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Calls for artists
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Calls for artists |
Bemidji Kiosk Art Project
Deadline: April 15th, 2026
Who?: Bemidji Downtown Alliance (BDA)
The Bemidji Downtown Alliance (BDA) received a grant from the Region 2 Arts Council for the Blue Kiosk Art Project. The project is designed to highlight the natural charm of Downtown Bemidji by highlighting original artwork on information kiosks located at key street corners. Each kiosk will display two unique art pieces, offering artists the chance to help shape the community’s visual landscape. The selected artworks will be professionally photographed, and these images will be reproduced on vinyl sheets for installation on the kiosks. (To view the first complete kiosk, visit the corner of 3rd Street and Beltrami Ave).
Please send any questions regarding this application to: kiosks@bemidjidowntown.org
Artist Submission Guidelines
Eligibility is limited to artists residing in R2Arts Council area: Beltrami, Clearwater, Hubbard, Lake of the Woods, or Mahnomen counties. The project welcomes applicants of all ages and is open to everyone, regardless of race, sex, religion, nationality, or disability.
Five artists will be selected for this project. Each artist will create two images per kiosk, with both designs reflecting their individual style and complementing each other. Artists will earn $350 for each image, amounting to $700 in total. After the project ends, a public artist reception will showcase completed artworks and allow artists to sell their designs.
Selected artists will get two pre-cut MDO sign boards (15″x34″) for their art, which will be enlarged to 30″x68″ vinyl images for kiosks. Artists must pick up boards in Bemidji and supply their own paint.
To Apply
Artists need to upload three work samples created in the past three years.
Artists may submit up to four sketches per proposal. Each sketch must be 7 1/2″x17″ to match final art specs.
The artwork should highlight the unique qualities, natural beauty, and cultural heritage of the Bemidji community. Only paintings made using traditional techniques are accepted; digital art is not permitted.
Designs must not contain offensive content or promote any business, product, or opinion. Political themes are not allowed in submissions.
Each image installed will list the name of the artist, the title of the work and grantor credits. Artists retain ownership of their artwork but grant BDA a license to use them on kiosks.
All submissions must follow the application guidelines and be received by April 17, 2026. Late or incomplete entries will not be accepted. Artists are responsible for ensuring their proposals are received.
Selection Process:
A committee from local arts organizations and community representatives including Bemidji Downtown Alliance, City of Bemidji’s Public Arts Commission, Bemidji Area Arts Endowment, Bemidji Sculpture Walk, Watermark Art Center will select artwork. Judges will assess entries on artistic quality, craftsmanship, originality, and their potential contribution to Bemidji’s culture and community.
Project Timeline:
Call for Art: February 16 – April 17, 2026, Deadline
Artist Notification by: May 15, 2026
Final Work Delivered by: August 7, 2026
Kiosk Installations: August 24, 2026
Artist Reception: Fall 2026 Date to be determined.
This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a Community Arts Support Grant from the Region 2 Arts Council, funded by an appropriation from the Minnesota State Legislature with money from the State’s general fund and from the Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.
Art of Healing 4
Deadline: April 15th, 2026
Who?: R2Arts and Sanford Health
Before We Were Happy
R2Arts has been collaborating with Sanford Medical of Bemidji to bring a rotating pop-up gallery called The Art of Healing to the community of Bemidji. This collaboration between Sanford and R2Arts offers a space to display art from around our region to be viewed in a public space and to also expose the works of art to interested buyers. The Art of Healing consists of revolving three month long shows, we are now opening submissions for the third round of exhibition.
Deadline for these submissions will be April 15th, 2026. The revolving exhibits are set to follow the seasons. This session is all about Spring! The new season rolling in, gentle breezes, pastel colors, what does spring mean to you? Show us in this round of the Art of Healing.
These shows serve not only as revolving galleries but also a space for art to be sold, each artist may choose whether to list their piece(s) for sale and will be contacted directly for the purchase of the work.
Eligibility
Open to all artists, regardless of medium, experience level, or background.
Works must be original and created by the submitting artist.
Collaborative pieces are welcome but must credit all contributing artists.
Works must be presentation ready.
Presentation Requirements
Two-dimensional works must be framed or mounted and ready for hanging.
Small Three-dimensional works can be submitted as is, to be displayed in a locked case.
Labels must be securely attached with the artist's name, title, medium, dimensions, preferred form of contact and price (if applicable.)
Submission Process:
Application Form: Complete the official submission form, providing your name, contact information, and a brief artist statement.
Artwork Details: Include the title, medium, dimensions, price and preferred form of contact (if for sale), and a high-resolution image of each piece. The work must meet presentation requirements including framing or mounting for 2D works, as well as secure labeling.
Sales & Financial Terms: The artist retains full ownership of their work. All sales transactions will be conducted directly between the artist and the buyer. The Organizer will not facilitate payments or collect submission.
Delivery and Pickup: The artist is responsible for delivering and retrieving their artwork at agreed-upon dates. Failure to retrieve artwork upon completion of the exhibition may result in disposal at the discretion of the Organizer.
Promotion and Rights: The artist grants the Organizer permission to use images of their submitted works for promotional purposes. The Organizer will promote the exhibit through social media and press channels.
Submission Deadline: All entries must be submitted by April 15th, 2026.
Limit: Each artist may submit up to 3 works for consideration.
More Information
If you have any questions or would like additional information, please email ogimaa@r2arts.org.
Deadline: April 15th, 2026
Please send all submissions to ogimaa@r2arts.org
The Artist acknowledges that the organizer is not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged artwork. The Artist participates at their own risk and understands that no insurance coverage is provided. By submitting their work, the Artist agrees to abide by all terms outlined in the Artist Agreement Gallery Application.
More information email: ogimaa@r2arts.org
Deadline: May 30th, 2026
Who?: New York Mills Regional Cultural Center
The New York Mills Regional Cultural Center is pleased to announce its 2026 Annual Adult Regional Show Theme: “Before We Were Happy.”
As has become tradition in recent years, the Annual Regional Adult Show’s theme is inspired by the corresponding year’s Great American Think-Off question, encouraging artists to explore big ideas through creative expression. A special reception honoring both participating regional artists and the Think-Off finalists will be held on Friday, June 12, from 6:00–8:00 p.m. This free community event is open to all and offers an opportunity to celebrate art, ideas, and conversation in a welcoming setting.
Call for Artists!
All regional artists aged 18 and up are invited to submit up to two pieces of art. All mediums 2D and 3D will be accepted.
Exhibit Dates: May 26 – July 4, 2026
Reception: Friday, June 12, 2026, from 6-8 PM
Keep reading below for relevant dates, fees, and details.
Exhibition Theme
Before We Were Happy explores a persistent American idea: that happiness once came more easily, before modern ambition, speed, and pursuit culture. This exhibition interrogates nostalgia as both comfort and myth, asking whether the past truly held greater happiness—or whether that belief obscures exclusion, inequality, and selective memory.
This exhibition is a visual response to the 2026 Great American Think-Off question:Has the pursuit of happiness made Americans unhappy?
Artists are invited to respond to the tension between nostalgia and myth, examining how ideas of happiness are constructed, remembered, inherited, or resisted.
Conceptual Framework: This exhibition seeks work engaging with one or more of the following perspectives:
Affirmative Approaches (Questioning the Past):
Sepia-toned irony and aestheticized memory
Idealized histories revealed as incomplete, exclusionary, or false
Happiness portrayed as a privilege granted to some and denied to others
Domestic, cultural, or national myths unraveled
Counterpoint Approaches (Challenging Nostalgia):
Exposing nostalgia as emotional refuge or denial
Progress shown as expanding access to happiness and self-determination
Joy emerging through struggle, resistance, or social change
Reimagining happiness as dynamic rather than lost
Key Question for Artists: Was happiness something we lost—or something we were never all allowed to have?
All visual art forms are encouraged, including painting, drawing, photography, fiber art, sculpture, and mixed media.
Dates & Details
Exhibit Dates: May 26 – July 4, 2026
Location: New York Mills Regional Cultural Center, 24 N Main Ave, New York Mills, MN 56567
Opening Reception: Friday, June 12 | 6–8 p.m.
Celebrate with us! Enjoy refreshments, a cash bar, and a gathering of Think-Off finalists and participating regional artists.Gallery Hours:
Tue: 10 AM – 5 PM
Wed & Thurs: 10 AM – 7 PM
Fri: 10 AM – 5 PM
Sat: 10 AM – 3 PM
Or by appointment: contact megan@kulcher.org
Artist Submission Info
Who Can Submit: Open to all regional artists age 18+, all mediums
Submission Limit: Up to two pieces per artist
Eligibility: Work must be completed between 2016-2026
Entry Fees:
Members: $15 per entry
Non-members: $20 per entry
Sales: Artwork preferred to be for sale (30% commission to Cultural Center)
Delivery:
Drop-Off Dates: May 19–22 during regular open hours
Requirements:
Must be gallery-ready: framed, with hooks and wire (no sawtooth hangers)
Must label works on the back with name, title, and retail price
Optional but not required
Artist statement, up to 250 words
Artist bio, up to 100 words
Pick-Up: After July 4, 2026, during open hours or arrange with staff
Selection Criteria:
Conceptual engagement with the theme
Originality and clarity of vision
Emotional, historical, or critical depth
Craft and execution
This activity is made possible in part by the voters of Minnesota through a Minnesota State Arts Board Operating Support grant, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.
Are you seeking artists? Would you like a call for artists put out for your event?
Tell us about it! If you are seeking to find artists in our area, please let us know by filling out the form to the right. Please include any information about your call, when is the deadline, what is the call for, who specifically are you seeking, or any additional information you would like staff to know. Please include a link to your website or wherever you would like the submissions to go, thank you!
2nd Street Stage: Mae Simpsons Music
2nd Street Stage will celebrate summer with free concerts in Downtown Park Rapid from June 13th to August 15th. “People tell us they look forward all year long to these special nights that celebrate summer, time to reconnect with friends, and enjoy some great music. Just remember to bring a chair!” The beer garden opens at 5pm for a social hour, time to meet social hour sponsors and buy this year’s collectible button for $2 off of beverages at the beer garden. Social hour and band sponsors offer a variety of activities and give aways as well as a prize at the end of the evening to someone with a lucky ticket. Bands are chosen for their musicianship and stage presence, and to represent various musical genres including modern bluegrass, rock ‘n roll, soul, blues, Cajun, pop, and even classic country. Many of the bands have played at First Avenue and other venues in the Twin Cities and/or a part of the Duluth music scene. For more information about all of the bands, please visit www.parkrapidsdowntown.com/events