Arts News
March Newsletter
Read about what’s happening in NW Minnesota Arts — Events, Exhibits, Grants, Calls for Art, Opportunities, and More! View the newsletter or download a copy.
Call for Art: Nature’s Offerings
Call for Art for Nature’s Offerings Exhibit. A special call to folk artists. Exhibit will be open June and July 2022. Deadline for Submissions is no later than May 13. Nature’s Offerings: Why is it that we feel a sense of healing and rejuvenation when we spend time in nature? Consider creating art from nature for this exhibit! Questions and to submit your art, contact Trey Everett at treyeverettcreates@gmail.com.
Applications Open for Creative Community Leadership Institute Cohort
Applications are now being accepted for this year's Creative Community Leadership Institute (CCLI) Cohort!
See the website: https://www.creativecommunityinstitute.org/
CCLI is an intensive, in-person, cohort-based training program with real-world practice for artists, culture bearers, community organizers, community development practitioners, and other leaders seeking to deepen their impact in creative community building. CCLI is for artists, culture bearers, community organizers, community development practitioners, and other leaders from across Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and the 23 Native Nations that share that geography.
Cohorts meet in person three times over six months from spring to fall, with each session in a different location within the state. CCLI has three regionally-based cohorts, with opportunities for collaboration and connection, as well as in-person gatherings:
The East Cohort will be held in Cloquet, MN at the Cloquet Forestry Center
The Central Cohort will be held in Grand Forks, ND at the University of North Dakota, Memorial Union
The West Cohort will be held in Rapid City, SD at Racing Magpie
Priority will be given to applicants who identify as Native and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color), disabled, and/or are from rural and smaller-town communities.
Participants will receive modest financial support for the pilot project and to offset costs of travel. New cohorts can expect to gain more knowledge about the role of art and culture in community problem solving, build skills to be able to effectively integrate art and culture into community development, leadership growth, and gain networks of cross-sector peers.
Call for Art: Community Art Exhibit in East Grand Forks
Calling all artists, amateur and professional! The East Grand Forks Campbell Library is now accepting submissions for their annual Community Art Exhibit. If you are interested in submitting, please send an email with your name and phone number to Andrea at alorenz@egflibrary.org.
January Newsletter
Read about the Latest in Regional Arts Opportunities in our January newsletter.
Applications Open for NW MN Annual Art Exhibit — Apply Now
The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council is pleased to announce our latest “Call for Entries” for the 2022 Annual Art Exhibit.
The deadline to submit your artwork is February 28, 2022!
This year, the annual Art Exhibit will be in Thief River Falls at the NWMAC Gallery at Northland Community and Technical College. Artwork will be immediately put up for viewing at our gallery starting March 7 through the end of April.
Artists from our 7 county- service region can 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 adult and student artists 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 in Thief River Falls at the end of April.
If you would like the application mailed to you, please contact our office 218-745-8886 or director@nwartscouncil.org. The application must be submitted no later than February 28, 2022.
Nominations Open for Of the Year Awards
Nominations Open for Of the Year Awards Due February 28
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 is $500 and often goes to a local leader who lives in the area where the artist reception will be held. But anyone is eligible to be nominated. Arts includes all disciplines.
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 $5,000.00 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 28. 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 or email director@NWArtsCouncil.org for more information. The nomination form is on our website.
Deadline March 1 for Arts Grants Applications
Arts Grants Applications have March 1 Deadline -- Apply Now
Arts Legacy grants of up to $10,000 & Arts Project grants of up to $3,000 Due March 1
Grant Writing Workshops February 8 and 16
Applications are open for Arts Project Grants and Arts Legacy Grants. Grants are awarded to nonprofit arts organizations, communities, schools, individuals 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.
Arts Legacy Grants is a main category for funding artistic activity within the seven-county service region. Funding can be used for Arts Projects, Arts Equipment, General Support, Public Art Projects and Arts Events in northwest Minnesota.
Arts Project Grants are used primarily for small budget arts projects and the sponsorship of performances of touring companies and artists. These grants are a maximum of $3,000 with a required cash match.
Applications 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 Workshops
We are offering two grant writing workshops online or in person to assist you with your application. You are welcome to come to our office in Warren for the workshop or to work on your grants in our new setting. RSVPs are required for grant writing sessions – please email director@nwartscouncil.org. Sessions will be held Tuesday, February 8 at 11:30 am or Wednesday, February 16 at 5pm. You can also set up a time to work one-on-one with our director on the grant writing process.
Minnesota State Arts Board seeking reviewers for American Rescue Plan grant applications
Minnesota State Arts Board seeking reviewers for American Rescue Plan grant applications
The Arts Board needs involvement of Minnesota citizens – like YOU – from a variety of backgrounds to review American Rescue Plan grant applications remotely. These are general operating funds that can be used to help small and midsized Minnesota nonprofit arts organizations and arts affiliates rebuild and reopen as the COVID-19 pandemic wanes.
Reviewers will receive a modest financial stipend for their time providing feedback on applications and helping determine which will be recommended to receive funding. American Rescue Plan Grants will be distributed broadly, to help support the people and places that makeup the critical infrastructure of Minnesota's arts community.
In brief, reviewers can expect to:
Serve a three-week term remotely either February 7 - February 25, 2022, or February 28 – March 18, 2022
Participate in training sessions online
Read, score, and take notes on a set of 30-35 applications at your own pace using WebGrants online (no panel discussion required)
Spend, on average, 25-30 hours total
Receive a financial stipend of $200
To learn more about the opportunity, visit: http://www.arts.state.mn.us/reviewer.htm.
Call for Student Digital Art on the Theme of Celebrations
NW MN Arts Council Student Art Exhibit
NCTC in Thief River Falls
January/February 2022
Medium: Digital Art/Theme: Celebrations
Submission Deadline: Wednesday, December 22, 2021.
Digital Submissions: submit to treyeverettcreates@gmail.com
The pandemic has shown us the importance of celebrating special occasions with family and friends. We may see more value in observing rites of passage such as births, birthday parties, weddings, and even funerals. This digital art exhibit (in conjunction with regional potter Betsy Saurdiff) celebrates the idea that we can once again get together and celebrate!
Student digital art will be around the theme of celebrations, gatherings, and rituals. All work will be original digital artwork that will be submitted to fit an 8.5 x 11 frame. Frames will be provided.
Deadline for Arts Grants Up to $10,000 — Applications Still Accepted
Arts Legacy Grants Up to $10,000
Arts Project Grants Up to $3,000
The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council is pleased to announce that applications are open for Arts Legacy and Arts Project grants. Arts Legacy grants of up to $10,000 and Arts Project grants of up to $3,000 have a November 1 deadline.
UPDATE: The next deadline is March 1, but we have significant grant funds still available, so don’t wait for March to apply. Your applications will be considered soon if you apply now.
Applications funded by the Northwest Minnesota Arts Council, through these 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.
Grants are awarded 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.
Call for NWMAC Board Members
Support the Arts in Your County and Our Region
Become a Northwest Minnesota Arts Council Board Member
Would you like to be more involved in the arts in northwest Minnesota? Consider becoming an Arts Council Board Member! The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council is looking to fill a number of open positions on our board.
The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council has openings for representatives from these counties — Roseau, Kittson, Pennington, Red Lake and Norman. We are also looking for three at-large members who can be from any of our seven counties of Kittson, Marshall, Norman, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake, and Roseau. Board members will serve for a three-year term from this fall until Fall 2024 with the option to add an additional three-year term afterwards.