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Northern Arts News

R2AC Grant Deadlines

Arts and Cultural Heritage Grants 

This program supports proposals in the three Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund categories: Arts and Arts Access, Arts Education grants and Arts and Cultural Heritage. Artists, arts organizations, nonprofit organizations (schools, youth groups, etc.), cultural heritage groups and local governments may apply. Deadline: Jan. 17, 2012. 

Individual Artist Grants

The Individual Artist Grants Program, funded through the McKnight Foundation, provides financial assistance to artists who show serious commitment to creative growth and career advancement. This program is designed for artists at various stages in their arts career. Deadline: Feb. 7, 2012. 

Community Arts Support Grant

The Community Arts Support Grants program funds the development and sustainability of new and existing arts organizations. Proposals may include capacity building, small capital equipment, arts programming, publicity plans, operating expenses, arts organizations obtaining a 501(3) IRS designation and development of community arts centers. Deadline: Feb. 15, 2012. 

R2AC Awards Arts and Cultural Heritage Grants

Region 2 Arts Council (R2AC) recently awarded $52,411 through the Arts and Cultural Heritage Grants Program to arts organizations and non-profits in Beltrami, Hubbard and Lake of the Woods counties. The funds will be used to create opportunities for arts access, arts education and building bridges between Minnesotans. The funds were made available through an appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund passed by Minnesota voters on November 4, 2008. View the list of grant recipients.

R2AC Awards Arts Project Grants

Region 2 Arts Council (R2AC) recently awarded $11,360 through the Arts Project Grants Program, designed for organizations and schools to create or produce an arts project or event. View the list of grant recipients.

R2AC Awards R2AC/McKnight Career Development Fellowships

Region 2 Arts Council (R2AC) recently awarded $12,000 through the R2AC/McKnight Career Development Fellowship Program. This 18-month fellowship provides two established artists the opportunity for career development experiences that will add depth and advancement to their artistic careers. R2AC/McKnight Career Development Fellowships are funded by the McKnight Foundation.

This year's recipients and information about their fellowship activities are listed below:

Al Belleveau, a local sculptor and founding member of the Bemidji Sculpture Walk, was awarded $6,000 to research cave paintings and other ancient representations of the human figure, study stone carving with sculptor Zoran Mosjilov, and gather stones in Canada to create 4 -5 large human forms from stones wrapped in steel.

Del Lyren, Department Chair and Professor of Instrumental Music at Bemidji State University, was awarded $6,000 to study jazz improvisation including lessons on an Electronic Wind Instrument with professional saxophonist Jeff Coffin.

Region 2 Arts Council would like to extend sincere congratulations to both Del and Al. In addition, we'd like to acknowledge the artistic vision and dedication of each of the Fellowship applicants. Thanks to all who applied!

2011 McKnight Career Grant Recipients Del Lyren and Al Belleaveau with R2AC Executive Director Terri Widman.

No-Risk Workshop Funding Available

Are you an artist living in the five counties of Region 2 with a talent to share? Are you an arts enthusiast wanting to bring some new talent to our region in the form of a workshop? Maybe it's time to consider applying for "No-Risk" Workshop funding from Region 2 Arts Council.

No-Risk Workshop funding makes high quality arts workshops affordable for participants and a worthwhile undertaking for artist presenters. There is no financial risk involved if the workshop needs to be cancelled. It's a win-win all the way around!

R2AC invites individuals and organizations from our five county area (Beltrami, Clearwater, Hubbard, Lake of the Woods and Mahnomen Counties) to propose workshop ideas to R2AC for direct funding. Please  download an application from our website.

The workshop must focus on learning experiences for adult artists and be open to the public. Any group that wants to bring in an artist to do a workshop is eligible, as are regional artists who wish to present a workshop themselves. Proposals are considered on an ongoing basis, but funds are limited. The sooner you contact us, the better.

Please contact R2AC at 218-751-5447 or 1-800-275-5447 or email staff@r2arts.org if you have questions or wish to request a workshop application sent in the mail.

Workshops

 Nov. 2   R2AC Presents "Collaborating within Arts Disciplines." R2AC invites all regional artists and arts organizations to a free professional development workshop with Mark Turner, the executive Director of Five Wings Arts Council. This promises to be an evening of networking, goal setting and planning for creative and effective collaboration within arts disciplines.

The presenter will discuss cross-promoting events hosted by different organizations and explore the value of coordinating arts events and activities with other regional partners. Participants will learn the benefits of resource optimization and uncover the range of proven marketing and collaborative partnerships in small to mid-sized towns and cities.

The workshop will take place on November 2 from 5:30-7:00 p.m. at the Headwaters School of Music and the Arts, 519 Minnesota Avenue, Bemidji, MN. Light refreshments will be served. All participants must reserve a space. Call 218-751-5447/800-751-5447 or email staff@r2arts.org

Nov. 3-4      Bemidji Community Art Center presents the "Techniques for Wheel Thrown Utilitarian Pots" facilitatedby Guillermo Cuellar on the Bemidji State University campus. Cuellar will explore a variety of wheel thrown utilitarian forms, demonstrate construction/trimming techniques and his use of tools and discuss the importance of shapes as a whole. There is a fee for the workshop. For more information, contact Jennifer Bamberger, BSU Ceramic Club President at 218-755-3760. This event is part of Its Only Clay 2011 and is co-sponsored by the BCAC and BSU Visual Arts Department. Support is provided by the Holiday Inn Express - Bemidji and the BSU Ceramics Club. This activity is made possible, in part, by a grant provided by the Region 2 Arts Council through funding from the Minnesota State Legislature.

Nov. 4, 11, 18     Headwaters School of Music and the Arts presents Beginner's Violin Group class. This is a new violin group class for students who have never played a string instrument but want to learn. It is for ages 6-9 and will meet Fridays from 4-5 p.m. Cost is $25 including instruction manual. Violins will be available on a rental basis. For more information, visit their website. 

Nov. 7, 14, 21, 28   Headwaters School of Music and the Arts presents pottery classes on Mondays in November. Classes for students ages 8-13 are from 4:15-5:30 p.m. Classes for students ages 14-adult are from 6:30-8 p.m. Cost is $55 per session. For more information, visit their website.

Nov. 7-28   Headwaters School of Music and the Arts presents a new group class, Brass Choir. This is for middle and high school age students and adults who play a brass instrument. The group will meet Mondays in November from 4:30-5:30 p.m. at HSMA. Cost is $25. For more information, visit their website. 

Nov. 8, 15, 22, 29   Headwaters School of Music and the Arts Youth Orchestra will resume practice on Tuesdays in November from 4-5 p.m. This orchestra is for students in grades 5 and up OR those who have been in private instruction. Students must be able to play in 1st and 3rd position. Cost is $10/month. For more information, visit their website.

Nov. 16     Minnesota Potters present Sharing the Fire Ceramic workshops from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. at the Anoka-Ramsey Community College, 11200 Mississippi Blvd NW, Coon Rapids, MN. Presenters are Warren MacKenzie and Guillermo Cuellar. Join master potters to explore the tradition of ceramics and mentorship in Minnesota. For more information or to register, visit their website. 

Forecast Public Art Grants

November 15 is the deadline for the Forecast Public Art Grants in two funding categories for all Minnesota-based artists: Jerome Public Art Grants for Emerging Artists and McKnight Public Art Grants for Mid-Career Artists. For more information, click here. 

Public Art Toolkit

Do you have a public art project in mind, but you aren't sure how to get started? Check out the Public Art Toolkit for information and inspiration!

Kathy Gustafson: Artist Career Counselor through  

Springboard for the Arts
Kathy Gustafson has been trained by Springboard for the Arts as an Artist Career Counselor and has a wealth of personal experience and success as a professional artist. In an hour career consultation session, Kathy will help interested artists set career goals and offer tools and suggestions for meeting those goals.

If you are interested in a consultation with Kathy, contact Springboard for the Arts online or call 651-292-4381. Ask to speak with Andy Sturdevant. Consultations: $45 per hour session and a tax-deductible business expense.

Talking Stick Volume 21 call for submissions will be on their website in early December. Deadline is February 20, 2012, which is earlier than usual.