$20,665 Awarded for Arts Projects through Region 2 Arts Council!

Region 2 Arts Council (R2AC) recently awarded $20,665 through the Arts Project Grants Program, designed for organizations and schools to create or produce an arts project or event. The grant recipients included:

Jackpine Writers’ Bloc, Park Rapids, received $1,415 to publish its 21st volume of “The Talking Stick,” a literary journal featuring the poetry and prose of Minnesota writers, and fund a workshop and book release party.

Depot Preservation Alliance, Baudette, was awarded $1,500 to purchase displays for art exhibitions.

The Bemidji Community Arts Council, Bemidji, received $800 to present, with curator Jason Clark, an exhibit of wood cut prints by artist Eugene Dalzotto featuring educational information on the process and materials used, work by Dalzotto that has never been shown publicly, and also work by Clark.

Bemidji – First City of Art Studio Cruise 2012, Bemidji, was awarded $1,500 to organize and promote an open studio event of participating artist studios in the Bemidji area that is free to the public.

District 309 Community Education, Park Rapids received $1,385 to offer a Kids’ Theater Camp which will engage students in writing, developing and producing an original play with music.

Kelliher Community Education (KISD 36), Kelliher, was awarded $410 to produce a summer theater day camp at the Old School Center in Kelliher, MN.

Pequana Playhouse, Baudette, was awarded $1,500 to contract with the Prairie Fire Theater to prepare and present a children’s theater production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”

Headwaters School of Music & the Arts, Bemidji, was awarded $1,479 to host a week-long drumset camp for area percussion students.

Depot Preservation Alliance, Baudette, was awarded $1,500 to present a series of ten arts activity days for kids during the summer of 2012 at the Baudette Depot.

Loon Opera Company, Bemidji, was awarded $1,500 to perform Puccini’s Madama Butterfly at the Bemidji High School Performing Arts Complex, Bemidji, MN.

The Bemidji Community Arts Council, Bemidji, received $1,500 to present and host the 10th Annual “It’s Only Clay” National Juried Ceramics Competition and Exhibition juried by ceramic artist Robert Briscoe and in conjunction with “Sharing the Fire Tour” at Bemidji State University.

Minnesota Folklore Theater, Park Rapids, received $1,500 to produce “Annie” in celebration of 100 years of the Nevis Schools as part of their second annual Youth Theater Camp.

Headwaters School of Music & the Arts, Bemidji, was awarded $1,500 to provide a concert series at the Lake Bemidji State Park amphitheater every weekend during the summer of 2012.

Lake of the Woods Art Guild, Baudette, was awarded $754 to host a still life oil painting workshop instructed by accomplished artist Ruth Ann Nordlund.

CSSI/Hope House, Bemidji, was awarded $1,500 to contract with artists-in-residence Cindy Ekren and Judith Selby to create a second book featuring client writing and artwork.

Nemeth Art Center, Park Rapids, was awarded $922 to host a grand opening exhibit of the permanent collection of Old Masters, including a narrated slideshow of the full collection and a separate slideshow on the establishment of the art center and the history of its permanent collection.

The next deadline for the Arts Project Grant is September 12, 2012. Call the Region 2 Arts Council office at 751-5447 or 1-800-275-5447 for more information. Applications for these grants will be available this summer in the Region 2 Arts Council Office at 426 Bemidji Avenue, Bemidji, MN  56601, or for download from our website.

Read Northern Arts News Today!

Before heading out for the weekend or planning this month’s outings, we suggest you take a moment to read the May 2012 Edition of Northern Arts News! Highlights include:

*News from Region 2 Arts Council
*Recently awarded R2AC grants
*Beadwork and sewing detail from two Mahnomen artists
*Legacy funded events in Gonvick, Park Rapids, and Bemidji

*Lake of the Woods Art Guild sponsored Oil Painting Workshop
*Marketing Workshop for Artists in Park Rapids
*And more!

To ensure you get Northern Arts News delivered at the beginning of each month to your email inbox, contact us at staff@r2arts.org.

Meet the Artists! Friday May 4th at the Blank Canvas Gallery

MEET THE ARTISTS   -   OPEN HOUSE
The Blank Canvas Gallery and Education Center in Park Rapids is continuing their Featured Artist and Guest Artist programs for their 2012 season. They are hosting an open house reception for well known area resident and May Featured Artist June House,  and guest artists Dawn Rossbach and Tiffany Besonen, on Friday, May 4th 2012 from 5 to 7 PM.

Each artist has their own style, subject, and medium preferences. BCG tries to show a wide variety of artwork so the viewing public may have the pleasure of seeing different artists’ work that they may otherwise not have the opportunity to appreciate.

At the Open House Reception, plan to enjoy refreshments and mingle with June, other BCG artist members and guest artists at the gallery.  This is a wonderful opportunity for the public to see unique and beautiful art, ask questions of the artists, and learn more about the artwork that is created by the many talented artists in the region. Visitors may even be inspired to dig out their old, forgotten art materials and start creating again themselves.

It’s always free, fun and inspiring to visit:
Blank Canvas Gallery and Education Center
311 Main Ave. S.
Park Rapids, MN 56470    218-237-5112      www.blankcanvasgallery.org

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 the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund passed by Minnesota voters on November 4, 2008.

Puppetry 101 Workshop: Registration Deadline May 9th!

Join puppeteer Margaret Burger of Fortuna Puppet Theatre to learn the ground rules for basic rod puppet manipulation through direct practice and feedback. An amazing amount of expression can be achieved from this simple puppet that is manipulated with a rod on the head and on one arm. Watch your skills with your puppet develop through improvisation and simple storylines.

The workshop will be held in Freaxis Studios, lower level BCAC, 426 Bemidji Ave. on Wednesdays, May 16, 23, 30, & June 6 from 6-8 p.m. If you missed Margaret’s earlier workshop, “Build a Bunraku-inspired Rod Puppet,” and do not have a rod puppet to use, don’t worry. For an extra $5 Margaret will provide with a generic rod puppet for you to practice with.

The registration deadline is May 9, 2012. To register, send a check in the amount of $25.00 made payable to the Region 2 Arts Council, at 426 Bemidji Avenue, Bemidji, MN 56601. Please note that there will be no refunds unless the workshops are cancelled. For more information call Region 2 Arts Council at 218-751-5447 or 800-275-5447.

Region 2 Arts Council Awards Community Arts Support Grants

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.

Schoolcraft Spring Concert at Bemidji High School

Please come and celebrate with us!  Schoolcraft Learning Community will present its 12th Annual Spring Concert, showcasing the choirs, orchestras, and French program.

The event will start at 6:30 PM on Thursday, May 3, 2012, at the Bemidji High School Performance Arts Center.  

This event is free of charge, and supported in part by a grant from the Region 2 Arts Council through funding from the Minnesota State Legislature.

Anishinaabe Arts Initiative Grant Recipients Announced

Dennis Williams and Dana Goodwin, beaded moccasins.

The Region 2 Arts Council (R2AC) awarded $3,900 through the Anishinaabe Arts Initiative (AAI) Program. Monies awarded are for arts activities related to its mission of supporting, maintaining, and promoting traditional and contemporary Native American arts in North Central Minnesota.

The Anishinaabe Arts Initiative grants program is supported by a grant from the McKnight Foundation.  The grant recipients and information about their projects are listed below.

Dana Goodwin, of Mahnomen, received $1,000 to create, in collaboration with Dennis Williams, a beaded, quilted, and brain-tanned buckskin skirt to accompany a fully beaded northern traditional top.

Dennis Williams, of Mahnomen, was awarded $989 to create, in collaboration with Dana Goodwin, a beaded, quilted, and brain-tanned buckskin skirt to accompany a fully beaded northern traditional top.

David Clark, of Bemidji, received $1,000 to purchase Protools software and Grace Design M101 microphone pre-amp to help in recording his next album with his band N8ive Bro.

Mika Marqui Pacheco-Northbird, of Cass Lake, was awarded $911 to create fully beaded dance regalia to be used as first prize in a local Iron Man Contest.

Current AAI Council members are Tom Buckanaga, Mary Guardipee, Douglas Lee, Genny Lowry, Bernice Mitchell, Delana Smith, Debra Warren, Delina White, and Harold “Dunesy” White, Jr.

The next deadline for the Anishinaabe Arts Initiative (AAI) Grant for Native American Artists is October 3, 2012. Call the Region 2 Arts Council office at 751-5447 or 1-800-275-5447 for more information. Applications for these grants will be available in the Region 2 Arts Council Office at 426 Bemidji Avenue, Bemidji, MN  56601.