Brenda Yanok is the community manager of Folk School Warroad. The school opened in 2019 with about 20 events the first year and has grown since. They rely on grant funding from the NWMAC. Their mission is to provide learning experiences in art, culture, local history, traditional crafts and exploration and enjoyment of local natural resources. She provided a background of the history of the school, the concept of folk schools, and what they offer.

What is a folk school? A folk school is a series of classes and programs that bring people together to make things, make music, make stories and learn together. In most folk schools, individual expression and social interaction are developed and supported through classes in music, crafts, nature studies, gardening, cooking, dance, and other expressions of the local culture.

In addition to leading the organization, Brenda teaches quilting and enjoys other art practices including drawing and painting. She spoke about the community aspect of the school and the unexpected connections the attendees make. This year the non-profit has had over 650 attendees, 52 classes, and 29 different instructors. Popular classes include making Ojibwe style snowshoes, fiber arts (weaving and spinning), wood carving, and Native arts classes including beadwork and ribbon skirts. They’ve also offered wine making, journaling, baking, and basket weaving. The school works closely with the historical society and the DNR in their program offerings and utilizes other venues like the local brewery and culture center. They purchased rigid heddle looms that will allow them to offer more weaving opportunities. Their vision for next year includes further developing fiber arts and native arts courses, and offering relief and block printing and more Adirondack snowshoe chair sessions.

Find out more on their website: folkschoolwarroad.org or follow them on FB.

Bao Phi is the Arts & Culture program officer at the McKnight Foundation.

Bao is also a poet, an author, and a spoken word artist. He’s a two-time Minnesota Grand Slam champion and a National Poetry Slam finalist. Bao shared information about the history of spoken word and his experience and enjoyment of the art. His poetry is included in The Best American Poetry 2006 anthology and published widely elsewhere. And, he’s also a children’s book author. Born in Saigon shortly before the mass exodus of his family and many others to the United States, Bao is a Vietnamese American raised in south Minneapolis.

Prior to McKnight, Bao worked for nearly 23 years at the Loft Literary Center in a few roles, including managing the McKnight Artist Fellowship program in Creative Writing.

Support for individual artists is a focus of the McKnight Foundation’s Arts & Culture program. McKnight Artist & Culture Bearer Fellowships provide $25,000 in unrestricted support for midcareer artists and discipline-specific artistic and professional development opportunities. Bao spoke about the various McKnight Fellowships and the partner organizations that manage them.

In addition to the fellowship program, McKnight provides multiyear general operating funds to artist and culture bearer organizations. Their support includes a focus on greater Minnesota and they support regional arts councils (including the NWMAC) to get arts dollars out to all the counties in the state.

Bao has a unique perspective as a working artist that informs his role as administrator. His advice to applicants is to “Be brief and put your best work forward.”

Listen to this engaging conversation to learn more about Bao and the fellowship program.

Co-Founder and Executive Director of the digital storytelling organization In Progress Kristine Sorenson spoke about the statewide organization and all they offer. In Progress operates out of and maintains studio space at Studio 110 downtown Crookston and in St Paul. This small non-profit has been promoting the voices of new and emerging digital artists since its inception in 1996, breaking down barriers of geography, class, education, and culture in the process. In Progress receives grant funds from the NWMAC and provides opportunities for artists of all ages to develop their skills as digital storytellers through the use of photography, video, and music.

Earlier this year In Progress began working with African immigrant communities in East Grand Forks through the Family Resource Center utilizing music, portraiture work, and collecting oral histories.

At Studio 110 in Crookston, you can find Rena, Regina, and Roxanne Zapata offering services, assistance, and vision. Find out more about In Progress on Facebook or their website at www.in-progress.org. Listen for more details!

Jeweler Rebecca Rosenkrans and owner of Bead Gypsy in Roseau spoke about how she became a jeweler and how her shop came to be. She creates and sells jewelry from vintage flatware, leather, beads, Chain Maille (a weaving of a jump ring), brass, copper, and other metals, and more. She learned silversmithing from the Milan Village Arts School in Milan, Minnesota. She does take custom orders. The shop sells pottery, rosemaling, books, weavings, knitting, wood carvings, and other items created by 16 area artisans, as well as items from Sweden and other Scandinavian countries. She serves Fika (coffee and treats) every day and they celebrate Scandinavian holidays. Stop into this shop for locally crafted treasures. Find her on Minnesota Bead Gypsy on Facebook. The store is downtown Roseau on Main Ave. Listen to learn more!