Region 2 Arts Council awards $80,000 in winter Arts Access Grants
Feb. 23—With the support of a community panel review conducted on Jan. 19, the Region 2 Arts Council Board of Directors granted $80,000 to fund arts activity in the community through the Arts Access Grant program.
Arts Access Grants help fund the creation, production and presentation of high-quality, accessible arts activities that serve the people in the Minnesota counties of Beltrami, Clearwater, Hubbard, Lake of the Woods and Mahnomen, a release said.
Loon Country Arts in Bemidji was awarded $1,273 for Warm Your Heart with a Little Art, a series of 10 two-hour classes in different mediums free to the public. They were also awarded $1,273 to create Pathways to Art, an outreach mentoring system to foster the arts learning process by pairing individual young people aged 13-18 with an adult artist in one of five artistic fields.
NordaGonvick Rosemalers in Shevlin was awarded $2,580 for an Agdar Rosemaling Class, bringing in experienced instructor Trudy Peach in June 2024 to teach workshop participants a style of rosemaling from the Agdar region of Norway. artist Dr. Hannah Porter Occeña performing Joseph Kern's Shenandoah Variations for flute and orchestra.
The City of Clearbrook was awarded $6,000 for a Youth Access to Arts program, engaging 8- to 18-year-olds from area rural communities in several Community Education "Youth Edition" programs in summer and late fall 2024.
Imagine Recovery Retreat in Cass Lake was awarded $6,000 to hold workshops for the public in photography, watercolors, and creating caricatures in the spring and summer of 2024.
Clear Waters Life Center in Gonvick was awarded $1,274 for its Create It! Studio mentorship program in its community art studio. Mentors will assist with project design and planning, offering skill introduction, training and ongoing support during the creative process.
The Bemidji State University Music Department was awarded $2,000 for a Concert Series in Brazilian Music & Dance, bringing in dance artist Rosely Conz for a residency of masterclasses, workshops and performances featuring Brazilian music and dance styles in February 2024.
Red Lake Middle School was awarded $5,550 for a Metal-working Residency that will engage metalworking artist David Estrada to provide metalworking classes to students in grades 6-8 to create a project they can take home.
Headwaters Music and Arts in Bemidji was awarded $6,000 to hold a one-week Fiddle Camp for stringed instrument musicians of all ages in June 2024.
Watermark Art Center in Bemidji was awarded $6,000 to support its "Art in Nature" program by covering artist honorariums, travel costs, and supplies for the educational workshops Felted Tapestries, Weaving Water and a Paint and Hike Experience.
The Northern Artist Association was awarded $6,000 to collaborate with the city of Bemidji to offer Community Artistic Adventures; 12 free art classes to adults over 18 in March and April 2024.
The City of Bemidji Parks and Rec Department was awarded $1,700 to host Mini Musicians, an introductory music class for preschool-aged children with their caretakers March — April 2024. The department was also awarded $6,000 for a Summer Theater Day Camp that will engage the Bemidji Community Theater to host a Summer Theater Day Camp for youth, also known as BCT JR, in June 2024.
To view the full list of awards, visit
Any arts organizations or other nonprofit entities that provide arts programming such as schools, community education programs, colleges or universities, local city/town/county government entities or tribal governments, arts affiliates or groups formed for nonprofit purposes applying with a fiscal sponsor that are located in the council's five-county service area can apply for up to $6,000. Apply at
