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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!

July 1 Grant Applications Open
July 10 6 PM Artist Reception with Gail Ose and Cindy Kolling
July 17 11 AM Grant Writing Session
July 31 Grant deadline for Gov't and Non-Profit Project Grants

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

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.”

Kittson Central Student Dana Brown with his art “Jesse and Walt.” This is hanging in Senator Mark Johnson’s office. Brown also received the People’s Choice Award in the student category.

Check out our latest NWMAC Gallery exhibit

Awareness: within and without

May 30 – July 31

Featuring Art by Cindy Kolling and Gail Ose

Northwest Minnesota Arts Council Gallery

NCTC in Thief River Falls through July 2024

Artist Reception Wednesday, July 10 from 6 – 8 PM

The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council (NWMAC) is pleased to announce the oThe Northwest Minnesota Arts Council (NWMAC) is pleased to announce the opening of Awareness: within and without.

This exhibit features 54 pieces of artwork by Gully Visual Artist Cindy Kolling and Thief River Falls Visual Artist Gail Ose and is open through July at the NWMAC Gallery at Northland Community and Technical College in Thief River Falls.

Showcase Specialist Trey Everett shared, “Cindy Kolling is a master at capturing the life cycle of plants through her pen and ink and silkscreen artistry. Gail Ose's visionary and highly symbolic work is a fascinating process as well as mesmerizing to gaze into. This exhibit is a complementary combination of two distinct styles which give careful attention to the form and the formless, what is without and what is within."

Cindy Kolling’s work includes two sets of 12 silkscreen prints of the life cycle of native plants white sage and blazing star plus other work. These are different handprints of one plant in a continuing series originating from pen & ink drawings of Cindy’s that reference her field sketches, artist’s photos, and observation experiences. No two handprints are alike and there are no more. These original prints may be released as high quality digital reproductions later, as determined by the artist ,but the original handprint is unique and unable to be done the same again. Cindy explained, “I want to make new art that invites viewers to expand their participation in life by developing and sharing appreciation and to consider our local world with fresh insight.”

Gail Ose is a visionary artist and founder of Serendipity Art Hub based in Thief River Falls. She explained, “I am honored to be paired with Cindy Kolling as one of the showcase artists in this exhibit and very grateful to the Northwest Minnesota Arts Council for supporting me and working with me in my endeavor to bring this dream of mine into the light as an emerging artist. It is my sincere hope that my paintings touch and inspire something inside visitors as they explore their unique images. Each of my portal paintings are sacred acts of allowing myself to be a vehicle for sharing an energetic message and each is infused with symbolic meaning designed to carry a specific energy of intention cohesive to its message. Each of my portal paintings are exercises in communing with spirit to bring forth the unseen realm and bridge it with the visible in the form of a painting. My portal paintings usually have a lot of symbology that usually invites the onlooker into wonderment and curiosity. They usually provoke introspection.”

Watch this video for a virtual tour of the exhibit at youtu.be/Rcys2dLpwlg

An artist reception at the gallery will be held at Northland Community and Technical College on Wednesday, July 10 from 6 – 8 PM. Everyone is welcome to join us for this free event. Many pieces of art in this exhibit are for sale. You are welcome to purchase at any time and pick up when the exhibit ends.

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. Summer 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 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.

Experience the exhibit virtually

Above:Prints by Cindy Kolling in the current NWMAC exhibit at NCTC. Left: Paintings by Gail Ose. Right: Cindy Kolling at the exhibit.

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 July 1

July 31 Deadline for Gov't Orgs and Non-Profits

It is time to start planning for your fall and winter community arts activities. When the application is available on July 1st your organization will be ready to start applying to meet our July 31 deadline date.

Applications open on July 1 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. 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 July. 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. 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.

Grant writing session July 17 at 11 AM

There will be a grant writing session on July 17 at 11 AM to help you write your grant or answer any questions. You can attend via Zoom or at our office in Warren.

The deadline to apply for a project grant for governments and non-profits is July 31.

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 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. 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 Crookston Public Library until June 11 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.

**Tentatively scheduled

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 ... Watch for the next training. 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!

Curious about summer art or theater camps in our area? Here are some:

https://northwestminnesotaartscouncil.org/summer-camps

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Work of Art Workshops by Springboard for the Arts

New 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 starting in June.

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.

Call for Art!

The East Grand Forks Campbell Library is now accepting submissions for their annual Community Art Exhibit. Send your name, your phone number, and information about the artwork you would like to exhibit to Andrea at alorenz@egflibrary.org or call the library at (218) 773-9121 for more information. Submissions will be accepted until June 7th.

Create a great offer by adding words like "free," "personalized," "complimentary," or "customized." A sense of urgency often helps readers take action, so consider inserting phrases like "for a limited time only" or "only 7 remaining!"

TRFACT presents Quilters A Musical

Roseau's Gazebo Concert Series

Stephen Community Arts's Summer Concert Series Schedule

June 20, Thursday - 7:00 p.m. - Church of Cash

July 18, Thursday - 7:00 p.m. - Erik Koskinen

August 8, Thursday - 7:00 p.m. - Downtown Horns

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

The Norman County Fair includes arts activities like glass blowing demonstrations, live music by local musicians, and mosaic rock art. Check it out at normancountyfair.com.

Northwest Minnesota Arts Council Radio/Podcast Program is on hiatus.

Stay tuned for the return of our program on

Pioneer 90.1FM

Email Kristin Eggerling

The podcast of the interviews on our website. This is a great way to promote your art! Listen to past interviews here!

Visit our Website

Check out our latest NWMAC Gallery exhibit

FREE services offered in our office sp﻿ace!

Did you know that we offer free services in our office space?

Work of Art Workshops by Springboard for the Arts

FREE services offered in our office space!