Arts News
Springboard for the Arts Ask Me Anything Zoom meeting Nov 21
NEW AMA conversation with Bethany Lacktorin and Dominic Facio
Monday, November 21 join performance artist, organizer, media producer, and musician, Bethany Lacktorin, and multidisciplinary artist, and “fun facilitator” Dominic Facio for a conversation on pushing the bounds of what’s possible in an artistic career! This conversation is open to all and will be held via Zoom, sign up at the “Events” link in Springboard’s bio.
Bethany Lacktorin (she/her) is a performance artist, organizer, media producer and musician. Her practice revolves around issues and meanings surrounding identity, displacement and our connection through land, place and shared experiences. Currently based in rural Minnesota, she is Board Chair of Crow River Players and New London Arts Alliance, Program Director of @littletheatreauditorium in New London, serves as Treasurer on the Board of Directors of New London Food Co-op, and is graphic designer and producer for her local newspaper, Lakes Area Review. Learn more at bethanylacktorin.org.
Dominic Facio (he/they) is a multidisciplinary artist with a focus on subculture, and challenges the status quo and provokes curiosity. Dominic has been creating since the mid-2000s, beginning with makeup design and photography, expanding to wearable art and, what they’ve become known for today, unique inclusive live production experiences with immersive ethereal aesthetics. As Springboard’s Rural Program Coordinator, Dominic is eager to help artists find what they need and assist with the many programs that Springboard has to offer. Read more about Dominic on Creative Exchange.
Sign up to attend on Springboard for the Arts website at https://springboardforthearts.org/events/ask-me-anything-pushing-the-boundaries-of-the-possible/.
WAO School is seeking artists to teach mini classes on December 20
The Warren-Alvarado-Oslo School District is looking for artists to come into their K-5 classrooms to teach mini-Christmas classes on the afternoon of December 20. Examples include, but aren’t limited to, making musical instruments, tree ornaments or other Christmas decorations, singing, theater, game playing or more. Contact Samantha Sellers at 218-745-4441 with questions and for details.
Call for Student Art: Art Inspired by Art
Call for Student Art
for an exhibition
Art Inspired by Art
The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council is announcing a call for student art in the NW Minnesota region. This exhibit is titled Art Inspired by Art and will feature visual art, writing, and music. Consider submitting illustration, watercolor, acrylics, 3-D works of clay, ceramics, or other 3-D mediums. Written works, such as music lyrics and poetry, along with recorded music will also be considered.
Include a description of the art your work is based on, along with your thought process.
Example of lyrics inspired by a famous piece of literature…
Song: “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” by the Beatles
Inspired by: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
Popular Lyric:
"Picture yourself in a boat on a river/With tangerine trees and marmalade skies/Somebody calls you, you answer quite slowly/A girl with kaleidoscope eyes.”
Submissions Due May 19, 2023
Art Inspired by Art will be open June-July
NWMAC Gallery
Northland Community and Technical College
Thief River Falls.
Contact Trey Everett at the NWMAC for details. https://northwestminnesotaartscouncil.org/
218-745-8886
Writers, Enter the Minnesota Mystery Flash Fiction Contest
Attention Writers! Tap into your inner Arthur Conan Doyle and submit a short historical mystery in the Minnesota Mystery Flash Fiction Contest!
Inspired by Sherlock Holmes: The Exhibition now on display at the Minnesota History Center, this contest gives you the chance to share your take on a Minnesota historical mystery and become a featured author. The selected winner will have their original story featured in an upcoming issue of Minnesota History magazine. The game is afoot! Visit their website for more info and to submit.
Submission requirements
Here are some clues to what contest judges are looking for and requirements that all submissions must follow to be considered. Check out the Official Contest Rules for full details. For more info and to submit visit their page: https://www.mnhs.org/historycenter/activities/museum/sherlock/contest.
All stories must:
Involve a Minnesota historical figure or event (see their website for ideas)
Be set in a time period before 1985
Involve a mystery in the plot
Your submission also must meet the following criteria to be considered:
No more than 1,500 words in length
Language and themes must be appropriate for all ages
No previously published works allowed (let them know if your story is accepted elsewhere during the contest period)
Be an original work of the author and not violate any intellectual property rights
Be submitted through this contest’s official form, with all requirements and rules accepted
How will your story be judged?
The judges are looking for a mystery story that is original, cleverly plotted, historically accurate, plausible, and has proper style and grammar. In short, they are looking for good, well-written, interesting mysteries that highlight Minnesota history!
Important contest dates
Oct. 21: Submission period opens
Dec. 15: Submission period ends
Jan 9: Three winners contacted
Apr. 1: Winning entries posted on MNHS.org, top winner’s story featured in Minnesota History
Looking for ideas? Check out MNopedia
MNopedia.org is the Minnesota Encyclopedia, compiled by the Minnesota Historical Society. Visit to read a few articles they have created that may inspire or inform the characters, setting, or plot of your mystery. But don’t limit yourself — dig into Minnesota history and see what else you can uncover!
Tending the Creative Soul November 9 - Mandalas
We will be talking about and creating our own Mandalas during this Tending the Creative Soul. Mandalas are symbols of wholeness and healing and have been used throughout time in a variety of cultures and various religions as well as in psychology. Carl Jung wrote,
“I sketched every morning in a notebook a small circular drawing, a mandala, which seemed to correspond to my inner situation at the time... Only gradually did I discover what the mandala really is.... the Self, the wholeness of the personality, which if all goes well, is harmonious.”
This TCS will be Wednesday, November 9 from 5:00 to 6:00PM. Have paper and paint or markers or colored pencils. Also if you like perfect circles bring various sized circle templates.
Contact Trey for the Zoom invite at treyeverettcreates@gmail.com. Everyone is welcome and it’s free to attend!
Publishing Basics for Fiction Writers Workshop Nov 15
Springboard for the Arts is offering a
Publishing Basics for Genre Fiction Writers Workshop
Tuesday, November 15 from 6-7:30PM
Sign up for a workshop on Tuesday, November 15 via Zoom with award-winning writer, editor and publisher Catherine Lundoff that will outline the basics of bringing your manuscript through the whole publishing process, from writing and editing to exploring options for publication and marketing.This workshop is best suited to writers interested in or publishing romance, mystery, science fiction, fantasy, horror, westerns, Young Adult or Children's literature.
Catherine Lundoff is the author of Silver Moon, Blood Moon, Out of This World: Queer Speculative Fiction Stories and Unfinished Business: Tales of the Dark Fantastic and editor of the fantastical pirate anthology, Scourge of the Seas of Time (and Space). She is also the publisher at Queen of Swords Press, a genre fiction publisher specializing in fiction from out of this world. More info at www.queenofswordspress.com.
Registration: Free. To receive the Zoom meeting details by clicking the link below. If you have any questions, please contact Andy Sturdevant at 651-294-0907 or andy@springboardforthearts.org.
Call for Art - The Art of Addiction
We are looking for NW Minnesota artists to submit work for an upcoming exhibit — The Art of Addiction at our gallery at Northland Community and Technical College in Thief River Falls. Submissions will join work by Potter Kate Hammer.
All mediums are welcome including, but not limited to sculpture, textile, oil, pen and ink, poetry, creative writing, song, video, mosaic, watercolor, acrylic, collage, clay, photography and more.
The exhibit will be open in March and April 2023. Submissions are due no later than February 20. You will need to submit a photo and description (size, etc) of your work to Trey Everett at treyeverettcreates@gmail.com before that time. Please reach out to Trey with any questions.
October Newsletter
Read about the latest in regional arts opportunities, including exhibits, grants, announcements, events, trainings, workshops, calls for art, and more!
NEA Big Read
NEA Big Read
An initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest, the NEABig Read broadens our understanding of our world, our neighbors, and ourselves through the power of a shared reading experience. Showcasing a diverse range of contemporary themes, voices, and perspectives, the NEA Big Read aims to inspire meaningful conversations, artistic responses, and new discoveries and connections in each community. Grants range from $5,000 to $20,000 each, and the Intent to Apply is due on January 18, 2023.
WHAT: The NEA Big Read is a reading program that brings communities together around a selected book title.
WHEN: Applications are due January 25, 2023 (with the Intent to Apply due January 18), and funded projects must occur between September 2023 – June 2024.
WHERE: Nonprofit organizations and public libraries located across the United States and the Native nations that share this geography can apply.
WHO: Arts organizations, universities, libraries, service organizations, museums, school districts, and tribal governments are all encouraged to apply.
Applicants are now required to submit an Intent to Apply at least one week prior to the application deadline.
Applications are now being accepted for the 2023-2024 granting cycle. Visit How to Apply for more information.
Contact:
612.238.8024 neabigread@artsmidwest.org
Arts Grants Funding Available - Upcoming Deadlines for Individual Artist Grants, Project Grants, and More!
Arts Grants Funding Available!
Upcoming Deadlines for Individual Artist Grants, Project Grants, Artist Residency Grants, Arts Equipment for Schools
Apply Now
Individual Artist Grants have a November 15 deadline for $1,500 and an ongoing deadline for quick turnaround grants for $500. 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. Grants are awarded annually with $1,500 going to four individuals. Support for this program comes from The McKnight Foundation.
Nonprofits and government organizations can apply for one arts project at a time. Upcoming grants deadlines for these are November 1 and March 1. 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. This is a great way to bring arts experiences to your community.
Schools in our seven-county region can also apply now 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.
Schools can also apply for Arts Equipment for their school by November 1 each year. Grants are for up to $3,000 with a 25% cash match requirement. Funds for this arts equipment in schools grant program come from the general fund of the State of Minnesota.
Start an application on our website. 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.
Campbell Library in East Grand Forks offers Art Workshop for Adults with Disabilities
Campbell Library in East Grand Forks offers art workshop for adults with disabilities on October 14 from 9:30 am to 11:30 am.
Rural Connection Fund — grant money to support rural artist gatherings
Do you miss connecting with other rural artists in-person? Apply to the Rural Connection Fund.
The Rural Connection Fund will provide rural artists in the Upper Midwest with $2,000 to support informal gatherings of rural artists and creatives to witness one another’s work, exchange ideas and learning, and build a foundation for long lasting peer support.
Who is Eligible? Culture bearers, makers, artists, writers, filmmakers, musicians, performers and other creatives in rural and tribal communities of 30,000 people or less in the Upper Midwest (Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Michigan, Illinois and the Native Nations that share those geographies). Gatherings must connect at least two rural artists who live at least 75 miles apart.
Types of gatherings may include but are not limited to:
Informal exchanges to visit one another’s community and witness one another’s work in person
Mini-retreats of 2 or more rural artists/creatives to explore a specific topic and share learning
Gatherings of artists from multiple locations to connect .Note: Springboard encourages simplicity! It is rare to get a chance to visit another artist without an obligation to fulfill, so consider how this can nurture other aspects of your artistic life without adding new major commitments to your life.
The Rural Connection Fund has 3 rolling deadlines to enter your request in their lottery-based selection process. The lottery pool is reset after each selection, but in your form, you can choose to automatically resubmit your request for each deadline.
November 1, 2022
January 6, 2023
March 3, 2023
Job Openings at Minnesota State Arts Board
Minnesota State Arts Board seeking
candidates for key positions
Are you looking for a position where you can make a difference? Where you can help make arts and creative activities available to residents and communities throughout the state? Where you can support the work of Minnesota’s creative individuals and organizations? Then consider applying for a position at the Arts Board:
Grant program officer – The person in this position will manage the Arts Board's largest grant program, Operating Support, which provides general support to established arts organizations. Applications must be submitted by Tuesday, October 11, 2022.
Grant programs assistant – The person in this position will provide administrative support for Arts Board grant programs. Applications must be submitted by Thursday, October 6, 2022.
Executive assistant – The person in this position will provide administrative support to the executive director and to the board. Applications must be submitted by Wednesday, September 28, 2022.
All are full-time, permanent positions. Telework and/or hybrid work arrangements are available.
Visit the Arts Board’s Web site to find more details about the positions and a link to required qualifications, salary range, and application instructions: http://www.arts.state.mn.us/about/employment.htm/
If you’d like to receive Arts Board updates directly, please sign up for their mailing list: http://www.arts.state.mn.us/contact/enews-signup.htm
Artists’ Futures Applications Due - Resources for Native American Artists
Artists' Futures applications are due soon! Resources for American Indian and Native American Artists!
Artists’ Futures provides resources directly to artists and culture bearers of African, Afro-Latinx, Afro-Caribbean, Latinx, Chicanx, Asian/Pacific Islander, and SWANA (South West Asian and North African) descent residing in the 7-county metropolitan area (Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, and Washington counties), and artists who are Native American/American Indian/Native Alaskan residing in Minnesota and the 11 Tribal nations that share the same geography.
Artists’ Futures provides financial support of $35,000 to individual artists along with additional resources and support. Artists’ Futures is a professional development, skill building and networking cohort for artists working in any artistic discipline at any stage in their career. The Metropolitan Regional Arts Council (MRAC) is interested in investing in artists by providing support that allows them to grow their ability to take creative risks, and build technical skills that could contribute to a sustainable and successful career in the arts.
Submission Deadline: October 3, 2022, 11:59pm
Notification Date: February 22, 2023
Financial Support: $35,000 (unrestricted)
Additional resources: $2,000 for professional development, plus access to vetted partnering professionals/spaces/organizations
Cohort Period: Support from MRAC and access to partners from Feb 2023 – Feb 2025
Number of Selected Artists: 10
For questions about the submission process in general and technical assistance, please contact mrac@mrac.org or 651-645-0402.
For questions and assistance related to eligibility and/or preparing a submission, please contact Jovan Rebollar (jovan@mrac.org or 651-523-6381). Or, fill out the meeting request form to schedule a time to meet with a staff member who can assist you.
Auditions for Fall Play A.C.T. of Thief River Falls — Consider Trying Out!
AUDITIONS FOR FALL PLAY
A.C.T. of Thief River Falls is seeking auditions for its fall play, which will feature two titles: “It’s All an Act” by Carl L. Williams and “Bad Auditions for Bad Actors” by ian McWethy.
Auditions will take place at the Eagles Club on September 28 and 29 from 5:30 to 7:00 pm. Please be prepared to read from the script: “Bad Auditions” is available online at www.playscripts.com/play/2257 Copies will be available at the audition also.
Performances will take place on November 17-19 at the Eagles Club in Thief River Falls. The play will be directed by Jane Anderson.
This is a great opportunity for new actors or for seasoned actors on a tight schedule. This evening will feature several short segments with a large cast.
For more information, contact Jane Anderson at trfact56701@gmail.com.
Tending the Creative Soul September 14
Tending the Creative Soul will be Wednesday, September 14 from 5:00 to 6:00 PM. This event is online and open to anyone who would like to join. Email Trey for a Zoom invite at treyeverettcreates@gmail.com.
We will be exploring Creativity and Music. How does music influence your creative process? If you are a musician what helps you get into the flow? Who or what styles of music are some of your inspirations? If you aren't a musician how do you experience music as a creative force? Please join us!
Stage Lighting and Design Workshop Oct 15 & 16
Northern Light Opera Company in Park Rapids will be hosting their first ever Stage Lighting Design Workshop on October 15th and 16th.
Led by professional lighting designer Heidi Eckwall, the workshop will be two packed days of hands-on lighting design.
The workshop is free to all, but sign up now as space is limited!
More information, including the application can be found here.
Workbench Filmmaker Intensive Oct 20 - 22
Announcing:
A 3 Day Intensive for Aspiring Filmmakers!
Led by award winning LA filmmaker David Leidy, the Workbench Filmmaker Intensive will lead a group of aspiring filmmakers through 3 packed days of learning the ins and outs of making your own film. The Intensive runs October 20th & 21st and culminates with a showing of the newly created films and a reading of the full length screenplay The Secret Keepers on October 22nd.
They are currently accepting applications for filmmakers interested in making their own short film.
Filmmakers of all levels are welcome. Participants will be led through a series of exercises by award winning LA filmmaker David Leidy and NYC screenwriter Gregory Paul, culminating in a public showing of the created films and a reading of the full length screenplay The Secret Keepers. The cost for this workshop is free but come ready to work!
No previous experience is required to participate.
If you are interested or know someone who might be, head on over to www.northernlightopera.org to apply or click this link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf1ABZ9gS4XCQyO14CGoeHONDkkR7PAAveoxPx83jqJ8oTVkQ/viewform?usp=pp_url
Arts Grants Applications have Fall Deadline for Organizations, Schools, Individuals — Apply Now!
The NWMAC Announces Fall Deadlines for Arts Grant Applications.
Applications are open for arts grants 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.
Nonprofit arts organizations can apply as of September 1 each year for first consideration of their general operating grant. The grant amount they are eligible for is based on total expenses within the previous two completed years and their 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.
All other nonprofits and government organizations can apply for one arts project at a time. Grants deadlines for these are August 1 (which has been extended to September 1 this year), November 1 and March 1. 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.
Schools in our seven-county region can also apply now 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.
Schools can also apply for Arts Equipment for their school by November 1 each year. Grants are for up to $3,000 with a 25% cash match requirement. Funds for this arts equipment in schools grant program come from the general fund of the State of Minnesota.
Individual Artist Grants have an October 1 deadline for $5,000 grants and November 15 deadline for $1,500 and an ongoing deadline for quick turnaround grants for $500. 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. Grants are awarded annually with $1,500 going to four individuals and $5,000 going to four individuals. 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 (2023). 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.
And to Make the Grant Process Easier ....
If you have applied to us before, an easy way to start is with a copy of your previous grant. We strongly recommend that you reach out to our director, Mara Hanel, so she can make a copy within our online grant software. Many data collection fields stay the same from year to year. A copy auto fills those routine fields. It uses your previous answers as a template to begin your next grant.
To learn more about these grant programs and start an application login to the grants application on the top of each webpage. 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.
Calling All Artists for Fosston’s 4th Annual Juried Art Show
Calling All Artists for the 4th Annual Juried Art Show in Fosston.