Red Lake Falls Musician Bruce Piersol is this week’s featured podcast guest. Bruce is the 2020 recipient of the Arts Advocate of the Year Award. Bruce will be honored later this month. Our Arts Advocate of the Year award is given each year to recognize arts advocates within our seven-county region who stand out in terms of volunteerism in the arts. Of the Year award winners were nominated by area residents. This award comes with a cash award of $500.00. Funding for the Northwest Arts Advocate of the Year comes from the Minnesota State Legislature. Congrats, Bruce! Listen to learn more about Bruce and his work advocating the arts.

Alicia Spilde and Artist Nick Reitzel were this week’s featured podcast. Alicia and Nick spoke about a veteran’s kiosk mural that is in the process of being created in the Marshall County courthouse. The group received funding from the NWMAC for the project honoring veterans. Listen to hear more about it!

7.21.20 Kristin Eggerling and Freedom Festival

NWMAC Promotions Specialist Kristin Eggerling announced the Of the Year Award Winners. Pioneer 90.1’s Ron West spoke about the upcoming Freedom Festival in Goodridge and the schedule filled with local musicians and artists. Listen for details!

Kelly Thygeson, owner of Tonnabells in Thief River Falls, is featured on our podcast this week. Tonnabells is a small business that sells art by local artists and handcrafters. Kelly is also looking for other artists and art to sell in her store. Listen to the conversation below!

Tracey Wensloff and Sue Suess spoke with Ron West this week. Tracey is with the Baseball Boosters in Roseau and helped initiate the creation of the Gilbertson Field Archway. Sue is one of the artists who designed and created the work. The NWMAC provided a grant for this. Listen to their conversation!

Northwest Minnesota Arts Council Executive Director Mara Hanelis featured on this week’s podcast. Rom and Mara spoke about Individual Artist Grants that are open for applications until January 15 (Apply now!), other grant opportunities, and the background of the Arts Council.

Warren Artist Jill Levene spoke with Ron West this week about her art and a grant she received from the NWMAC for a mobile art studio, her Gypsy Trekker Trailer. Jill creates wood blocks and prints on fabric.

Thief River Falls Vocal Music Director Darcy Reese is Ron West’s guest this week. Learn about Lincoln High School’s legacy grant they received for an inspirational program called Breaking Barriers…Building a Foundation of Humanity, as well as the documentary More Than Just the Music, and their upcoming concert Come to the Music on December 7 and 9.

University of Minnesota Associate Professor Katy Chapman is featured on this week’s podcast. Listen to hear about grants they received for fiber arts equipment and an artist residency in fiber arts. Their fiber arts group meets weekly and welcomes newcomers.

Roseau teacher Kelsey Didrikson was Ron West’s guest this week. Kelsey spoke about Write On! — a program that enables Roseau students to write for the local newspaper. The NWMAC provided a grant for this program. Listen to the podcast to learn all about it!

NWMAC Board Member Katya Zepeda was Ron West’s guest this week. They spoke of Katya’s art and being on the board. Listen to the podcast to learn more. And, consider supporting the arts in our region by serving on our board.

Shalese Snowden of Warroad spoke with Ron West this week about the issue of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women. Shalese is a college student studying this issue and her father, Jaimie, is on the NWMAC Board of Directors. Our current exhibit at NCTC recognizes domestic violence and Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women. Listen to their conversation and visit our powerful exhibit!

Elevate Art Director Kelsey Brateng and Executive Director Mary Sieckert were Ron West’s guests this week. They talked about how the Elevate Youth Center came to be and what it is. They received a grant for the Access to the Arts for Youth Program from the NWMAC. Elevate is hosting a teen gallery art show on November 15 that they are accepting entries for. Listen to learn more!

NWMAC Executive Director Mara Hanel spoke with Ron West this week about upcoming grant deadlines on November 1, our current exhibit at our gallery at NCTC in Thief River Falls honoring Domestic Violence month, and the traveling art exhibit currently in Ada. Listen to the podcast to learn more!

Artist Christine Foster was Ron West’s guest this week. Christine has an exhibit in the new Northwest Minnesota Art’s Council Gallery at NCTC in Thief River Falls. Listen to the conversation and stop by the gallery to see Hope & Freedom: Mending the Soul, open through November 30.

Middle River Musician Cathy Erickson spoke with Ron West this week. Cathy received a grant from the NWMAC for music therapy for the elderly. She’s been visiting nursing homes with her accordion and even performs songs to individual rooms upon request. Listen to the podcast to learn more!