Arts News

Arts Advocacy Day is March 4th!
Events, 2025 Kristin Eggerling Events, 2025 Kristin Eggerling

Arts Advocacy Day is March 4th!

The 2025 legislative session is underway, and now is the time to take action for the arts. Arts Advocacy Day, on March 4th, is your opportunity to show just how many people care about the arts, and the more voices we have, the stronger our impact.

It’s crucial we demonstrate to legislators how many communities rely on arts funding to thrive. Every community, from urban centers to rural towns, benefits from the arts, and it’s important that legislators hear directly from you how vital this funding is to your area. The number of people who show up matters - it sends a clear message that the arts are a priority.

We’ve made it easy for you to take part and make a huge impact. By joining us on Advocacy Day, you’ll be helping secure funding to keep the arts strong in your community and across the state.

Your participation can make all the difference.

Join Us for Arts Advocacy Day!

Date: TUESDAY, MARCH 4th, 2025
Rally in the Capitol Rotunda: 10:00 AM
Legislative Meetings: 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM

This is your chance to make a real impact! Rally with us in the heart of the Capitol and then meet directly with legislators to advocate for vital arts funding in our communities.

Register for Arts Advocacy Day

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Thief River Falls Concert Association Upcoming Shows Feb 8, March 28, and April 22
Events, 2025 Kristin Eggerling Events, 2025 Kristin Eggerling

Thief River Falls Concert Association Upcoming Shows Feb 8, March 28, and April 22

Thief River Falls Concert Association Winter/Spring 2025 Shows Feb 8, March 28, and April 22

For info and tickets visit their website trfconcerts.com and order online. Or stop by Kezar Music, The Times, or Hugos. All shows at 7 PM at the Lincoln High School Auditorium.

Concert Venue
Lincoln High School Auditorium
101 Knight Ave. So.
Thief River Falls, MN 56701
Map this Location

Parking is available in the east parking lot, across Knight Ave.
from the school.  Door 6 (the northeast entrance at the corner
of First St. and Knight Ave.) is the entrance for all concerts. 

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UMC Sponsors Women’s History Month “With Her Hands” Fiber Art Celebration
Events, Resources, 2025 Kristin Eggerling Events, Resources, 2025 Kristin Eggerling

UMC Sponsors Women’s History Month “With Her Hands” Fiber Art Celebration

The University of Minnesota is holding an upcoming Women’s History event March 3 - 14, 2025. Women’s History Month is a celebration of women’s contributions to history, culture and society, and through a fiber art event they would like to further educate and generate engagement focusing on fiber art in the Red Lake River area community. This Women’s History Month event is intended to bring awareness of the strong tradition and knowledge of women and the fiber arts. 

Consider displaying your work as well as sharing your presence during a social on Monday, March 3 from 5-6:30 PM. They are preparing a welcoming space for individuals, like you, with unique skills and various skill levels to come together and display your fiber arts and informally share about your art. While knitting, crocheting, quilting, spinning, weaving, dyeing, embroidery, and stitching come to mind, they hope to include any other textile crafts that support fiber art. They would like this collaborative event to encourage individuals to learn, explore and participate in future textile arts culture in rural Minnesota.

Monday, March 3, 2025
Sargeant Student Center, first floor
Northern Lights Lounge and the International Lounge
Women’s History Month Fiber Art Reception with modest hors d'oeuvres, 5 PM - 6:30 PM

Registration is free, you may sign up at: z.umn.edu/fiberart25.

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Apply for the Annual Art Exhibit
News, Annual Exhibit, 2025 Kristin Eggerling News, Annual Exhibit, 2025 Kristin Eggerling

Apply for the Annual Art Exhibit

You are Invited to Apply for the 

Northwest Minnesota Annual Art Exhibit 

Submissions Accepted Now Through February 28

We are pleased to announce our latest “Call for Entries” for the 2025 Annual Art Exhibit. 

The deadline to submit your artwork is February 28, 2025.

This year, the annual Art Exhibit will be at the University of Minnesota Crookston from Monday, April 7 until Sunday, April 27. Artwork will be dropped off on Monday, March 31 from 10 AM - 7 PM at UMC.

Artists and creatives from our 7 county- service region are invited to enter this art exhibit and will be competing for $2,300 in cash awards. The first place prize for adults is $500! 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 up to two pieces. 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 UMC on Sunday, April 27. 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 entry form mailed to you, please contact our office 218-745-8886 ext 1 or director@nwartscouncil.org. The entry form must be submitted no later than February 28, 2025.  

Need help completing the application form? Follow this step by step guide here.

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Nominations for Of the Year Awards Due Friday, January 31 — Deadline Extended
News, of the year, 2025 Kristin Eggerling News, of the year, 2025 Kristin Eggerling

Nominations for Of the Year Awards Due Friday, January 31 — Deadline Extended

Nominations for Of the Year Awards Due January 31 — Deadline Extended

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. Nominations are due on Friday, January 31.

Northwest Star Award

The Northwest Star Award is 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. Artists can only receive this award once.

Artist of the Year

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.

Arts Advocate of the Year

Our Arts Advocate of the Year award is $500 and honors someone who keeps being a voice and advocate for arts within the community or local school or the region. Arts includes all disciplines.

An ELIGIBLE NOMINATION must include one completed nomination form, narrative on merit, letters supporting the nomination, a copy of the nominee’s resume or detailed qualifications, five work samples if artist, and be received by January 31. Only residents of the Minnesota counties Kittson, Marshall, Norman, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake, and Roseau are eligible for these $500 awards. We also give a large Northwest Star Artist award. The first step is to nominate the person for Northwest Artist. One person will be selected to receive a $5,000 cash award from the pool of candidates and receive our Northwest Star recognition. This person must be beyond an emerging or student status to be considered. This truly is a once in a lifetime award. Additional criteria apply so please contact our office for more information if you feel your nominee will be considered 218-745-8886.

RESTRICTIONS: Each award can be received only once in a lifetime. Nominations will not be carried over from year to year. Previous nominees must be re-nominated each year. It is the policy of NWMAC that nominees will not be notified of their nomination unless they are chosen to receive an Award.
* *

Please consider nominating someone who you view as a deserving candidate from our seven-county service area in northwestern Minnesota. Questions? Contact our office at (218) 745-8886 or email director@NWArtsCouncil.org for more information. The nomination form is here. You can download a training module here that will walk you through the nomination form. Curious who has received these awards in the past? Find out here.

Awards are presented at the Northwest Minnesota Arts Exhibit reception in Crookston on April 27. 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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Grant Writing Training is Tuesday, Feb 11 at 4PM — RSVP Today
Events, 2025 Kristin Eggerling Events, 2025 Kristin Eggerling

Grant Writing Training is Tuesday, Feb 11 at 4PM — RSVP Today

We offer grant writing training sessions two weeks before each grant deadline. This training is Tuesday, February 11 at 4 PM. This can be virtual or in person. You must RSVP to attend. Please let us know if you are interested by calling 218-745-8886 or email director@nwartscouncil.org. You can take advantage of the opportunity to come into our office and work on your grant in our grant writing space!

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Repurpose, Preserve, and Rejuvenate Artist Reception for Sherri Kruger-Kukowski at Warroad RiverPlace January 18
Events, Exhibits, 2025 Kristin Eggerling Events, Exhibits, 2025 Kristin Eggerling

Repurpose, Preserve, and Rejuvenate Artist Reception for Sherri Kruger-Kukowski at Warroad RiverPlace January 18

Everyone is welcome to celebrate and experience Warroad RiverPlace’s first-ever solo art exhibit, “Repurpose, Preserve, Rejuvenate,” at a gallery open house and artist reception for northwest Minnesota mosaic creator Sherri Kruger-Kukowski on Saturday, January 18, from 4:30 to 6:30 PM.

The public is invited to view the art, meet the artist, and socialize over light refreshments at this free event.

For the past 30 years, Kruger-Kukowski, a retired Badger educator and founder of Winding River Mosaics, has refined the art of multimedia mosaics, creatively incorporating various elements from antlers to snowshoes to rocks, even giving new life to second-hand materials like tables and chairs. Her work and arts advocacy have earned her numerous awards, grants, and media features. (Full biography at: warroadriverplace.org/events)

“Repurpose, Preserve, Rejuvenate” consists of a diverse array of the artist’s collection, featuring pieces that reflect the beauty of nature — like local flora and fauna — and others that express a sense of community and shared identity.

I hope this exhibit, which blends the old world art of mosaic with my personal twist, will leave you inspired and rejuvenated,” said Kruger-Kukowski.

Sherri is not only a talented artist, she is also a great ambassador for the arts in northern Minnesota — one who educates and enthusiastically invites all into a shared space for creation and ideation, cultivating creative expression for our local communities. We invite you to explore her exhibit and take the opportunity to visit with her at this event,” said John Davis, executive director of Warroad RiverPlace.

The exhibit is open at the Warroad RiverPlace art gallery from January 10 to March 8, 2025. It is free to visit Tuesday through Saturday, 10 AM to 5 PM.

MACALESTER AFRICAN MUSIC ENSEMBLE

The artist reception will be followed by a free concert at 7:00 PM. with the Macalester College African Drum Ensemble, hosted by the Warroad Elementary School Music Department. Learn more at warroadriverplace.org.

For more information about Warroad RiverPlace and upcoming events, visit the new arts, culture, and events center Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00 AM. to 5:00 PM. The art gallery and tours of the space are free and open to the public. Contact the center at arts@warroadriverplace.org or (218) 986-0001. Learn more at warroadriverplace.org.

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Live music and Community Dance in East Grand Forks January 25 from 3 to 5:30 PM
Events, 2025 Kristin Eggerling Events, 2025 Kristin Eggerling

Live music and Community Dance in East Grand Forks January 25 from 3 to 5:30 PM

North Country Fiddle and Dance Community Dance

Saturday, January 25, 2025

3:00 to 5:30 PM

Bernie's Restaurant, 121 DeMers Ave. East Grand Forks, MN

Music by O'Neil Family Band

Caller: Jeanne O'Neil

All ages – singles, couples, families

Traditional American folk dances : Reels, squares, circle mixers and more... all dances are taught, fun, and easy to learn!

Donations at the door

Note: This is an after hours event. Bernie's closes at 3 PM, so if you would like to eat, come early!

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