The Region 2 Arts Council recently granted $50,000 in Community Arts Support grants that are available as a result of funding through the Minnesota State Legislature and the Minnesota Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment passed by voters of Minnesota in November of 2008.
Community Arts Support Grants provide some measure of funding stability for non-profit arts organizations so that their energy can be better focused on increasing the quality and availability of the arts to their communities.
Non-profit arts organizations that benefited from the Community Arts Support Grants are as follows:
Heartland Concert Association, Park Rapids, was awarded $4,000 to provide quality musical, educational and cultural entertainment genres to the surrounding area.
Bemidji Symphony Orchestra, Bemidji, was awarded $6,000 to support and promote the orchestra by developing the administrative side of the organization through a part time executive director.
Northern Light Opera Company, Park Rapids was awarded $6,000 to hire professional stage and technical directors for their annual summer productions.
Bemidji Community Theater, Bemidji, was awarded $3,000 to enhance their web site, increase publicity, purchase tools for building sets, and to rent costume storage.
Pequana Playhouse, Baudette was awarded $3,000 to be more available to the public by providing a location for public access.
Northern Artist Association, Bemidji, was awarded $4,000 to assist with marketing and overhead expenses to enhance artistic offerings at Gallery North.
Blank Canvas Gallery and Education Center, Park Rapids was awarded $1,500 to create and implement a marketing and communications plan.
Bemidji Community Art Center, Bemidji was awarded $6,000 to continue to employ our part-time Executive Assistant and to hire a part-time Program Coordinator to implement arts education programming
Lake of the Woods Art Guild, Baudette was awarded $2,000 to assist in applying for 501(C)3 nonprofit status and for rent of studio space and art gallery.
Mask & Rose Women’s Theater Collective, Bemidji was awarded $3,000 to purchase a light board and lights, and for rental of the theater space.
Park Rapids Area Community Band, Park Rapids was awarded $2,500 to purchase an English Horn, support solo performing artists and purchase music.
Bemidji Area Community Band, Bemidji was awarded $2,000 to purchase shirts and music holders for use in their concerts.
Nemeth Art Center, Park Rapids was awarded $4,000 to employ a part-time executive director to administer the art activities of the Nemeth Art Center.
Bemidji Chorale, Bemidji was awarded $3,000 to continue its mission to provide the community with high quality choral music by providing adequate compensation for the conductor and accompanist.
The arts are a vital part of life in northern Minnesota. The Region 2 Arts Council is dedicated to supporting opportunities for arts creation, promotion, education and funding for the people of Beltrami, Clearwater, Hubbard, Lake of the Woods, and Mahnomen counties in north central Minnesota.
