at the college. Please call to make sure the college is open before making a special trip.Hours can change. Enter through Door B, which is right next to the gallery. Visitor parking is free.

For more information about this exhibit our website at www.NWArtsCouncil.org, or if you are an artist interested in exhibiting a body of work with NWMAC, please email Trey Everett at treyeverettcreates@gmail.com. Please sign up for our e-newsletter on our website home page to see the latest news and grant announcements. Emaildirector@NWArtsCouncil.org or call 218-745-8886 to reach our office during regular business hours.

Experience the exhibit virtually

Above:Images of The Portrait Gallery at the NWMAC Gallery at NCTC.

Attention Regional Artists -- Call for Art

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!

Read more about Services in our office

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.

Need an images of your art?

Take advantage of this free service to elevate your arts business.

Do you need a headshot?

Or images of you performing your art?

Take advantage of the photography room.

Upcoming Deadlines for Arts Grants Applications

Organizations, Individuals, & Schools

Applications Open Apply Now

October 31 Deadline for Organizations

November 15 Deadline for Artist Grants for Individuals

October 31 is the grant deadline for nonprofits and government organizations. Organizations can apply for one arts project at a time and 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. Don't forget public art!

Applications are also open for Individual Artist Grants. 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. Individual Artist Grants provide financial assistance for the exhibition, performance, or production of a specific creative work, mentoring with a more experienced artist, participation in not-for-credit arts experiences.

To be eligible you must be out of high school and at least 18 years of age and reside in the 7 county NW Minnesota region. College tuition is not an eligible expense.

Individual Artist Grants for either $1,500 or $5,000 have an annual deadline of November 15. Support for this program comes from The McKnight Foundation.

Quick turnaround grants for $500 are available on an ongoing deadline -- first come, first served. 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.

Grant writing session October 16 at 4 PM

There will be a grant writing session on October 16 at 4 PM to help you write your grant or answer any questions. You can attend via Zoom or at our office in Warren -- RSVPs are required.

Schools in our seven-county region can also apply 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.

In addition, there is Arts Equipment funding for school districts available up to $3,000 with 25% cash match required

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.

To learn more about grant programs and start an application visitwww.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. Stay tuned for its return.

Let's Talk Art Podcast

Our podcast radio program is currently on hiatus. But don't worry. We are working bringing the weekly podcast back. We plan to continue to feature artists, arts organizations, and arts events in our region. Watch our facebook page, website, or this newsletter for announcements. To hear all of the past podcasts visit our website here.

Listen to interviews of our recent Of the Year Awardees:

Rom Ogaard The tables turned for this podcast. Pioneer 90.1 Radio Host Ron West (also known as Rom Ogaard), was interviewed by Promotions Specialist Kristin Eggerling. Ogaard is the Northwest Arts Advocate of the Year Award. Ogaard has been a radio host at KSRQ 90.1 radio at Northland Community and Technical College and is retiring at the end of the month. As Ron West, he has partnered with the NWMAC to offer a weekly radio segment that promotes artists, the arts, and arts organizations. He also has segments that feature the Campbell Library in East Grand Forks, and the North Dakota Museum of Art in Grand Forks. These radio programs have brought news and information about the arts to our region and beyond and highlighted our regional artists. Listen here to learn what Rom has learned about the arts and much more!

Randy Larson Gatzke Musician Randy Larson is the Northwest Artist of the Year for Music. Larson sings and plays bass guitar, fiddle, mandolin, and lead guitar. He also writes music. Randy was 17 when he and a quartet from high school began The Back Behind the Barn Boys. The Barn Boys, their abridged title, added drums, piano, and guitar after a year. The Barn Boys hit the road full time touring 23 states and 3 provinces. With one 45 record, 2 albums and a CD, Randy and the band played with or fronted many national acts. Randy has played in other bands, as well. He currently performs with Eagle Creek (with his sons and others). Listen here to learn more and hear some Back Behind the Barn Boys music!

Betsy Saurdiff Grygla Artist Betsy Saurdiff is receiving the NW Star Award, a lifetime achievement award. Congrats, Betsy! She's a retired visual arts (and German) teacher in the Grygla and Goodridge School districts. Betsy is a well-known potter in our region and sells her work out of her studio and at art shows. Listen to hear more, including making pottery, getting grants, and arts council support! Listen here.

The Traveling Art Exhibit

The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council (NWMAC)'s annual Traveling Art Exhibit is at the Hallock Public Library until September 24 and includes 14 original pieces of art by regional adult and student artists, chosen from works submitted for our annual juried exhibit.

Adults

Beau Bakken, Classy Entertainment
Kelly Chisholm, John Lennon
Tammy Hansen, Flower and Feather
Denise Jenson, Found Lying Together
Steve Bernard, Candlelight Dinner
Sarah Solberg, Canyon X
Jessica Ross, Sunny

Students

Izzy Swensen, Lancaster, Purple Iris
Kerstyn Lindsey, Ada, Sprinkles
Brigitta Novacek, Roseau, The Pink Cloud Replica
Geneva Gartner,Fertile, Flying Around
Mary Jane Crane, Red Lake Falls, Beauty in Self Image
Ava Halvorson, Goodridge, Sundown in Star Township
Kinsley Oslund, Grygla, Perfect and Deep Love

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

May - June 11 Crookston Public Library

June 11 - August 6 Warroad Public Library

Aug 6 - Sept 24 Hallock Public Library

Sept 24 - Nov 19 Godel Public Library, Warren

Nov 19 - Jan 21 Thief River Falls Public Library

Jan 21 - Mar 4, 2025 Red Lake Falls Public Library

March 4, 2025 to TBD Ada Public Library

*The start and end dates at each location are approximate, depending on weather, venue hours and other circumstances that may occur to prohibit travel. For specific library hours, please contact each location before planning your visit, especially if you are planning on bringing a group.

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.

Check out Stephanie Olson's art our display case at NCTC near our gallery.

Check out this display case featuring Visual artists and Folk musicians Erin O'Neil and Jeanne O'Neil's art including Erin's recently completed book, Twenty of Plenty, in which twenty of her original fiddle tunes are transcribed, prints from a series of sketches made over the past summers on Jeanne’s land, and Rag Folk pieces created by Erin.

Grant writing training will be offered 2 weeks before each deadline ... The next training is October 16 at 4PM. Reach out if you need help!

The McKnight Foundation offers numerous fellowships for artists. Support for individual artists has been a focus of the McKnight Foundation’s Arts & Culture program since its inception. McKnight Artist & Culture Bearer Fellowships increase the exploratory opportunity, economic stability, and productive capacity of artists by providing $25,000 in unrestricted support for mid-career artists and discipline-specific artistic and professional development opportunities.

Please visit their website to find out more about their fellowships and how to apply. https://www.mcknight.org/programs/arts-culture/mcknight-artist-culture-bearer-fellowships/#apply or visit our website at

McKnight Fellowships

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!

Student Artwork Hanging in Senator Johnson's Office

Five exhibit pieces of student art were chosen to be hung in the hallway of Senator Mark Johnson’s office in St. Paul. These works of art were entered into the annual NW Art Exhibit that took place in Lake Bronson earlier this spring.

Students and their work include Lydia Christianson of Fertile “Omaha Jellyfish,” Kyleigh Halvorson of Fosston “Iris” (merit), Carter Lee Johnsrud of Goodridge “A Broken Heart,” Dana Brown of Lancaster, (Kittson Central) “Jesse and Walt”(People's Choice), and Melody Voeltz, of Lancaster “Barred Owl.”

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Work of Art Workshops by Springboard for the Arts

Work of Art Workshops

Check out Springboard’s series of Work of Art: Business Skills for Artists! This professional development curriculum is designed to teach business skills to artists of all disciplines and experience levels. You are welcome to take the entire series, or take the workshops that best suit your needs. Workshops range from creating your artistic portfolio, grant writing, funding, career planning, pricing your work, and more! The Work of Art series has been taught by Springboard for the Arts at arts organizations, libraries and colleges in over 80 communities in the Upper Midwest, and replicated across the country by artists, arts organizations, and colleges and universities. You can also download the Work of Art curriculum for free, or you can buy a copy of the book to support your practice.

Explore Work of Art

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 NWMAC is looking for board members to serve a 3 year term.

At this time, we are prioritizing the recruitment of men and people of color, in order to keep diversity on our board and learn from members who represent different demographics. A love of supporting artists and arts activity is a must, as well as basic computer skills to attend zoom meetings and score online applications.

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.

North Country Fiddle and Dance Fall Dance

reels, squares, circle mixers, all dances taught and easy to learn, all ages, families, couples, singles.

Saturday, Sept 7 from 2:30 to 5 PM

With Four Mile Portage – Tom Maloney on banjo and guitar, Brandy Forsman on fiddle and bass, from Duluth and Caller -Jeanne O'Neil

East Grand Forks Senior Center, 538 Rhinehart Drive SE.

Donations at the door

This activity is 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. For more information: northcountrydance.org

Roseau's Gazebo Concert Series

Stephen Community Arts's Summer Concert Series Schedule

September 12, Thursday - 7:00 p.m. - Jennifer Lynn & The Groove Revival

Upcoming events at the

North Dakota Museum of Art in Grand Forks

Thurs, Sept 5 from 5-7PM. Opening reception for Stories of Place: Select Recent Acquisitions. Exhibit will be open through Dec 1.

Sunday, Sept 22 at 2 PM Concerts in the Galleries featuring Spanish Brass

Tues, Oct 8, 6:30 PM Reception, 7PM Lecture. Public Lecture on the current exhibition by curator, Anna Sigrídur Arnar
Sat, Oct 26 10 AM – Noon Family Day: Halloween-themed art activities for all
Sat, November 9, 2024, 6:30 PM Autumn Art Auction: Fine arts live auction

Downtown Hallock Music Series

Aug 23 & Aug 24 Phil Thompson. Vocals and piano-singing a variety of music to include legends of Rock and Country.
Sept 6 Bluewater Kings Band. 8-12 piece full band experience with brass section with horns, including sax, and trombone/trumpet.
Sept 7 Jordan Thornberg. Guitar, keyboard, harmonica, and vocals.
Sept 20 Accoust Hicks. Classic rock 4 person band with vocals, drums, and guitar.

All events will take place downtown Hallock on Main Street and/or Centennial Park. Accessible for all ages and abilities.