Loon Country Arts is offering a free mini watercolor class this Saturday, January 4th from 10-12. Paint a pretty snowflake with artist, Donna Anderson. No registration needed for this Creative Cafe.

On January 6th from 6-7pm Region 2 is holding another FREE online webinar! This month's session will be on Content Marketing! Join Outreach Coordinator, Ogimaa Chalmers on zoom as we discuss introduction to marketing, as well as forming a strategy for content marketing!

To register, please email Staff@r2arts.org! A zoom link will be sent out prior to the meeting. We look forward to seeing you there!

Start the new year off with these two free workshops to help you define and achieve your artistic goals!

Career Planning, Tuesday, January 7: https://springboardforthearts.org/.../work-of-art-career.../

Time Management, Tuesday, January 21: https://springboardforthearts.org/.../work-of-art-time.../

Both workshops are open to artists of all disciplines. Attend them both, or pick the one that best suits your needs!

AUDITIONS for Disney’s THE LITTLE MERMAID Jr. will be held WEDNESDAY, January 8th and THURSDAY, January 9th from 5:30 to 7:30 at Bemidji Community Theater.

This is a Starbridge Academy production so all actors must be between the ages of 8-18 at the time of auditions.

Must perform 18 measures of music acapella.

Perform a 1 minute monologue.

Answer impromptu questions and improvisational activities.

Rehearsals will begin January 14th with the show running April 4th-13th.

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to the appropriation from the Arts & Cultural heritage fund.

Disney’s The Little Mermaid JR is presented through special arrangement with Musical Theatre International (MTI) All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.MTIshows.com

Do you have opinions on how Region 2 could best support the arts in our region and our communities? We are looking to hear from you! Executive Director, Patrick Calder-Carriere is holding two online sessions in the month of January on the 8th as well as the 14th from 5:30pm-7pm.

In these free online sessions we are looking to hear from the community, individuals or organizations, on how we can best support the arts in our region. Don't hesitate to drop in even for five minutes to let us know your ideas!

You can help guide the future of R2. If the arts are important to you, please come participate!

To register please email: staff@r2arts.org

Art is HERstory: Sierra Erickson teaches Driftwood Suncatchers. This class is free, but registration is required and limited to 10 participants.

For more information or to register for events, visit our gift shop, call us at 214-444-3376 or visit our website: www.beltramihistory.org/calendar

Art is HERstory programs are made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Region 2 Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.

The perfect class for a winter afternoon! Landscape Perspective in Watercolor with watercolorist Darcy Brambrink, Saturday, January 11, 1-5pm.

Learn the art of landscape painting in watercolor while focusing on landscape techniques. This class is designed to help you develop skills in tone, shape, and perspective, with a particular emphasis on both background, trees and sky features.

Register at: https://watermarkartcenter.org/.../landscape.../

Bemidji, MN - Friday, January 17 from 5 to 7pm, Watermark Art Center will hold a reception for Mayaadaaboonojig exhibiting artists Zac Earley and Arden Ramay. Earley, an Ojibwe culture keeper, will speak about the exhibit and then he will follow with Ojibwe storytelling or Aadizookewin, the act of telling a sacred story.

Mayaadaaboonojig, meaning “The Ones Drifting Off on the Current”, is centered around a traditional build of a birchbark canoe (2024). Colorful floral paintings by Ardin Ramay plus mixed media birch etchings and Ojibwe story portraits by Earley are also on display making this a mix of traditional and contemporary Ojibwe-style work. The energy and heart given to the project resulted in an exceptionally beautiful canoe that honors the stories of the Ojibwe people.

Watermark partnered with Oshki Manidoo, a Bemidji-based White Earth operated recovery center, to move forward with exploring community wellness through arts. Oshki Manidoo provided space where youth and staff were able to watch and participate in various aspects of assembling the canoe.

The title of this exhibit perfectly encompasses the journey taken for this meaningful accomplishment. Watermark is truly grateful to the people at Oshki Manidoo that supported and contributed to the project.

This activity was made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund. In addition Watermark Art Center would like to thank Oshki Manidoo Center, White Earth Nation Behavioral Health and Language and Culture Program.

For more exhibit information, exhibit images and Ojibwe language pronunciation visit watermarkartcenter.org/drifting/. Watermark is accessible, free and open to the public from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. For more information regarding exhibits, classes, or events contact 218-444-7570 or visit watermarkartcenter.org.

Capturing Personal and Family History and Memories in Memoirs and Oral Histories with Sue Bruns at the Beltrami County History Center. FREE, no registration required.

For more information or to register for events, visit our gift shop, call us at 214-444-3376 or visit our website: www.beltramihistory.org/calendar

Art is HERstory programs are made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Region 2 Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.

🌟 The arts are a collaboration, and Region 2 Arts Council is in need of your help! 🌟

Meet with Executive Director, Patrick Calder-Carriere for a virtual discussion on YOUR opinions of how Region 2 can best support the arts in our region.

In these two, free online sessions we are looking to hear from the community- whether it is from individuals or from organizations. We want to know how to best support the arts, writing, music, theater, and more! But to do this, we rely on our community to guide us. What ideas do you have?

Please do not hesitate to share your voice, even if you join the discussion for five minutes! We want to hear from you!

Join us on January 8th and January 14th from 5:30pm-7pm.
To register please email: staff@r2arts.org

We look forward to seeing you there, and thank you for your help!

The R2AC Artist Support Grant Program, made available with funding from the McKnight Foundation, replaces our Individual Arts Grant program from prior years. This grant provides financial assistance to artists or culture bearers in any arts discipline or in any stage of their career as an artist. This grant offers funding  for costs associated with the exhibition, performance, or production of creative work, purchase of materials or equipment to create works of art, educational opportunities in the arts (excluding academic credit), and other opportunities to enhance your artistic development, such as working with a mentor artist, attending a national conference, taking part in an artist residency program, or marketing yourself or your work. Artists can apply for grants up to $2,000.

Watch a video about how to create an account on our grants portal
or jump right in and create an account and apply online

Helpful Videos
Artist Support Grant Overview (40 min)
Work Samples (15 min)
Artist Resume/Bio (10 min)

Eligibility
Eligible artists must be 18 years or older, in any stage of their artistic career, and reside in Beltrami, Hubbard, Lake of the Woods, Clearwater, or Mahnomen County. Check out the eligibility questions. If you can answer true to all these questions, then you should be eligible to apply. If you answer false to one of the questions, or have questions of your own, contact us to discuss eligibility.

The Grant Application
The online grant application will ask a series of questions – eligibility questions, questions about demographics which we use for reporting to the Minnesota State Arts Board and the McKnight Foundation, and questions based on our scoring criteria. This is a project-based grant and you will need to provide an estimated budget for your project. There are also pieces needed for the grant application which you should gather before you apply, such as work samples (Work Sample Submission Policy), an artist statement, and artist resumes.

Last Year’s Artist Support Grant Application (Sample only – cannot be submitted – only online submissions are accepted)

View pdf of sample answers from funded Individual Artist Grants

Join us for the next Open Mic Night at the Armory Arts & Events Center from 7-9pm on January 16th!

Call 2373722 to sign up to perform.

COMMUNITY ARTISTIC ADVENTURES” with Northern Artist Association at the historic Carnegie Library, 426 Bemidji Avenue N, Bemidji, MN! Register online at www.ci.bemidji.mn.us (Parks & Recreation will have a link to register for these classes)

FREE CLASSES, REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED - Class size is limited so sign up now! Classes are for age 18 and older.

January 18, 2025, 9:30-12:30 “Red Pines on a Rocky Shore” acrylic painting with Annette Meyer

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota, through an Artists Engage Community Grant from the Region 2 Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

This class is free of cost. Class size of 10 per session.

Option 1: 9:20 am- Noon

Option 2: 1:30pm-4pm

Goats Milk Lotion employs all the wonderful benefits of goat milk to soothe and moisturize your skin. Packed full of goat milk nutrients, only using all-natural ingredients, our Goat Milk Lotion gives your skin the nourishment it craves. This lotion is thick and creamy, yet never greasy, and leaves your skin silky smooth.

The instructor will provide the oils, goats milk and a container to take your lotion home with you. Also included will be a recipe so you can make your own product at home.

If you have a stick blender you should bring it with you; we will have some to use for those who may not have a stick blender.

To register for one of these classes, go to www.bagleyarts.org

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota, through a grant from the Region 2 Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.

COMMUNITY ARTISTIC ADVENTURES” with Northern Artist Association at the historic Carnegie Library, 426 Bemidji Avenue N, Bemidji, MN! Register online at www.ci.bemidji.mn.us (Parks & Recreation will have a link to register for these classes)

FREE CLASSES, REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED - Class size is limited so sign up now! Classes are for age 18 and older.

January 18, 2025, 1:30-4:30 “Nosy Gnome” needle felting with Lanee Paulson

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota, through an Artists Engage Community Grant from the Region 2 Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

You Are Invited | Everyone is welcome to celebrate and experience Warroad RiverPlace’s first-ever solo art exhibit, “Repurpose, Preserve, Rejuvenate,” at a gallery open house and artist reception for mosaic creator Sherri Kruger-Kukowski on Saturday, January 18, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

The public is invited to browse the artwork, meet the artist, and socialize over light hors d’oeuvres and refreshments at this free event.

For the past 30 years, Kruger-Kukowski, a retired Badger educator and founder of Winding River Mosaics, has refined the art of multimedia mosaics, creatively incorporating various elements from antlers to snowshoes to rocks, even giving new life to second-hand materials like tables and chairs. Her work and arts advocacy have earned her numerous awards, grants, and media features. (Full biography: warroadriverplace.org/events)

“Repurpose, Preserve, Rejuvenate” consists of a diverse array of the artist’s collection, featuring pieces that reflect the beauty of nature — like local flora and fauna — and others that express a sense of community and shared identity.

“I hope this exhibit, which blends the old world art of mosaic with my personal twist, will leave you inspired and rejuvenated,” said Kruger-Kukowski.

“Sherri is not only a talented artist, she is also a great ambassador for the arts in northern Minnesota — one who educates and enthusiastically invites all into a shared space for creation and ideation, cultivating creative expression for our local communities. We invite you to explore her exhibit and to take the opportunity to visit with her at this event,” said John Davis, executive director of Warroad RiverPlace.

Experience "Repurpose, Preserve, Rejuvenate" at the Warroad RiverPlace art gallery from January 10 to March 8, 2025. It is free to visit Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

MACALESTER COLLEGE AFRICAN MUSIC ENSEMBLE

The artist reception will be followed by a free concert at 7:00 p.m. with the Macalester College African Drum Ensemble, hosted by the Warroad Schools Elementary Music Department. Learn more on Warroad RiverPlace’s social media or warroadriverplace.org/events.

Start the new year off with these two free workshops to help you define and achieve your artistic goals!

Career Planning, Tuesday, January 7: https://springboardforthearts.org/.../work-of-art-career.../

Time Management, Tuesday, January 21: https://springboardforthearts.org/.../work-of-art-time.../

Both workshops are open to artists of all disciplines. Attend them both, or pick the one that best suits your needs!

Early Release Creative Fun Day | January 22, 2025

Looking for an engaging and fun way to spend early release days? Join us for an afternoon filled with creativity and connection!

Time: 1:30 PM – 5:00 PM (drop off as early as 1pm if needed. Please contact Angela Marie at angela.marie@headwatersmusicandarts.org if you would like to request early drop.)

Cost: $40 per child (Financial assistance available)

Kids in grades K-5 will enjoy:

Icebreaker Games: Make new friends and laugh together.

Board Games: Classic and exciting games for all skill levels.

Movie & Popcorn: Relax with a family-friendly film and tasty snacks.

Art Activities: Unleash creativity with hands-on projects.

Group Music: Sing, play, and explore the joy of making music together.

REGISTER TODAY! https://headwatersmusicandarts.org/.../early-release...

COMMUNITY ARTISTIC ADVENTURES” with Northern Artist Association at the historic Carnegie Library, 426 Bemidji Avenue N, Bemidji, MN! Register online at www.ci.bemidji.mn.us (Parks & Recreation will have a link to register for these classes)

FREE CLASSES, REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED - Class size is limited so sign up now! Classes are for age 18 and older.

“Copper Basics and Beyond” copper embossing with Diana Collison-Jones

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota, through an Artists Engage Community Grant from the Region 2 Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Start the new year with confidence! Join Rachel St. John, a Bemidji State University graduate and financial expert with Edward Jones, at the Beltrami County History Center for a free workshop to help women take charge of their financial well-being. Rachel brings years of experience in financial services and business management to her role, where she has helped clients create and achieve financial goals. From budgeting to investing, Rachel will provide practical tips and answer audience questions, equipping attendees with the tools to achieve financial independence.

For more information or to register for events, visit our gift shop, call us at 214-444-3376 or visit our website: www.beltramihistory.org/calendar

Art is HERstory programs are made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Region 2 Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.

COMMUNITY ARTISTIC ADVENTURES” with Northern Artist Association at the historic Carnegie Library, 426 Bemidji Avenue N, Bemidji, MN! Register online at www.ci.bemidji.mn.us (Parks & Recreation will have a link to register for these classes)

FREE CLASSES, REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED - Class size is limited so sign up now! Classes are for age 18 and older.

"Folded Card Making" making cards with Cindy Kingsbury and Joan Ranney

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota, through an Artists Engage Community Grant from the Region 2 Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Anishinaabe Arts Initiative Fellowship for artists who are enrolled tribal members and descendants residing in the following counties: Becker, Beltrami, Cass, Clearwater, Hubbard, Itasca, Lake of the Woods, Mahnomen, or Roseau (Award amount $5,000)

For more information on this specific award, please click here.

There is a class fee of $35. Class is limited to 14 participants. All materials are provided by the instructor. To register, please visit www.bagleyarts.org

Learn meditative rock painting! Everyone will paint a 4-inch mandala stone. Absolute no experience necessary. Kids 12+ are also encouraged to take this class. Carole will provide everything, just come and tap into your creativity!

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through grants from the Region 2 Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.

COMMUNITY ARTISTIC ADVENTURES” with Northern Artist Association at the historic Carnegie Library, 426 Bemidji Avenue N, Bemidji, MN! Register online at www.ci.bemidji.mn.us (Parks & Recreation will have a link to register for these classes)

FREE CLASSES, REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED - Class size is limited so sign up now! Classes are for age 18 and older.

“Jay in a Birch Tree” watercolors with John Winter

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota, through an Artists Engage Community Grant from the Region 2 Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

COMMUNITY ARTISTIC ADVENTURES” with Northern Artist Association at the historic Carnegie Library, 426 Bemidji Avenue N, Bemidji, MN! Register online at www.ci.bemidji.mn.us (Parks & Recreation will have a link to register for these classes)

FREE CLASSES, REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED - Class size is limited so sign up now! Classes are for age 18 and older.

“Macrame Basics” macrame with Shannon Reyes

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota, through an Artists Engage Community Grant from the Region 2 Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

There is a class fee of $35. Class is limited to 14 participants. All materials are provided by the instructor. To register, please visit www.bagleyarts.org

Learn meditative rock painting! Everyone will paint a 4-inch mandala stone. Absolute no experience necessary. Kids 12+ are also encouraged to take this class. Carole will provide everything, just come and tap into your creativity!

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through grants from the Region 2 Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.

COMMUNITY ARTISTIC ADVENTURES” with Northern Artist Association at the historic Carnegie Library, 426 Bemidji Avenue N, Bemidji, MN! Register online at www.ci.bemidji.mn.us (Parks & Recreation will have a link to register for these classes)

FREE CLASSES, REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED - Class size is limited so sign up now! Classes are for age 18 and older.

"Micromosaic Pendant” jewelry with Kathy Sanders

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota, through an Artists Engage Community Grant from the Region 2 Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

COMMUNITY ARTISTIC ADVENTURES” with Northern Artist Association at the historic Carnegie Library, 426 Bemidji Avenue N, Bemidji, MN! Register online at www.ci.bemidji.mn.us (Parks & Recreation will have a link to register for these classes)

FREE CLASSES, REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED - Class size is limited so sign up now! Classes are for age 18 and older.

“Stenciled Clipboard Sign” stenciling with Lily Hadrava

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota, through an Artists Engage Community Grant from the Region 2 Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Artists Engage Communities Grant (Max request $6,000)

Engage your community with arts performances, art workshops, participatory arts events or whatever great arts ideas you have to involve the public! Applicants must reside in Beltrami, Clearwater, Hubbard, Lake of the Woods, or Mahnomen counties and funded arts activities must occur within the state of Minnesota.

For more information on this specific grant, please click here.

The Bemidji Symphony Orchestra is a thriving community orchestra servicing the region of North Central Minnesota. We bring classical music to new audiences and provide performance experience for musicians. Disney favorites from movies such as Beauty and the beast, The Lion King, and The Jungle Book. Individual concert tickets can be purchased in advance at either Lueken's Village Foods locations and online at www.bemidjisymphony.org Tickets: Adults $27. Seniors (62+) $22. Students: k-12 Free. College: $10 with College ID.

There is a class fee of $50. Class size is limited to 10 participants. To register please visit www.bagleyarts.org

Join us in an Alcohol Inks class with local artist, Dave Christensen of Bagley, MN. Participants who come to this class will learn about alcohol inks and how they can be manipulated using air, straws, brushes, moving the paper in any direction, or by using old credit cards.

Dave will quickly put everyone at ease while allowing students to come up to get their supplies to create their masterpieces. The class will be focused on creating abstract paintings. Some items/techniques that are used in this art project are: a type of paper called Yupo, isopropyl alcohol, and a bleeding solution. This is challenging to most students until they stop trying to control what is happening. It is very much a “let go and see what happens” type of art experience. Some comments from previous participants who have taken a similar class range from “loved this class! wonderful, something everyone can enjoy” to “I have found my jam!!” The instructor will bring all tools and materials needed.

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through grants from the Region 2 Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation thanks to the Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.

Class cost is free. Size of 10 participants per session.

AM class: 9:30-Noon

PM Class: 1:30-4pm

The Goat Milk Lotion Bar is packed full of goat milk nutrients, using only all-natural ingredients. It will leave your skin silky smooth. The Lip Balm is made with fresh natural ingredients. Easy to apply and goes on smooth.

The instructor will provide the oils, goat milk and containers to take your product home with you. Also included will be a recipe so you can make your own at home. If you have a stick blender you should bring it with you; we will have some to use for those who may not have a stick blender.

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota, through a grant from the Region 2 Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.

COMMUNITY ARTISTIC ADVENTURES” with Northern Artist Association at the historic Carnegie Library, 426 Bemidji Avenue N, Bemidji, MN! Register online at www.ci.bemidji.mn.us (Parks & Recreation will have a link to register for these classes)

FREE CLASSES, REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED - Class size is limited so sign up now! Classes are for age 18 and older.

“Watercolor Pencils” watercolors with Les Sanders

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota, through an Artists Engage Community Grant from the Region 2 Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

COMMUNITY ARTISTIC ADVENTURES” with Northern Artist Association at the historic Carnegie Library, 426 Bemidji Avenue N, Bemidji, MN! Register online at www.ci.bemidji.mn.us (Parks & Recreation will have a link to register for these classes)

FREE CLASSES, REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED - Class size is limited so sign up now! Classes are for age 18 and older.

“Painting Landscapes with Complementary Colors” acrylics with Gillian Bedford    

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota, through an Artists Engage Community Grant from the Region 2 Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

SAVE THE DATE!

Headwaters Presents: Heart to Heart, An Annual Instructor Showcase

Saturday, February 22, 2025

Enjoy a little sparkle and sophistication as our talented music and art instructors take center stage! The evening will feature an incredible mix of rock, blues, jazz, and classic tunes, alongside stunning artwork from our teaching artists. Cocktail attire encouraged.

Doors open at 5 PM and the music kicks off at 6 PM · Saturday, February 22 · 4th Street Lodge (formerly the Elks Club) · 116 4th St. NW · Bemidji, MN 56601

5 pm Social hour, 6 pm Music Show

Cash bar, appetizers, live and silent auctions, artwork available for purchase

https://headwatersmusicandarts.org/.../headwaters...

There is a class fee of $50. Class size is limited to 10 participants. To register please visit www.bagleyarts.org

Join us in an Alcohol Inks class with local artist, Dave Christensen of Bagley, MN. Participants who come to this class will learn about alcohol inks and how they can be manipulated using air, straws, brushes, moving the paper in any direction, or by using old credit cards.

Dave will quickly put everyone at ease while allowing students to come up to get their supplies to create their masterpieces. The class will be focused on creating abstract paintings. Some items/techniques that are used in this art project are: a type of paper called Yupo, isopropyl alcohol, and a bleeding solution. This is challenging to most students until they stop trying to control what is happening. It is very much a “let go and see what happens” type of art experience. Some comments from previous participants who have taken a similar class range from “loved this class! wonderful, something everyone can enjoy” to “I have found my jam!!” The instructor will bring all tools and materials needed.

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through grants from the Region 2 Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation thanks to the Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.

The Anishinaabe Arts Initiative (AAI) Fellowship is made possible by the generous support of the McKnight Foundation to provide unfettered funding to one individual Indigenous artist or culture bearer to fuel his/her art in Beltrami, Clearwater, Hubbard, Mahnomen, Lake of the Woods, Becker, Roseau, Cass, and Itasca counties in Minnesota. Applications will be scored on the artistic quality of the work, the artistic merit of the artist, and on the proposal.

The goal of the annual Region 2 Arts Council AAI Fellowship Program is to assist the region’s most talented artists who are enrolled tribal members and descendants, in furthering and innovating their work by awarding substantial financial support to fund creative time and/or arts experiences that facilitate depth and advancement in their art form. Through such support, the R2AC aims to raise the profile of artistic work in the region and create a strong community of Anishinaabe Arts Initiative Fellows. Each fellow’s artwork will be featured on our website.

Typically one $5,000 award will be granted.

The funds can be used for, but not limited to:

• Exploring new directions or continuing work in progress

• Production costs, materials, or equipment

• Marketing your work

• Travel, research or study to further your art

• Collaborative or community projects

Eligibility
Download a copy of the application form below and read through the eligibility requirements carefully. If you can answer true to each requirement, then you should be eligible to apply. If you answer false to one of the eligibility requirements, or have questions of your own, contact us to discuss eligibility. There may be another grant or more suited to your needs.

Watch a video about how to create an account
or jump in and create an account and apply online

Last Year’s Anishinaabe Arts Initiative Fellowship Application (Sample only – cannot be submitted – only online submissions are accepted)

Heartland Concert Association, founded in 1981, provides quality entertainment to our area at a reasonable price. The concert series features many varied artistic performances.

For more information, please visit www.heartlandconcertassociation.org

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Region 2 Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Heartland Concert Association, founded in 1981, provides quality entertainment to our area at a reasonable price. The concert series features many varied artistic performances.

For more information, please visit www.heartlandconcertassociation.org

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Region 2 Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

There is a class fee of $35. Class size is limited to 16 participants. All materials are provided by the instructor. Register for this class at www.bagleyarts.org

Are you looking for fun and creative ways to dye your easter eggs this year? Why not use alcohol inks?

Alcohol ink easter eggs! Dress up your holiday easter table with these beautiful eggs- no experience needed, just bring one dozen blown-out white eggs and Carole will supply everything else and let’s have some fun!

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through grants from the Region 2 Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.

There is a class fee of $35. Class size is limited to 16 participants. All materials are provided by the instructor. Register for this class at www.bagleyarts.org

Are you looking for fun and creative ways to dye your easter eggs this year? Why not use alcohol inks?

Alcohol ink easter eggs! Dress up your holiday easter table with these beautiful eggs- no experience needed, just bring one dozen blown-out white eggs and Carole will supply everything else and let’s have some fun!

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through grants from the Region 2 Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.

Watch a video about how to create an account on our grants portal
or jump right in and create an account and apply online

Videos to help you out
Artists Engage Community Grant Overview/Pep Talk Video
Artist Bio/Resume, Work Samples, and Artistic Vision
Creating a Budget for Your Community Engagement Project
Let’s Talk Collaborators
Target Audience, Outcomes, and Evaluation Methods
Do I really want a Fiscal Sponsor?

Eligible Applicants
Open to artists or culture bearers in all arts disciplines, 21 years of age or older, living and working in one of the five Region 2 Arts Council counties of Beltrami, Clearwater, Hubbard, Lake of the Woods, or Mahnomen, Minnesota.

Eligible Proposals
Artists Engage Community grants support the creation, production, and presentation of high quality arts activities that help instill the arts into the community and public life in our region. Eligible grant proposals must connect and engage with audiences, participants, students, and/or communities to provide new and/or expanded arts programming to residents of our region’s counties, and/or remove barriers that audiences may have to accessing arts activities. These grants offer funding for a variety of artist led arts activities that will benefit the residents of Beltrami, Hubbard, Clearwater, Lake of the Woods, or Mahnomen counties. Arts activities proposed for funding must be artist led, accessible by the public, and connect with community members through the arts. Activity must begin within 12 months of the earliest start date, and must be completed by June 30, 2025.

Eligible Uses:

• Participatory arts projects

• Arts classes, camps, or workshops

• Public art projects – murals, sculpture walks/trails, concerts in public parks, etc.

• Arts performances – concerts, theatrical productions, dance performances, film screenings, etc.

• Arts presentations – readings, exhibitions, artist talks, etc.

• Arts festivals

Is your grant project eligible?  Check out our eligibility section: Artists Engage Community Grant Eligibility Requirements – If you can answer true to all the statements, then you should be eligible to apply. If you answer false to one of the statements, please contact us to discuss your eligibility.

The Grant Application
The online grant application will ask questions about demographics which we use for reporting to the Minnesota State Arts Board (see our Data Privacy Policy), and questions based on our scoring criteria – Artist Qualifications & Artistic Vision for the Project, Arts Access Provided by the Project, Community Impact and Evaluation of the Project, and Ability to Carry Out the Project. There are also pieces needed for the grant application that you should gather before you apply, such as work samples (Work Sample Submission Policy), resume, and a list of all project costs.

Budget Guidelines
IMPORTANT FOR ALL APPLICANTS: Project specific costs incurred and paid prior to a project’s Earliest Start Date will make a project ineligible for funding. Read about this and more:
R2AC Budget Guidelines

Outcomes and Evaluation Methods
Because we ask you to engage community in this grant, we want you to set an outcome and a means to measure whether you successfully achieved that outcome. An outcome should describe a change in knowledge, skill, attitude, awareness, behavior, or condition in your target audience. Effective project outcomes are specific, measurable, and can be reasonably achieved by the proposed activity. It is important that you measure and document progress made in achieving the proposed outcome for the target audience. You may wish to consult Getting Started with Program Evaluation – a guide published by the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies for information on outcomes evaluation.

Sample Application Form for download
Last Year’s Artists Engage Community Grant Application
(Sample only – cannot be submitted – only online submissions are accepted)

A Note on Grant Awards as Taxable Income
If awarded, you will be asked to fill out a W-9 tax form and the grant award will be considered extra income for you in that tax year. Because this is a grant for individuals, you cannot shift the tax burden to any limited liability companies/corporations you may own for your arts business, but you can use a fiscal sponsor. A fiscal sponsor is a nonprofit entity that lends you their nonprofit status and provides some financial oversight for funds received from a grant award. Often they charge a flat fee or request a percentage of granted funds for this service.  If awarded, your grant award check would be made out to your fiscal sponsor, they would relay the funds to you in one large check or series of smaller payouts for your each of your expenses as you ask for/report them. The granted funds would be part of the fiscal sponsor’s tax reporting, removing the tax burden from you. You would want an agreement (sample fiscal sponsor agreement form) in place to set the responsibilities for each of you.

The Bemidji Symphony Orchestra is a thriving community orchestra servicing the region of North Central Minnesota. We bring classical music to new audiences and provide performance experience for musicians. Vaughn Williams' The Lark Ascending featuring Eric Olson on violin plus two works by Jean Sibelius. Individual concert tickets can be purchased in advance at either Lueken's Village Foods locations and online at www.bemidjisymphony.org Tickets: Adults $27. Seniors (62+) $22. Students: k-12 Free. College: $10 with College ID.

These grants help provide some measure of funding stability by offering operating support to arts organizations and arts affiliates so they can focus on increasing the quality and availability of the arts to their communities. Organizations qualify for funding amounts between $2,000 – $7,000 based on their averaged annual expenses from the past two years. This two-year grant open to any arts organization or arts affiliate. Arts groups formed for nonprofit purposes, with a fiscal sponsor, that plan to use this grant to apply for their own nonprofit status are also eligible.

For more information on this specific grant, please click here.