If you attended Region 2 Arts Council’s first ever Arts Expo in April, please take a moment to fill out our survey. We plan on repeating the Expo every two years, so your input will assist us in making it the premiere resource event for our region. Thanks!
Author: Region 2 Arts Council
New Grant Program Info Sessions
New Grant Program Info Sessions
Come learn about the changes to our grants and grant cycle, which begins in August. Our grants offer funding for a variety of art projects and programs for individuals and organizations. We will be discussing our updated organizational grants for nonprofits, schools, government or tribal offices, and community education programs as well as our individual artist grant programs. The majority of Region 2 Arts Council grants serve individuals who reside in, and organizations located in Beltrami, Hubbard, Clearwater, Lake of the Woods, or Mahnomen Counties. Our grants for Native American artists serve those residing in surrounding counties as well.
Park Rapids Public Library July 20, 1 – 3 pm*
Bemidji Public Library July 25, 1 – 3 pm*
Clearwaters Life Center in Gonvick August 1, 3:30 – 5:30 pm*
Red Lake Tribal Council Chambers August 2, 10 am – 12 pm (15484 Migizii Drive
Red Lake MN, 56671)
Mahnomen County Historical Museum in Mahnomen Aug 3, 1:00 – 3:00 pm*
Gizhiigin Arts Center in Mahnomen Aug 3, 4:30 – 6:30 pm*
*For each session, the first hour will be dedicated to grants for nonprofit organizations, schools, local and tribal government offices, etc. The second hour is for grants for individual artists.
Applications are available online at r2arts.org For more information, or with questions, call Region 2 Arts Council at 218-751-5447 or toll-free at 800-275-5447. You can also email us at staff@r2arts.org. These grants are made possible by the voters of MN, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund, and from the Minnesota State Legislature with money from the State’s general fund. Thanks, as well, to the McKnight Foundation.
Region 2 Arts Council Awards $241,000 in Fiscal Year 2017!
We are gearing up for a new fiscal year at Region 2 Arts Council. FY18 will begin on July 1, 2017. It will bring a new set of goals, a new year of grant deadlines, a new year of supporting arts projects and programming, a new office space (in October), and many new opportunities to support artistic expression in our five county region.
Before we launch into the new, we want to take a moment to look at the now. Congratulations to all of our grant recipients, all of our grant applicants, and all who have planted a seed of creativity that has taken root and begun to grow.
Go to Awarded Grants for a list of FY17 grant recipients from our five-county region. Take a look below for the total amount awarded this fiscal year within each of our five counties:
- Beltrami County: $132,454.00
- Hubbard County: $51,053.00
- Clearwater County: $29,747.00
- Lake of the Woods County: $19,999.00
- Mahnomen County: $7,000.00
Our grants, services, showcasing opportunities and operations are made possible by the voters of Minnesota, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund, with money from the State’s general fund, and with funding from the McKnight Foundation. Thank you as well to our fiscal agent, the Minnesota State Arts Board, and the entire Regional Arts Council system in the state of Minnesota.
Upcoming Events!
Sod House Productions Presents Workshops in Bemidji
June 16
6:30 – 8:00 pm
The Power of Your Voice: Developing Your Voice for the Stage
This workshop will introduce and encourage performers to develop the components of vocal production such as projection, dynamics, pitch, rate, resonance, variety, articulation as well as relaxation and breathing. This workshop will help the performer increase vocal energy, strength, range, flexibility, and clarity and apply it directly into their performance. No preparation is necessary. Dress to move comfortably. Best for participants 15 years and older.
June 17
10:00 – 11:30 am
Kick in the Pants: Physical Comedy Routines
This workshop will introduce stage techniques of physical comedy; slaps, kicks, trips, falls, fixed points and awkward timing decisions. Participants will develop and perform a 1-2 minute comedy routine. No preparation necessary. Dress to move comfortably. Any age welcome.
6:30 – 8:00 pm
Hometown Ballad Songwriting Workshop
In this workshop, you will share stories about your community, discuss the craft of songwriting, and start to turn stories shared into original songs. Open to all ages and levels of experience; singers, musicians, and writers encouraged to attend; instruments are invited, but not required.
June 19
5:00 – 6:00 pm
Happy Hour Information Session / Call for Performers & Volunteers
Join the directors of Sod House Theater and Region 2 Arts Council to learn more about the opportunity to be involved in a professional site-specific, musical theater adaptation of Ibsen’s Enemy of the People that will be performed in Bemidji this August. Open to all ages, abilities, and levels of experience.
6:15 – 7:15 pm
Music, Movement, and Muse
This playful workshop will incorporate elements of movement and improvisation mixed with live and pre-recorded music. Using physical theater and creative movement, participants will improvise scenarios based on the tempo, rhythm, and feel of the music. No preparation necessary. Dress to move comfortably.
All workshops are at
Rail River Folk School
303 Railroad Street SW, Bemidji
Region 2 Arts Council Presents Workshops:
June 20
11:00 am – 3:00 pm
“From Swamp to Showcase; Black Ash Basketry” Doreen Wells will teach participants how to create baskets using Black Ash trees. All materials provided. At Red Lake Nation Tribal Council, 15484 Migizi Drive Red Lake, MN 56671
Free! Must Register: 751-5447 alice@r2arts.org
June 23
12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
“Intermediate Watercolor with Jane Freeman” Renowned watercolor painter, Jane Freeman, will teach this intermediate workshop. Please bring your own watercolors and brushes.
****UNFORTUNATELY THIS CLASS IS FULL. WE MAY OFFER ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY IN THE FALL; STAY POSTED.*****
June 26
9:00 am – 12:30 pm
“Board Boot Camp” Join us for this brief but valuable workshop to learn ways to thrive as a board member. At the Northwest Minnesota Foundation, 201 3rd St NW, Bemidji MN. Free! Must Register: 751-5447 alice@r2arts.org
Office Closed: Noon on Tuesday through Thursday
Region 2 Arts Council staff will be attending the Rural Arts and Culture Summit at the University of Minnesota Morris, from June 6-8. The Rural Arts and Culture Summit provides us with the opportunity to network with and learn from other rural artists and arts leaders from around the country. Attendance at the RAC Summit gives us new insight into the unique challenges and opportunities facing the artists and organizations we support through our work at Region 2 Arts Council.
Nine artists and arts innovators from our Region 2 Arts Council communities have received full scholarships from the Forum of Regional Arts Councils of Minnesota to attend the Rural Arts and Culture Summit.
For more information on the Summit, go to http://www.ruralartsandculturesummit.com/. Of course, we’ll also be happy to tell you all about it when we return! Our normal office hours will resume on Friday, June 9.
Board Boot Camp!
Region 2 Arts Council is hosting a “Board Boot Camp,” presented by MAP for Nonprofits, on Monday, June 26 from 9 am – 12 pm at the Northwest Minnesota Foundation in Bemidji. This is a program that we have heard requested frequently, and will be very beneficial to the Board members from your arts organization. Jennifer Kramm from MAP for Nonprofits will be the presenter.
Region 2 Arts Council is offering this workshop to you and local arts organizations’ Boards of Directors at no cost. Board Boot Camp includes these outcomes: Discuss board member motivations for board service, Explore nonprofit life stages, Understand the roles and responsibilities of board members, and Emerge with confidence and enthusiasm about board governance roles. This will be a great way to infuse some excitement into your Board’s hard work, all while capacity building.
We will be serving coffee and continental breakfast. See you then!
This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts & Cultural Fund.
Please RSVP by email, phone, or carrier pigeon. alice@r2arts.org (218) 751-5447
Region 2 Arts Council Invites Public Feedback
Join Executive Director Laura Seter on May 11, 2017 from 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. for a presentation of Region 2 Arts Council’s Biennial Plan for fiscal years 18 -19. We will be meeting in the Corner Studio at Rail River Folk School, 303 Railroad Street SW, Bemidji.
Attendees will see the ways in which the needs assessment results compiled from the past two years have been embedded in a new set of goals, strategies, and outcomes for the coming two years. Revised grants and grant deadlines will also be shared during this meeting. The public is invited and encouraged to attend. Feedback on the Biennial Plan is welcome.
Contact Region 2 Arts Council via email at laura@r2arts.org or call (218) 751-5447 for more information.
