Acrylic Painting Workshop: an abstract experience for beginners

Posted on 01/05/2012 | Comments Off

Looking for a creative outlet involving paint, canvas, brushes, and an easel?  Sign up now for Acrylic Painting- an abstract experience for beginners!

Shannon Lucas Westrum of Wildflower Design Studios will teach a number of different techniques and mediums in a no-pressure creative environment. Students will be provided an easel, canvas, palette, paints and brushes for their use and will take home their canvas at the end of the day.

The workshop will take place on January 21st at the Headwaters School of Music and the Arts, 519 Minnesota Avenue NW, Bemidji, MN, from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. with a break for lunch and then from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

The registration deadline is January 12th.   To register, send a check in the amount of $40.00 made payable to the Region 2 Arts Council, at 426 Bemidji Avenue, Bemidji, MN 56601. Call 218-751-5447 / 1-800-275-5447 or email staff@r2arts.org  with any questions.

Click here for other upcoming R2AC sponsored workshops!

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Posted in Announcements, Region 2 Counties, Visual Arts, Workshops

Mark your Calendars for Arts Advocacy Day: February 29, 2012

Posted on 01/04/2012 | Comments Off

Region 2 Arts Council staff plans to be at the State Capitol for Arts Advocacy Day on February 29, 2012.  That’s right, it’s leap year, and we’ll be joining hundreds of other Minnesotans to educate our legislators about the importance of state funding support for the arts in Minnesota.

Head over to the Minnesota Citizens for the Arts website for more information on Arts Advocacy Day.  Plan to take a trip to St. Paul for Arts Advocacy Day and help us send our message loud and clear:  “We need legislative support for state funding for the arts!”

Contact R2AC at 218-751-5447 / 800-275-5447 or staff@r2arts.org  if you are interested in attending.  We’d like to start gathering names and helping coordinate carpool options, if necessary.

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Posted in Announcements

Attention Arts Organizations! Upcoming Community Arts Support Grant Deadline

Posted on 12/28/2011 | Comments Off

Community Arts Support Grants – Deadline: February 15, 2012
Open to any arts organization in Hubbard, Beltrami, Lake of the Woods, Mahnomen, and Clearwater Counties.

These grants are two-year awards that help provide some measure of funding stability for arts organizations so that their energy can be better focused on increasing the quality and availability of the arts to their communities.

If you miss this application deadline, you will need to wait two years before you have the opportunity to apply again. Applications are available at the Region 2 Arts Council Office, 426 Bemidji Avenue, Bemidji, MN  56601 and are also available for download from our website.

We would be happy to assist you in completing the application form. Call 751-5447, toll free at 1-800-275-5447, or e-mail staff@r2arts.org.

Note: Arts Organizations having received funding through Community Arts Support Grants in 2010 MUST have their final reports in by February 1, 2012 to be eligible for a grant this round.

This grant is funded, in whole or in part, through an appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund passed by Minnesota voters on November 4, 2008.

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Posted in Announcements, Artist and Operational Grants, Arts and Cultural Heritage Grants, Grant Deadlines, Region 2 Counties

Happy Holidays from Region 2 Arts Council!

Posted on 12/22/2011 | Comments Off

Seasons Greetings!

The Region 2 Arts Council office will be closed Monday, December 26 and Tuesday, December 27.

Wishing you a joyous holiday season,
Region 2 Arts Council Staff

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Posted in Announcements

Artist Mentor Update: Ivan Smith

Posted on 12/20/2011 | Comments Off

In Spring 2011, Trek North student Ivan Smith received a Region 2 Arts Council Artist Mentor grant to learn metal sculpture from local metal sculpture artist, Al Belleveau.   Take a look and see what they’ve been up to!

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This activity is funded in whole or in part by a Region 2 Arts Council Grant through an appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature, and the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund passed by Minnesota voters on November 4, 2008.

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Posted in Announcements, Arts and Cultural Heritage Grants, Visual Arts

E-Commerce for Artists Workshop Series Coming to Bemidji in January

Posted on 12/19/2011 | Comments Off

Artists and Arts Organizations! Sign up now for e-Commerce for Artists: a FREE Professional Development Workshop Series for artists and arts organizations served by Region 2 Arts Council.

E-Commerce for Artists consists of 3 workshops:

Websites DIY      5:30-8:30 pm Thursday, January 26
Participants leave the 3-hour, hands-on workshop having developed a basic website through Google Sites. (Location: Bemidji High School Computer Lab)

Social Media Marketing         5:30-8:30 pm Thursday, February 2
Participants explore basic fundamentals of social networking sites and discuss the potential benefits of engaging in social media marketing (BHS Computer Lab).

Marketing your Website       5:30-8:30 pm Thursday, February 16 Participants learn new ways to improve traffic to their websites (BHS Computer Lab).

e-Commerce for Artists is a University of Minnesota-Extension workshop series facilitated by seasoned presenters Adeel Ahmed and Ryan Pesch .

R2AC recommends participants sign up for all three workshops.  Please RSVP by calling or emailing Region 2 Arts Council, 218-751-5447/ 1-800-275-5447/ staff@r2arts.org. Registration deadline is January 23, 2012. All workshops are free and open to artists and arts organizations served by Region 2 Arts Council.

To see an updated list of workshops sponsored by Region 2 Arts Council, click here!

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Posted in Announcements, Professional Development Workshops, Region 2 Counties

Arts and Cultural Heritage Grant Deadline January 17!

Posted on 12/16/2011 | Comments Off

Region 2 Arts Council hopes that near the top of your “New Year To-Do List” you’ve included submitting a grant proposal for an R2AC Arts and Cultural Heritage Grant.

Arts and Cultural Heritage Grants provide opportunities for arts, arts access, arts education, and arts and cultural heritage activities.

Individual artists can apply for grants up to $3000, and organizations can apply for grants up to $6000.

We’ve got download versions of all our grants on our website, or you can stop by the Region 2 Arts Council office and pick up a paper copy. R2AC is located downstairs in the Carnegie Library Building at 426 Bemidji Avenue in Bemidji.

We are happy to answer your questions in person, over the phone (218-751-5447/800-275-5447), or via email (staff@r2arts.org).

Don’t delay! The deadline time and date for Arts and Cultural Heritage Grant submission is 5:00 p.m.,  January 17, 2012.

Happy Grant Writing!

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Posted in Announcements, Arts and Cultural Heritage Grants

Arts Downtown Park Rapids Features New Musical Group this Thursday!

Posted on 12/13/2011 | Comments Off

Ben Marotte will perform at the Good Life Cafe this Thursday

Third Thursdays, also known as The Arts Downtown PR Series, continues from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 15 in downtown Park Rapids.

Two Girls and a Piano will be featured from 5 to 5:30 and 6 to 6:30 p.m. at Bella Caffè. TGP is a new musical venture featuring vocalists Gail Haller and Julie Kaiser, accompanied by pianist Cheryl Steinborn. Haller and Kaiser are both veteran stage performers and members of Northern Light Opera Company. Steinborn is currently an accompanist for the Park Rapids Classic Chorale.  Join TGP this holiday season for a program of Medieval hymns and rarely performed Christmas music (and maybe a sing-a-long, too!).

Jill and Deane Johnson will read a bit from their new book, Little Minnesota: 100 Towns Around 100, and discuss the journey to Minnesota’s tiniest towns from 5:30 to 6 and 6:30 to 7 p.m. at Beagle Books.

Fran Gack will entertain in her easy listening style from 5:30 to 6 and 6:30 to 7 p.m. at Blank Canvas Gallery & Education Center.

Ben Marotte will perform vocals and on 12-string guitar from 5:30 to 6 and 6:30 to 7 p.m. at The Good Life Cafe.

Third Thursday events are designed to bring audiences to see and hear visual artists, musicians, writers and other artists in businesses in downtown Park Rapids on the Third Thursday of the month. The public is invited to attend and encouraged to make a free will donation to the artists. Contact Lu Ann Hurd-Lof at 652-4081 or luann47@gmail.com for more information.

This activity is funded in whole or in part by a Region 2 Arts Council Grant through an appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund passed by Minnesota voters on Nov. 4, 2008.

cutline:

Ben Marotte will perform at The Good Life Cafe as part of the next Arts Downtown PR (3rd Thursday) events Dec. 15.

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Posted in Announcements, Arts and Cultural Heritage Grants, Hubbard County

R2AC Awards Individual Artist Grants

Posted on 12/05/2011 | Comments Off

Region 2 Arts Council (R2AC) recently awarded $8,534 through the Individual Artist Grant Program to individual artists in Beltrami, Clearwater, Hubbard, Mahnomen, and Lake of the Woods Counties.  The purpose of this grant is to stimulate new artistic endeavors in the region by providing project assistance to regional artists who are seriously committed to their work and to the advancement of their artistic careers. The Individual Artist Grant Program is supported by a grant from the McKnight Foundation.

Tandy Bowman of Bemidji was awarded $944 to attend the HealthRhythms Adolescent Protocol Training in Valencia California to expand her knowledge as a trained group drumming facilitator.

Jonathan Billing of Bemidji was awarded $1,000 to purchase tools and equipment for creation of art for a solo show at the MacRostie Art Center in April 2012.

Gayle Highberg of Bagley was awarded $1,000 to complete 12-weeks of instruction in acrylics and mixed media with local painter Terry Honstead.

Marion Caroline Reil of Bemidji was awarded $590 to purchase a mat cutter and display system for 2012 classes and art shows.

Susan Carol Hauser of Puposky was awarded $1,000 to travel to Chicago to attend the Associated Writing Programs Annual Conference and to meet with publishers.

Jacque Tinsley of Bemidji was awarded $1,000 to purchase a new harp that is lighter to transport for upcoming gigs with her ensemble “Timeless Traditions.”

Joseph Stephen Holt and Roy L. Hershberger of Bemidji were each awarded $1,000 to record and produce a 12 song CD of their band “Acoustic Smoke.”

Margaret Burger of Bemidji was awarded $1000 to mentor in puppetry with Sandra Spieler, artistic director of In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theater, culminating in a community performance.

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Posted in Announcements, Artist and Operational Grants

Grant Writing Workshop Tuesday, Dec. 6 in Baudette

Posted on 12/02/2011 | Comments Off

Individual Artists, Non-Profit Organizations, and Schools:
Do you have an arts-related project in mind that needs funding?

Come to the Baudette Depot on Tuesday December 6, 2011 for a Region 2 Arts Council drop-in session and grant-writing workshop!

Drop-In:  5:30 and 6:00 p.m. Pick up application materials for any R2AC grants and discuss which grants best support your project ideas. 

Grant-writing workshop: 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.  Discuss grant writing strategies and take a closer look at grant-specific requirements.

The following grants will be highlighted in this workshop:

Arts and Cultural Heritage Grants
Deadline: January 17, 2012
Providing opportunities for arts, arts access, arts education, and cultural heritage activities. Individual artists can apply for grants up to $3,000 and organizations can apply for grants up to $6,000.

Individual Artist Grant
Deadline: February 7, 2012
Supporting individual artists in creating and promoting their art.  Individual artists can apply for grants up to $1,000.

Community Arts Support Grants
Deadline: February 15, 2012
Fostering the development and sustainability of new and existing arts organizations. Based on their annual expenses, organizations can qualify to receive between $4,000 – $12,000 to be paid over two years.

Please RSVP for the grant writing workshop by calling or emailing Region 2 Arts Council, 218-751-5447 / 1-800-275-5447 / staff@r2arts.org.

R2AC grant applications are available at the Region 2 Arts Council Office, 426 Bemidji Avenue, Bemidji, MN  56601 and for download. Contact our office at any time for assistance in the application process.

Projects funded through R2AC’s grants programs should have primary impact on and accessibility to residents of Beltrami, Clearwater, Hubbard, Lake of the Woods, and Mahnomen Counties.

These grants are funded in whole or in part by an appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature, and the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund passed by Minnesota Voters on November 7, 2008.

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Posted in Workshops, Artist and Operational Grants, Lake of the Woods, Grant Deadlines, Arts and Cultural Heritage Grants