Arts Events - Regional & Statewide
See below for arts events in our region or state. If you are hosting an arts event that you’d like to share, please reach out to our Promotions Specialist Kristin and let her know.
An Artist Reception for
The Great State of Minnesota
an exhibit reflecting
What Minnesota Means to Me
Tuesday, June 30 from 6:30 to 8 PM
The Exhibit is Open Through August 28 at the
NWMAC Gallery
Northland Community and Technical College
1101 State Highway 1, Thief River Falls
The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council (NWMAC) is pleased to announce an Artist Reception for The Great State of Minnesota at our gallery at Northland Community and Technical College, 1101 Highway 1 East in Thief River Falls. This exhibit includes 51 pieces, including pen and ink, oil, mixed media, photography, acrylic, screen print, fiber art, poetry, ceramic, block print, watercolor, charcoal, and paper mache by 30 area artists, and will run until August 28.
The Artist Reception will be held on Tuesday, June 30 from 6:30 to 8 PM at the gallery. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend. Refreshments will be served. The play Frozen will be performed at 7 PM that evening in the NCTC theater.
Minnesota received a lot of attention lately because of the ICE surge of 3,000 officers in January, large civil protests in freezing winter weather, and famous musicians like Bruce Springsteen writing songs about this historical moment in Minnesota. Because of this, the Northwest Minnesota Arts Council is highlighting our state in this exhibit. We asked artists what does Minnesota mean to you?
Minnesota evokes many feelings and meanings to different people. Maybe it's blueberry picking, cabin life, morel or deer hunting, walleye fishing, or the land of 10,000 lakes; the power of community, snowflakes and cold, or pine trees; terms like Minnesota Nice, You betcha or Uff da; foods like wild rice, hot dishes, or lefse. Our sports teams including the Vikings, Twins, Timberwolves, The Wild, Loons, and Lynx;
Icons such as Mary Tyler Moore, Prince, and Bob Dylan; Or our state symbols like the Rusty Patched Bumblebee(state bee), Monarch (state butterfly), Lady’s Slipper (state flower) or the Honeycrisp Apple (state fruit), or Agate (the state gemstone).
Jessica Ross shared, “Minnesota is my home as well as home to the many little living things that inspire my artwork. This show will be a great composition of Minnesota through the eyes of local artists. I entered my piece because I like viewers to stop and think about the small things in life that we tend to overlook at times. It just takes a moment to pause and be reminded of the beauty in this world. My artwork “Minnesota’s Ladies” focuses on small moments of wonder within Minnesota forests.”
Acacia Winters explained, “Being a transplant to the state of Minnesota has been challenging but incredibly rewarding. I love how amazing this state is geographically. Its vast landscapes and rocky superior shores mixed with the epicness of the Twin Cities always means there is something to do and explore. The things that keep me here are the wonderful people and communities I’ve been invited into and helped create. This has made this state into my home. People should visit to see the incredible talent of artists in northern Minnesota.”
Therese Masters Jacobson said, “Minnesotans emphasize kindness, empathy, and prosocial behavior, or in other words, they are nice. Minnesota has long been a refuge and haven for many people, like my childhood family who visited each summer from Illinois. A change during my adult life brought me back to Minnesota—a place to belong.”
Finally, Debbie Dahl Aune said,” My Gramma Esther Dahl picked blueberries with me until she was 82. Living in northern Minnesota we found the true peace of God as we trekked around Beltrami Forest, the Mud Lake Refuge and the McDonaugh Swamp. Still today, I find the outdoors to be my favorite distraction from the political and economic uncertainties of the day. Today, I still get out to the forests, however, you'll find me painting Plein Air as well as picking.”
Original art in the Great State of Minnesota exhibit, including Prowling Past the Pines by Warroad Artist Shelly Grove. She explained that “even though I was born in Canada I call Minnesota my home. Since deer hunting is a big part of living in northern Minnesota it seemed appropriate to submit this piece. I gravitate towards pointillism and this pose worked up so well. The pine trees really add character. Can’t you just hear the wind howl when you look at this?”
As our nation celebrates its 250th anniversary this summer, visit our exhibit to see the art created about Minnesota. Artists were encouraged to reflect on Minnesota as the Northstar State, our Minnesota State Flag, our Great Seal of Minnesota, and our state symbols. Minnesota’s motto is L'Etoile du Nord = Star of the North, which refers to Polaris, the North Star, that remains in the same spot in the night sky, representing stability and direction. Our flag symbolizes the state's natural resources, identity, and future. It features a light blue field (water/sky), a dark blue shape (state outline/night sky), and a white 8-point "North Star" representing our motto and the state's northern location. The 8-point star also represents guidance, hope, and its northern position, while also honoring diverse cultural heritage, including Native American designs, Nordic patterns, and barn quilts, and echoing the star on the Capitol’s rotunda. It’s a multicultural symbol, often appearing like four “M”s for Minnesota and resembling a snowflake, connecting to the state’s climate and indigenous artistry. The Great Seal of Minnesota features a common loon (our state bird), the North Star, wild rice, Norway pines (state tree), and stylized water, with the Dakota phrase "Mni Sóta Makoce" -- "Land where the waters reflect the skies."
Take a virtual walk through of this exhibit at https://youtu.be/X3M3S9H95GI (on the NWMAC YouTube page). The video is also available on our website under the exhibits tab on the top of the homepage.
The NWMAC Gallery at Northland Community and Technical College in Thief River Falls is at 1101 State Highway 1, Thief River Falls 56701. The gallery is open during Monday-Friday from 8 – 4:30 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. Hours can change, especially during the summer. Enter through Door B, which is right next to the gallery. Visitor parking is free.
For more information about this exhibit or if you are an artist interested in exhibiting a body of work with NWMAC, please contact Trey Everett at (218) 280-4917 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.
Thief River Falls ACT has a full 2026 season. Check out their shows, including The Sound of Music (June 10-12 and 15-17), Frozen (June 30-July 2), The Sweet Delilah Swim Club (July 14-16), and Something Rotten Jr (July 28-30).
Learn more at https://trfact.org.
Poetry Workshop in Osage on September 19 with Laura Hansen
Where is the Poem?
Finding the Poetry Hidden Inside Longer Writing; Techniques for Calling Forth Poems from Your Freewriting, Journaling, and Prose
Workshop with Laura Hansen
Jackpine Writers' Bloc Writers' Workshop
Saturday, September 19 from 9 AM to 12 Noon. Jack Pines Resort, 53014 State Highway 34, Osage MN 56570
(located 9 miles west of Park Rapids MN [1 mile west of Osage MN])
Cost $55.00 Lunch at noon is included in the workshop cost.
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Instructor: Laura Hansen is the author of the Stevens Poetry Manuscript Prize collection, Midnight River, which was also a Midwest Book Awards Finalist in Poetry. Published in numerous literary journals, Laura has judged poetry contests for Central Lakes College, The Talking Stick Literary Journal, and Brainerd Writers Alliance among others. Laura is a two-time Grand Prize Winner in the League of Minnesota Poets Annual Poetry Contest and a three-time Five Wings Arts Council Grant Recipient. Laura facilitates Write in the Gallery at Great River Arts, is on the Lifetime Arts Creative Aging Roster of Teaching Artists, and has served on the boards of Great River Arts and The Five Wings Arts Council. A graduate of Concordia College in Moorhead, Laura owned Bookin' It— an independent bookstore—for over twenty years. Laura’s Night Stack can be found online at RIVERPOETHANSEN.SUBSTACK.COM
Where is the Poem? Finding the Poetry Hidden Inside Longer Writing; Techniques for Calling Forth Poems from Your Freewriting, Journaling, and Prose.
This workshop will look at some of the key differences between prose and poetry and explore creative ways to discover the poem hidden in longer written work. The group will, as poet Howard Nemerov puts it, be “riding the gradient invisible” from prose, to prose poem, to poetry through examples as well as writing and revisioning exercises.
The workshop will run from 9 AM to 12 Noon. The workshop cost includes lunch at noon.
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Book release party at 1 PM: The Talking Stick 35 Book Release Party and this Writers' Workshop will be held on Saturday, September 19, 2026, at Jack Pines Resort, 53014 State Highway 34, Osage, MN 56570.
The Book Release Party will start at 1 PM and run till approximately 4 PM. There is no charge to attend the Book Release Party. Lunch at noon will be on your own if you are just attending the Book Release Party. There is a restaurant available at Jack Pines Resort and it will be open from 9 AM to 9 PM. Dinner/supper after the Book Release Party will be on your own.
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YOU MUST PREREGISTER FOR THE WORKSHOP. Please email Sharon Harris at sharrick1@wcta.net to sign up. Phone 218-732-3782 if questions. Be sure to include your name and mailing address, phone number, and email address. Make your $55 check out to Jackpine Writers' Bloc and mail it to: Sharon Harris, 13320 149th Ave, Menahga MN 56464.
There is a limit this workshop to the first 35 participants and then put names on a waiting list.
Iron and Feathers Art of the NW is an exhibit featuring paintings by Ross Hier and Beau Bakken at the Historic Fournet Building downtown Crookston. This exhibit includes 35 original pieces of art in watercolor on paper and acrylic on canvas, most of which are for sale. Sarah Pester will be leading yoga at the exhibit on May 14. The Fournet is at 101 N Broadway, 2nd Floor, Downtown Crookston. See the poster for more details.
NW Art Exhibit Awards Reception & Program in Warroad
On Saturday, April 25 the NW Minnesota Arts Council hosted an awards reception and program at Warroad RiverPlace. At 2:30 PM the public was invited to view the annual exhibit, mingle, listen to live music provided by the UND Trio, and enjoy light refreshments. An awards program began at 3:30 PM to present awards to the exhibit winners and Of the Year awardees.
Student and adult artists residing in a seven-county region including Kittson, Marshall, Norman, Polk, Pennington, Roseau and Red Lake had entered into the Northwest Minnesota Art Exhibit and were competing for $2,300 in cash awards. The winners were recognized at the program. It was a wonderful day celebrating these artists and the arts in northwest Minnesota.
Exhibit cash award winners were chosen while the exhibit was on display at Warroad RiverPlace by qualified juror Alice Blessing. Alice Blessing is a socially engaged artist based in Bemidji whose work is deeply informed by principles of intersectional feminism. Over the past two decades, Blessing's portraits have been exhibited in numerous galleries across the state, earning her multiple awards and grants. She is also an experienced educator, having taught at Bemidji State University for 13 years, as well as conducting painting workshops throughout Minnesota. Currently, Blessing serves as Gallery Director at Bemidji State University, where she teaches courses in Drawing, Painting, and Color Theory. She has a BFA in painting from Bemidji State.
She shared, “Walking through this exhibit, I felt a genuine connection to the care, creativity, and individuality present in each piece. Here we have a beautiful balance between technical skill and imagination, where our participants’ unique approaches show us the limitlessness of art. I was especially moved by the range of expression; all of these pieces are full of curiosity and exploration. This collection highlights both seasoned expertise and emerging talent and offers a hopeful glimpse into the future of art.Thank you so much for inviting me to play a small part in this wonderful exhibition.”
Find a virtual walk through of the exhibit under the Exhibits tab at the top of our website.
Exhibit Awards include:
Adults:
1st Place $500: Holly Ellsworth-Crowther of Warroad in painting with mixed media for “Forest’s Queen"
2nd Place $300: Betsy Saurdiff of Grygla in sculpture for "It’s a Keeper"
3rd Place $200: Jodi Peterson a teacher in Ada in fused glass for "Vintage Fish"
Merit $100: Bert Foster of Thief River Falls in photography for "Canyon Mermaid"
Merit $100: Cindy Kolling of Gully in drawing for "Through Morning Fog"
Merit $100: Ross Hier of Crookston in watercolor painting for "Golden Silk Orb Spider & Chestnut-breasted Coronet"
Merit $100: Janet Johnson of Roseau in mixed media for "Remnants"
Merit $100: Jessy Ingalls of Warroad in textile for "Woodland Wool Scarf"
People’s Choice: $100 Irene Bertils of Crookston
Students:
1st Place $300 Lillian Hansen of Halstad in ceramic sculpture for "Bon Jour Cat Teapot"
2nd Place $150 Brianna Severts of Grygla in mixed media for “Jerry”
3rd Place $100 Kerstyn Lindsey of Ada in mosaic for "Giant Blue Morpho"
Merit $50 Amber Danielson of Red Lake Falls in mixed media for "Friday from ARK"
Merit $50 Aryanna Harrow of East Grand Forks in digital art for "Distinguished Toucan"
Merit $50 Mahli Holter of Red Lake Falls in drawing for "Long Awaited Reunion"
Merit $50 Sydney Schneider of Hendrum in sculpture for "Ow!"
Merit $50 Melody Voeltz of Lancaster in painting for "Great Heron"
Merit $50 Renn Ginther of Roseau in sculpture for “Camouflage”
People’s Choice: $50 Renn Ginther of Roseau
Of the Year Awards were presented to Samantha Harrill of Warroad for Artist of the Year for Visual Art, Jane Anderson of Thief River Falls for Arts Advocate of the Year for Performing Arts, and Becky Rosenkrans of Roseau received the Northwest Star Award.
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 provides a cash award of $500. Our Arts Advocate of the Year award is $500 and includes arts from all disciplines. The Northwest Star Award comes with $5,000. Artists can only receive our Northwest Star Award once as a lifetime achievement award.
The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council Announces the opening of
Iron and Feathers: Art of the Northwest
an exhibit featuring paintings by Ross Hier and Beau Bakken
Open Through August
at the
Historic Fournet Building, 101 N Broadway
Downtown Crookston
2nd Floor in the Atrium
Artist Reception TBD
The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council (NWMAC) is pleased to announce the opening of Iron and Feathers: Art of the Northwest an exhibit featuring paintings by Ross Hier and Beau Bakken at the Historic Fournet Building downtown Crookston. This exhibit includes 35 original pieces of art in watercolor on paper and acrylic on canvas, most of which are for sale.
Beau Bakken of Hallock has been professionally creating art by commission since 2008. Beau has been a consistent entrant into NWMAC’s exhibits and won 1st place in the annual NW Minnesota Art Exhibit in 2011, 2014, and 2022, and given a People’s Choice award in 2025. He won the Artist of the Year in 2016. Beau was the featured artist in the Around the Farm exhibit at our gallery in Thief River Falls. His work consists of large outdoor murals, outdoor business signs, indoor murals, and indoor wall hangings and paintings.
About his 8 pieces of work in the exhibit, Beau said, “My paintings in this exhibit are captures of the Red River Valley, painted with the hope that fellow citizens of the valley would find them relatable.”
Ross H. Hier attended the University of Minnesota earning a BS in Wildlife Management and had a 35-year career with the Section of Wildlife in the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. His time was spent researching mallards, ring-necked ducks, and the Lesser scaup, as well as managing wildlife management areas in Polk and Red Lake Counties. Nature has excited him for as long as he can remember and his creative need to express this love led him to watercolor painting.
He shared, “Northwest Minnesota is such a diverse piece of geography … native grasslands, the Aspen Parklands and transition zone between prairie and forest landscapes interspersed with agricultural tracts. The ancient Lake Agassiz beach lines are quite profound on the east side of the Red River Valley and serve as linear maps for migrant birds where substantial grasslands and wetlands serve as stop-over areas for birds moving further north. The diversity of nature in northwest Minnesota is amazing. Nature has always been a force that triggers my creative thought process. I love painting with watercolors for their elusive nature and spontaneity.”
He continued, “It’s an honor to exhibit in the town I have long resided in and to share this exhibit with the outstanding artist, Beau Bakken. His work never ceases to amaze me. This exhibit presents the viewers with two different artists who use different painting mediums and rather different styles. I hope the exhibit brings viewers much joy and thankfulness as we celebrate the premier region of Minnesota through art. Thanks to the Northwest Arts Council and especially Exhibit Specialist Trey Everett.” Twenty-seven works in the exhibit were created by Ross.
You can find both Ross and Beau in our most recent Artists of NW Minnesota booklet.
An Artist Reception will be held at the Fournet. Watch our website, newsletters, or social media for an announcement of the date, time, and other details.
You won't want to miss this exhibit open through August at the Fournet Building, 101 N Broadway, Downtown Crookston. Parking and admission is free. Take the stairs or elevator to the second floor where the gallery is located in the atrium. Open Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 4:30 PM.
Watch this video for a virtual tour of the exhibit at https://youtu.be/emdN39orEZE or find it on our website under the exhibits tab at the top of the homepage.
For more information about this exhibit, visit our website at NWArtsCouncil.org, or if you are an artist interested in exhibiting a body of work with NWMAC, please contact Trey Everett at (218) 280-4917 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.
Springboard for the Arts
Website Basics for Artists
May 19
Get a big picture view of the components of your artist website, find clarity on whether you need a website for your artistic practice and learn the basics of creating a website.
Location: Zoom Meeting
Date: Tuesday, May 19, 2026
Time: 6:00 - 8:30 PM
This workshop is a part of Work of Art+, a series of workshops that complement the 12-part Work of Art: Business Skills for Artists series, a professional development curriculum designed to teach business skills to artists in all disciplines. The curriculum is always available for free download, or you can buy a copy of the book to support your practice.
Meet the Instructor
Instructor: Anniessa Antar (she/they)
Bio: Anniessa is a software engineer, educator, and cultural organizer. She has worked at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, Saint Catherine University, the Minneapolis Institute of Art, and with organizations such as Mizna, Confluence: An East Lake Studio for Community Design, the Minnesota Marine Art Museum and the School for Poetic Computation. Her practices center on the power of creative, playful, and collective work to confront and heal systemic oppression.
Springboard for the Arts
Work of Art: Artist Statements
May 5 from 6 to 8:30 PM
Get a hands-on, step-by-step approach to writing a range of statements that best represent your work as an artist.
Location: Zoom Meeting
Date: Tuesday, May 5, 2026
Time: 6:00 - 8:30 PM
This workshop is a part of Work of Art+, a series of workshops that complement the 12-part Work of Art: Business Skills for Artists series, a professional development curriculum designed to teach business skills to artists in all disciplines. The curriculum is always available for free download, or you can buy a copy of the book to support your practice. Workshop is free to attend.
Meet the Instructor
Instructor: Mikha Dominguez (they/them)
Bio: Mikha Dominguez (aka Mikhamik) is a Queer non-binary Latinx Venezuelan artist based in Minneapolis since 2014. With a background in set design, Mikha’s work explores identity, migration, and resilience. They have worked at the Walker Art Center, exhibited at MCAD, University of Minnesota, St. Catherine University, and the University of Omaha, and participated in the Art Shanty Projects. Mikha leads Mikhamik House of Arts and teaches at Springboard for the Arts while studying at MCAD. Visit their website at mikhamik.com.
East Grand Forks Campbell Library and North Country Fiddle and Dance present:
A Concert of Danish Folk Music, Songs and Stories on
Friday, May 15 from 5:30 to 7:30 PM
KRISTIAN BUGGE, of Copenhagen, Denmark, (fiddle, vocals) and WB REID, of Seattle, ( guitar ) will take you on an entertaining journey through the traditions of Danish folk music with songs and stories in Danish and English, wild polkas, fiery reels, jigs and lyrical waltzes from every corner of Denmark.
Campbell Library at 422 4th St. NW in East Grand Forks
Trey Everett and Kristin Eggerling joined Saxophonist Maury Finney for a live discussion on April 9. The discussion was live on the NWMAC Facebook and YouTube pages. Listen/watch at https://www.youtube.com/live/qrmF5bUZYWA?si=dU1V4wXXlIa5GyW3. Maury shared stories of his music background and experiences in Nashville and on the charts. He also gave advice to aspiring musicians.
This well-known music artist is originally from rural Kittson County Minnesota. He is featured in our Good Vibrations exhibit.
Maury Finney grew up with music dominating his family’s focus. Dorothy, his mom, was a talented piano player and had been raised in a family of musicians herself. His dad George was a saxophone player and Maury followed in his footsteps. Maury started playing the sax at a young age with guidance from his dad. In his teens, he was hired by a local band leader to fill in for the regular sax player who was forced to take time off to have his teeth fixed. When the sax player returned, Maury remained in the band, gaining invaluable experience by playing alongside seasoned musicians. Those early gigs proved life changing as he developed his talent in ways that otherwise wouldn’t have been possible.
With his brother Allen, Maury formed a rock and roll band called The Charms. The band recorded a record and developed a large following, playing venues throughout the local area. In addition to his music career, Maury and his wife Faith owned Maury's Tv and appliance business in East Grand Forks and later opened a recording studio.
In 1976 Maury recorded the song “Maidens Prayer” for Soundwaves Record Co. of Nashville, which began his country music career with nationwide success. Between 1976 and 1977, he charted the most instrumental songs of any country music artist. In 1977 and 1978, Maury was named “Top New Instrumentalist” by the three leading music reporting magazines -- Billboard Music Week, Record World, and Cashbox magazine. He charted twelve times on the Billboard country singles charts. Later, he organized a 7 piece band called Reedsong Music Company, which included family members. Maury was inducted into Minnesota’s Rock Country Hall of Fame in 2007.
Not long ago he was introduced to Little Bobby Houle and they performed together. Maury shared, “it was a magical time when I became Little Bobby’s saxman at several of Bobby’s shows at casinos, Bluesfests, and many city celebrations. It was a blast playing with such a professional and talented songwriter, guitarist, and great Blues singer. Little Bobby’s passing has left a hole in my music life.” Maury continues to perform in the northwest Minnesota area and sometimes in Florida, with blues bands, on his own, and when other opportunities arise and he still thoroughly enjoys it.