Region 2 Arts Council (R2AC) recently awarded $7,700 through the Individual Artist Grants Program, designed for artists at various stages in their careers. Grants of up to $1,000 are awarded for expenses associated with projects or opportunities that contribute significantly to an artist’s creative growth or career advancements. R2AC Individual Artist Grants are funded through an appropriation from the McKnight Foundation. The grant recipients included:
Cody Bartz, Bemidji, received $695 to create a set of prints to exhibit at the Wild Hare Bistro in Bemidji, MN.
Randy Bauer, Blackduck, received $535 to record a 10-song CD he can sell and use for self-promotion.
Candice Billups, Bemidji, was awarded $975 to assist her in creating an online portfolio website for sales and promotion.
Terry Honstead, Bemidji, received $1,000 to purchase custom printed cards with envelopes and clear plastic sleeves featuring prints of her paintings for self-promotion.
Karissa Korbel, Bemidji, was awarded $1,000 to gather a band of local musicians to produce a jazz CD.
Kevin McColley, Pinewood, received $895 to develop mail and internet promotions for his novel, “The Moon Song”, recently sold to Unbridled Books for publication.
James Miller, Bemidji, was awarded $1,000 to assist in defraying the costs of a custom made gourd banjo, supplies, recording costs, and classes with a professional mentor for the purpose of composing historical ballads and instrumental pieces to be used in the soundtrack of a local documentary that celebrates the exploration and preservation of the Mississippi river headwaters.
Nora Peterson, Bemidji, was awarded $1,000 to professionally frame and mat ten watercolor and ink paintings and create five giclee prints of each piece of artwork to exhibit and market at Dunn Brothers Coffee in Bemidji in December 2010.
Eve Sumsky, Tenstrike, was awarded $600 to have 15 oak shelves made to display her basketry at shows and exhibitions.
Next deadlines for other grants available: R2AC/Mcknight Career Development Fellowships deadline January 19, 2011; Arts and Cultural Heritage Grants, deadline January 19, 2011; Individual Artist Grants, deadline February 10, 2011; Anishinaabe Arts Initiative Grants, deadline March 2, 2011; Arts Project Grants, deadline March 10, 2011; Arts Legacy Designation Grants, deadline March 10, 2011; and Artist Mentor Grants, deadline April 15, 2011.
r2arts.org 