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.
Art Creation Workshop April 27 — RSVP now
The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council is Offering an
Art Creation Workshop April 27 in Thief River Falls
The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council is pleased to announce a FREE Creative Art Session Workshop to create work for an upcoming exhibit – Nature’s Offerings in June and July. The workshop will be held at Northland Community and Technical College in Thief River Falls from 4 to 5:30 pm on April 27. You must RSVP.
Nature’s Offerings is a broad concept. Everything we need as human beings has been given to us by Nature. Food, water, shelter, medicine, resources for creating our homes, our smart phones, and every material object we have ever created or will ever create as human beings. Nature provides natural cycles of the year, warmth and coolness, fire and water, oceans and rivers, and the air we breathe. Nature offers us the natural cycles of the seasons so that we can plant and harvest. All our canning, baking, seasoning, and meals we prepare and eat are ultimately given from Nature.
Besides all the tangible offerings, Nature also provides intangible qualities of healing, rejuvenation, and inspiration. When we spend time by a river, take a walk in the snow, look at a sunset, catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights we receive healing. Nature helps lower blood pressure, calm our anxious minds, cause us to stare in wonder and awe, and brings connection and consolation when we feel alone and distant.
During this free session, attendees will be able to create a 3-dimensional creative piece that represents what "Nature's Offerings" means to them. Participants don't have to consider themselves an artist to join this workshop. Artwork created in the workshop will become part of the gallery exhibit for June and July. Supplies will be provided, but participants are welcome to bring items from nature if they like. Examples include deer antlers, animal skulls or bones, branches, dried fruit, rocks, and dried grasses or flowers. This is a low stress, fun time to create whatever inspires at NO cost.
Space is limited for this free class. RSVPs are required. Sign up by emailing Trey Everett at treyeverettcreates@gmail.com.
Following the workshop, the NW Art Exhibit reception and program will be held. Come to experience the NW Art Exhibit and celebrate the exhibit’s artists and Of the Year awardees.
Writing Retreat in Fosston April 21-23
Take advantage of this writing retreat in our NW region! April 21-23. Sponsored by FCLAA and led by Kim Hruba of Red Shoes Writing. Grant funding from the NWMAC.
Minnesota State Arts Board Creative Support for Individuals Grant Program
Minnesota State Arts Board launches
FY 2023 Creative Support for Individuals Grant Program
The Minnesota State Arts Board has posted guidelines and application forms for the FY 2023 Creative Support for Individuals grant program. The program offers flexible support for Minnesota artists and culture bearers.
This grant program provides support to help individual artists and culture bearers sustain their creative practices and meaningfully engage with their communities in a time of transition. Creative Support grants are designed to be flexible and allow for adaptability in response to unexpected changes during the grant period. While proposed grant activities may focus more heavily on one or the other, applicants must demonstrate how funds will be used both to continue a creative practice and meaningfully connect to and engage audiences, participants, students, and/or communities during the grant period.
There will be two application deadlines — one on May 6, 2022, and another on July 15, 2022.
This is a statewide program. Anyone who meets the eligibility requirements is welcome to apply.
Please visit the Creative Support for Individuals Web page to find the complete FY 2023 Program Overview and Application Instructions, details about eligibility and grant amounts, and resources to help you learn more about the program.
The Minnesota State Arts Board is a state agency that stimulates and encourages the creation, performance, and appreciation of the arts in the state. It works to ensure that all Minnesotans can participate in and benefit from the arts.
Elevate Youth Center Teen Art Show March 24
Elevate Youth Center is hold a Teen Art Show on March 24 from 6 to 7:30 pm in Thief River Falls. Live music, entertainment, refreshments.
NW Minnesota Annual Art Exhibit Open Until April 27
The Northwest Minnesota Annual Art Exhibit Open Through April 27
NWMAC Gallery at NCTC in Thief River Falls
Reception and Program on April 27 to
Honor Exhibit and Of the Year Award Winners
The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council is pleased to announce the NW Annual Art Exhibit is in Thief River Falls until April 27.
Adult artists from our 7 county- service region (Kittson, Marshall, Norman, Polk, Pennington, Roseau and Red Lake Falls) have entered 60 pieces of art, including photography, sculpture, drawings, and paintings, into this exhibit and will be competing for $2,300.00 in cash awards. Attendees at the exhibit can vote for People’s Choice. 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.
About our juror: Matthew Anderson is from the rural town of Gackle, North Dakota. He earned his BA from Northern State University in Aberdeen, SD, and his MFA from the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks. He is currently the Director of Education for the North Dakota Museum of Art. He has exhibited his works nationally and internationally and is a part of public and private collections.
The student art will be included in the exhibit on April 11 and will also be eligible for cash awards.
The exhibit is at the NWMAC Gallery at Northland Community and Technical College in Thief River Falls and will be open for the public to view art during the week from 8:30 am - 5 pm and at other times when events are held at the college. Enter through Door A. Visitor parking is free in the large end lot.
There will be a reception on April 27 at the gallery. According to NWMAC Director Mara Hanel,
“Our artist reception is a great time to celebrate our award winners and the talented residents from our area. Please attend to show your support and see the high-quality art on display. Reception day this year, includes an art creation workshop from 4:00 - 5:30. Come early to make a piece centered around the theme of nature and nature's offerings. Pieces created will remain at our gallery and be part of our next showcase. Registration for the workshop is encouraged so we can prepare correctly. I look forward to this reception each year since it is an annual highlight!"
Mingling, dessert, and live music begin at 7:00 pm and the program at 7:30 pm in the auditorium. Of the Year Awards, the NW Star Award -- Lifetime Achievement, Artist of the Year, and Arts Advocate of the Year will be presented. The Exhibit and Reception are open to the public and free to attend. Many pieces of art are for sale and the public is encouraged to shop. Purchases can be marked as sold and picked up on April 27 at the reception. The reception is a wonderful day of celebrating the arts in our region.
To sign up for the art creation workshop around the theme of nature within the visual art classroom, email nwartscouncil@gmail.com. Funding for these awards is provided by the McKnight Foundation and the Minnesota State Legislature.
Minne-Mural Coloring Art Online Adventure March 23 — Bald Eagles Nest
The next Minne-Mural™ Coloring Art Adventure will be Wednesday (new day) March 23 at 6:30 p.m. This is a free Adventure into coloring art tips & techniques with info about the subject content.
Suitable and fun for all ages.
The subject will be The Bald Eagles Nest. (Other birds of prey will be included, too)
Check out your favorite specialty store for "The Eagles Nest" Minne-Mural™ or order a home delivered care pack from www.kollingcards.com/shop.
If you are close to the Campbell Library in East Grand Forks, you pick one up there at no charge while they last! Register for the online zoom Adventure at the Library or contact Kolling Cards and Things Made Here!
Please email a picture of your in-progress Eagles Nest or related Minne-Mural™ and it will be included in the presentation! kollingcards@gvtel.com
See you online March 23.
Painting Retreat in Ely Aug 13-20 with Gail Ose
Calling all Creative hearts for a Magical North American Bear & Wolf Painting Retreat August 13th-20th 2022 in Ely, MN.
Art, Connection, and Nature. Weclome your artventure starts here!
This magical retreat is designed to inspire your creative heArt and love of nature. Join Creatively Fit Coaches — Kim Sales of Lantern Light Studio & Gail Ose of Serendipity Art Hub as they take you on a creative adventure to immerse yourself in the natural beauty of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. This retreat is a week filled with intuitive painting workshops, bonfires, guided meditations and more, all while relaxing in a fully modern cabin on the edge of a lake. You explore the American Bear & Wolf centers in Ely MN and the Vince Shute Wildlife Sanctuary in Orr MN to support and inspire the energy of your wild heArt. For more info visit their website here.
Arts Action Week 2022 — Please join us!
Participate in Arts Action Week 2022!
In addition to protecting our Legacy Amendment and state grant funds, this year Minnesota Citizens for the Arts is pushing for passage of a bill that would grant $100 million to arts and cultural groups that were hurt by the pandemic. Mark your calendar for March 14-18, 2022. The kick off rally will be March 14 at 8:30 am online.
With your action—online and as part of Zoom calls with legislators—we can help legislators understand the importance of the arts who have been hit disproportionately hard by COVID-19.
To attend any of the meetings you will need to sign-up in advance so that we can email you the zoom information. To register, visit this page on their website.
MCA is a recognized national leader in arts advocacy. Arts Action Week helps us show that people across the state want to see funding for the arts.
Searching for Executive Director for Donald G Gardner Humanities Trust in Ely
Position Title: Executive Director
Organization: Donald G. Gardner Humanities Trust
Reports to: Board of Directors
Job Location: Ely, Minnesota (must become an area resident)
Status: 20-22 hours/week; up to 3⁄4 time in first year for training. Hourly exempt employee
Salary Range: Commensurate with qualifications
Benefits: Paid time off, 4 -9 paid Holidays each year. There are no relocation funds.
Background:
The Donald G. Gardner Humanities Trust (Trust), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 1989, dedicated to advancing the arts throughout the City of Ely with an endowment valued over $800,000 and two grant rounds per year. The Trust is seeking an Executive Director who will be responsible for managing and growing the grants program and endowment. The Executive Director will be the face of the organization, building on established relationships with City of Ely officials and staff, Ely Chamber of Commerce, artists, arts organizations and arts supporters.TheExecutiveDirectorreportstotheTrust’sBoardof Directors.
The mission of the Trust shall be for the enhancement, growth and improvement of: 1. The Ely Public Library
2. The arts and artisans of Ely and surrounding area, to include the performing arts, the visual arts and literature.
3. The creating and funding of scholarships, educational and artistic grants. 4. The cultural and aesthetic environment of the City of Ely and its surrounding area.
Donald G. Gardner Humanities Trust PO Box 720 www.gardnertrust.org 218-365-2639
Ely, MN 55731
The Trust seeks a dynamic and experienced leader to serve as the Executive Director to advance the mission of the organization as it enriches life in the Ely community.
The Executive Director will promote the best interests of the Trust and actively engage in the growth of its endowment and grant programs. In so doing, the Executive Director is expected to articulate the cultural, social and economic value of arts to the community and make that vision and purpose clear to supporters and the region’s arts and cultural enthusiasts. The Executive Director provides full oversight of the Trust’s operations including strategic planning, financial stability, community engagement, grant administration, marketing, and any public events.
The successful candidate will bring deep skills and experience with nonprofit organizations and demonstrated relationship savvy in building and growing collaborations with individuals and groups. He or she must be self-motivated, a problem solver, organized, adaptable, able to meet deadlines, manage simultaneous multiple tasks, prioritize responsibilities, and work independently. The candidate will have strong written and verbal communications skills. Experience with arts organizations and public art is preferred. The Executive Director should be able to “hit the ground running.”
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.
Kolling Cards Free Online Coloring Event — Digging It (Paleontology)
Kolling Cards and Things Made Here! is holding a free online adventure into the amazing world of coloring art and celebration of a featured Minne-Mural™subject in Nature, History, Heritage, Art, or Science.
Join via Zoom Minne-Mural™ Coloring Art Free Online Adventure! Friday, February 11, 2022 at 6:30 p.m. “Digging It” (paleontology)
Sponsored by Campbell Library in East Grand Forks
Pick up your free “Digging it” Minne-Mural™ at the library while they last. Don’t dawdle… the library has a limited qty of “Digging It!” Minne-Murals™ to hand out at no charge. First come First served! All Ages!
Questions? Call the Library (218) 773-9121
Arts Midwest is hiring!
Arts Midwest is hiring two Program Managers to oversee initiatives that center creativity, equity, capacity building, and community building. These positions are fully remote, but you must reside in one of Arts Midwest’s regional states or in a Native Nation that shares this geography.
Equity Grantmaking
One Program Manager will oversee a new equity grantmaking program at Arts Midwest. They will coordinate the setup of capacity-building workshops, issue grant awards to selected organizations, and help create a peer network among grantee organizations.
We the Many
The other Program Manager will oversee We the Many, a program that seeks to expand the understanding of what it means to be a Midwesterner through the creative exchange of voices, cultures, and ideas. They will work with community stakeholders, advisors, planning committees, and artists leading up to an artist residency in selected communities.
Applications are due February 24, 2022 via their online application
Chief Financial Officer
They’re also looking for a full-time, remote Chief Financial Officer, who will be a thought partner and strategic advisor on our senior leadership team. The ideal candidate will have keen insight into the trends and opportunities in philanthropic funding, and substantial experience working with government grants and contracts.
Online Writing Workshop
Online Writing Workshop — Register Today
Marge Barrett will be teaching an upcoming online class for the Marine Mills Folk School, Saturday, February 19, 10 am-1:00 pm. It is open to all.
Outside My Window: A New Look: A breaking, bending, blending literary vision in thought and style. Join in reading works of Danez Smith, Claudia Rankine, Anne Carson, Maggie Nelson, Tommy Orange, Ocean Vuong, contemporary voices with compelling stories written in a hybrid form of poetry and prose.
For more information: https://marinemillsfolkschool.org/2022/01/02/writing-workshop-outside-my-window-a-new-look-online-feb-19-2022/
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.