Nominations Open for Of the Year Awards
Northwest Artist of the Year $500
Northwest Arts Advocate of the Year $500
Northwest Star Award for $5,000
Applications are open for nominations for the Northwest Minnesota Arts Council Of the YearAwards. Three awards are given each year to recognize artists and arts advocates within our region who stand out in terms of artistry or volunteerism in the arts. Often people serve in both roles.
Our Arts Advocate of the Year award is $500 and often goes to a local leader who lives in the area where the artist reception will be held. But anyone is eligible to be nominated. Arts includes all disciplines.
Our Artist of the Year award can be given to any discipline artist including visual, performing, or creative writing who are emerging or at a mid-way point in their artistic endeavors. It is a cash award of $500 to use however they see fit.
Artists can only receive our Northwest Star Award once, as a lifetime achievement award. This award is for $5,000.00 and can be a wonderful gift to those who have chosen a hard career path related to artistic expression.
The deadline for nominations is February 28. Please consider nominating someone who you view as a deserving candidate from our seven-county service area in northwestern Minnesota. Persons who believe their nominee would qualify for this award and have questions should contact the Northwest Minnesota Arts Council office at (218) 745-8886 or email director@NWArtsCouncil.org for more information. The nomination form and more information is here.
Awards will be presented at the Northwest Minnesota Arts Exhibit reception in Thief River Falls at Northland Community and Technical College on Wednesday, April 27. Schedule includes 4-5:30 pm Nature’s Offering themed art creation session (free); 7pm Social with dessert; and 7:30-8:30pm Awards Program in the NCTC auditorium. Funding for Northwest Star and Northwest Artist of the Year comes from The McKnight Foundation. Funding for Northwest Arts Advocate of the Year comes from the Minnesota State Legislature.
