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4.16.24 Rom Ogaard
The tables turned for our podcast this week. Pioneer 90.1 Radio Host Ron West, whose actual name is Rom Ogaard, was interviewed by Promotions Specialist Kristin Eggerling. Ogaard will be receiving the Northwest Arts Advocate of the Year Award on Sunday, April 21.
Ogaard has been a radio host at KSRQ 90.1 radio at Northland Community and Technical College and is retiring at the end of the month. As Ron West, he has partnered with the NWMAC to offer a weekly radio segment that promotes artists, the arts, and arts organizations. He also has segments that feature the Campbell Library in East Grand Forks, and the North Dakota Museum of Art in Grand Forks. These radio programs have brought news and information about the arts to our region and beyond and highlighted our regional artists.
This award will be presented on Sunday, April 21 in Lake Bronson at the Kittson County History Museum. Three awards are given each year to recognize artists and arts advocates within our seven-county region who stand out in terms of artistry or volunteerism in the arts. Of the Year Award winners were nominated by area residents. Our Arts Advocate of the Year award is $500 and includes arts from all disciplines. Funding for this award comes from the Minnesota State Legislature.
Listen to the interview to hear about what Rom has learned about the arts and much more!
3.26.24 Betsy Saurdiff
Grygla Artist Betsy Saurdiff is receiving the NW Star Award this year. This is a lifetime achievement award. Congrats, Betsy!
She's a retired visual arts (and German) teacher in the Grygla and Goodridge School districts. Betsy taught many art mediums, but preferred pottery.
Betsy is a well-known potter in our region and sells her work out of her studio and at art shows. In 2018 she was the Arts Advocate of the Year.
She's had her own solo show in our gallery and is a regular entrant and award winner in our annual NW Art Exhibit. She's also received grants from the NWMAC for equipment and trainings. Betsy will receive the award on Sunday, April 21 in Lake Bronson. The public is invited to join the celebration.
Listen to hear more, including making pottery, getting grants, and arts council support!
1.23.24 Mara Hanel
NWMAC Director Mara Hanel spoke about the many things the Arts Council has coming up during this week’s podcast.
- Annual NW Art Exhibit. Deadline Feb 29 to submit entries. The exhibit will be in Lake Bronson this year from March 27 to April 21. Submit your art for this exhibit (up to pieces per person adults and high school students)
- Of the Year Awards. Deadline Feb 29 to nominate for Artist of the Year (emerging and mid-career), NW Star Award (lifetime achievement), and Arts Advocate of the Year. Please consider nominating a deserving artist or arts advocate!
-Upcoming Grant deadlines. Feb 29 and a grant writing workshop (Feb 13 at 10 am. RSVP required). We have funds for the following:
Project Grants for nonprofit arts organizations, communities, schools, and other nonprofit organizations from our seven county Minnesota service area between $500 and $10,000. Activities funded 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 can apply for an Artist Residency grant of $2,600 plus an additional $400 if the residency needs supplies;
Quick Turnaround Grants for $500. Awarded to performing artists, visual artists, media artists, and creative writing artists. First come-first served basis
- Pulled in Many Directions Photography by Andy Hall. Photography exhibit at our gallery at NCTC in Thief River Falls. Artist reception on Wednesday, Jan 24 5:30-7:30 PM. Make a point to visit this impressive exhibit and consider purchasing a piece of art!
- Traveling art exhibit, featuring adult and high school student art, is at the Campbell Library in East Grand Forks until February 27.
- Artists of NW Minnesota booklet is being created right now. The booklet includes many artist listings and we are looking for gig artists, including musicians and performers to add to a new section in this edition's booklet (we publish this booklet every 3 years). We are also looking for arts-supporting businesses for the back of the booklet. The purpose of the booklet is promotional and features those who offer an arts service to the community.
Listen to the podcast for all the details!
5.30.23 Debbie Dahl Aune
Debbie Dahl Aune is this year’s Artist of the Year for Visual Arts. She spoke with Pioneer 90.1’s Ron West about the award, her art, being an art teacher, receiving awards from the Arts Council and much more.
Aune is a visual artist who works in many mediums. She is the Art Teacher at the Greenbush Middle River Public School, as well as the Greenbush Middle River Art Club Advisor, a frequent art project presenter at the Creativity Festival in Bemidji, and a community ed instructor. She has entered and placed often in the annual NW Minnesota Art Exhibit, receiving merit, second, first, and People’s Choice awards. Finally, Aune has exhibited her work in many NWMAC themed exhibits, including several solo shows. Last year Debbie was featured on a MPR (Minnesota Public Radio) segment and in a Prairie Mosaic video on Prairie Public Television.
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. Funding for the Northwest Artist of the Year comes from The McKnight Foundation. Three awards are given each year to recognize artists and arts advocates within our seven-county region who stand out in terms of artistry or volunteerism in the arts. Of the Year Award winners were nominated by area residents.
Listen to learn more!
5.23.23 Bonnie Stewart
Bonnie Stewart of Fosston was awarded the Northwest Arts Advocate of the Year Award recently. She spoke with Pioneer 90.1’s Ron West about the award and her work advocating the arts. She also gave an overview of arts activities in the Fosston area happening this summer. For example, the children’s theater and a number of diverse concerts as part of Music on the Porch. FCLAA.org provides information about a number of the events.
Stewart has been a champion of the arts in Fosston since the early 1990s. She has served on the boards of the East Polk Heritage Center, the Pine to Prairie Folk School, and the Firefly Center for Art and Wellbeing. She was instrumental in establishing the City of Fosston’s Art and Culture Commission and continues to serve on it. She is the part-executive director for the Fosston Community Library and Arts Association. Through these positions and volunteering with other projects, she has led and initiated programming and education efforts, secured artwork for exhibition at the Sorenson Gallery and performing artists at the Fosston Community Library and Arts Center Theatre, written numerous grants and assisted area artists with grant writing. Bonnie’s tireless commitment to the arts has made a tremendous impact in our region.
About the impact of the arts Bonnie said, “I think they are one of the most important things that a person can experience. Art is essential to our wellbeing, to how we look at the world and other people. I’m so grateful we have these opportunities in Minnesota. The Legacy funding has been incredibly important. Art is life is my mantra.”
Bonnie spoke about the importance of the arts council, specifically the grants, promoting the arts, and the Traveling Art Exhibit.
Bonnie received the award on Sunday, April 30 in Middle River at the Middle River Legacy Center. Three awards are given each year to recognize artists and arts advocates within our seven-county region who stand out in terms of artistry or volunteerism in the arts. Of the Year Award winners were nominated by area residents. Our Arts Advocate of the Year award is $500 and includes arts from all disciplines. Funding for this award comes from the Minnesota State Legislature. Congratulations, Bonnie!
5.9.22 Cathy Erickson
Cathy Erickson of Middle River recently received the Northwest Star Award. The award was presented to Erickson on Sunday, April 30 in Middle River at the Middle River Legacy Center during the NW Art Exhibit Awards Reception and Program. She spoke with Pioneer 90.1’s Ron West about the award, her musical background, and more!
Erickson is a well-known musician and radio show host in the area. She has been entertaining professionally in northwestern Minnesota and beyond, playing music for almost 50 years. Cathy plays the accordion, piano, organ, guitar, and vocals. She also hosts her own radio show Cathy’s Variety Show on Pioneer 90.1 FM. The live variety show consists of polkas, waltzes, classic country, bluegrass, gospel, and local artists. Additionally, she hosts two other live weekly radio shows – Country Church and Live from the Farm.
The NW Star Award comes with $5,000. Artists can only receive our Northwest Star Award once as a lifetime achievement award. Funding for the Northwest Star comes from The McKnight Foundation. Three awards are given each year to recognize artists and arts advocates within our seven-county region who stand out in terms of artistry or volunteerism in the arts. Of the Year Award winners were nominated by area residents. Listen to the podcast for an interesting conversation about Cathy!
1.10.23 Ross Hier
2022 Artist of the Year Ross Hier is featured in this podcast. Ross resides in Crookston and is a retired wildlife biologist, in addition to being a prolific self-taught visual artist. Nature provides Ross with unlimited subject matter and his painted subjects are wide-ranging. Although birds amaze him most of all, he also enjoys painting landscapes, prairie plants, fish, reptiles and hunting and fishing scenes. Ross works in watercolor and pen and ink. Ross’s work has been featured in solo art exhibits with the NWMAC and in our annual exhibits and traveling exhibits. Please note: we are currently accepting nominations for our Of the Year Awards. Consider nominating a deserving artist or arts advocate for an Of the Year Award.
To learn more about nominations visit: northwestminnesotaartscouncil.org/blog/nominate-area-artists-or-arts-advocates-for-an-of-the-year-award. Nominations are accepted until February 28.
Listen to the podcast to hear more about Ross and our Of the Year Awards!