Promoting and supporting the arts in Northwestern Minnesota for over 40 years.
What we do
We provide grants, host exhibitions, and offer training opportunities for artists and art lovers in northwestern Minnesota.
Exhibits
Spend a few minutes (or a few hours!) seeing local art showcased in our exhibits.
Events
Theater, open studios, music, workshops, trainings, and other events make it easy to connect with other arts lovers!
Grants
If you’re looking for dollars to support your work as an artist, we have grants for you.
Podcast
Hear stories from local NW Minnesota artists on our weekly Let’s Talk Art podcast.
Artist Spotlight
Please join NWMAC Staff Kristin Eggerling and Trey Everett in a conversation with Photographer Denise Jenson of Badger that took place on Friday, July 31. Denise has work in the current NWMAC Gallery exhibit The Great State of Minnesota. She's also been a regular entrant in our annual and other exhibits. Learn about how Denise became a photographer, composition, and much more! Denise shared this quote by Thomas Merton, “Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.” If you missed the live discussion on our Facebook or YouTube page you can watch the recording at https://www.youtube.com/live/Rj6mzeodGCY?si=h8sDOwhSlTsVSfAa.
Read all about what’s happening in the arts in our region, including upcoming deadlines, calls for art, events, grants, exhibits, opportunities, and much more! Click https://conta.cc/45z0wfA
Make sure you sign up to get the e-newsletter delivered to your inbox.
The Portrait
Sat, August 22 & Sun, August 23 from 1-4 PM
Studio 110
Crookston
Join internationally recognized photographer Xavier Tavera and local artists Rena Zapata & Calixtra Bouchard in learning the art of portraiture photography. Sponsored by In Progress at Studio 110 in Crookston.
The Portrait is a hands-on workshop focuses on the art of portraiture as a tool for storytelling and representation. Participants explore lighting, composition, and collaboration with subjects to create images that reflect identity, presence, and lived experience. Through guided practice and discussion, attendees will develop both technical skills and a deeper understanding of the power of the portrait.
Dates:
Saturday & Sunday, August 22 & 23 1-4 PM
Location:
Studio 110
110 South Main Street
East Grand Forks MN. 56716
Workshop Coordinator - Rena Zapata
Please register below. This activity is intended to build belonging through creativity.
Questions can be directed to info@in-progress.org.
If you would like to find out more about In Progress - their history and the artists they work with, please visit their website at: www.in-progress.org
Grant Funding Available for Schools for
Artist Residencies & Arts Equipment
Looking for funding for Artist Residencies and Arts Equipment?
NW Minnesota area schools can apply for up to $12,000 of grant funding from the Northwest Minnesota Arts Council for this next school year into next summer. Funding can be used to bring in professional artists to work with students and/or to purchase arts equipment that is used by your community and your school; and stored/used primarily in the school building. To apply, schools fill out an application showing interest in funding, then requests are made with add-on forms within our online grant software for specific project funding requests. The program accepts funding requests from July 1 until April 30 each year, but remember that it is first come, first served so applying early is best. Each add-on funding request can be for up to $3,000 in grant funds.
Artist Residency Grants
Schools can apply for an Artist Residency grant of $3,000. Schools can initially apply for 2 residencies. Then, based on remaining funding, can request up to 4 residencies total. Each residency requires a 10% cash match. Our teaching artist roster is a great resource to view artists available to teach in our area and is available on our website at www.NorthwestMinnesotaArtsCouncil.org under the artists tab. We have many new artists on our list. Another resource to find teaching artists is COMPAS. Ideas also include children's theater camp and/or arts camp during the summer at your school, and community education workshop series for adults on artistic techniques.
Arts Equipment Grants
Schools can apply to purchase artistic equipment for your visual art, performing art, media arts, or creative writing departments. Grants are for up to $3,000 with a 25% cash match. Equipment that is used by both the community and the school solely for the pursuit of arts like auditorium lights has a better chance of being funded. Please note that schools are only eligible for one grant for up to $3000 per fiscal year. Once your school has already applied and been approved for a grant for arts equipment, you cannot receive another one until next school year. All previous arts equipment grants for your school must be closed before you can apply again.
Tips for applying... ask for the Google slide deck that takes you through our grant process.
• Remember that most schools are already in our system as organizations, so you probably only need to call our office to add yourself as a User.
• The first thing to do is show interest in our funding by completing the very easy Arts Grant application and hit submit. Tutorial available.
• Next our staff reviews your school's interest and then assigns add-ons to the teacher/coordinator/administrator listed in the app that would like add-on forms.
• Teachers login, complete and submit their add-on follow up form with details related to their project and their $ request. This form is short and friendly to fill out.
• Then as your school waits to hear back, someone needs to complete the required data collection app online and submit.
Contact our office with questions or for help with your application. We are happy to help!
As with all of our grants, applications are only being accepted from our 7 county Minnesota service area including Kittson, Marshall, Norman, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake, and Roseau counties.
Questions? Call our office at 218-745-8886, ext 1 or email nwartscouncil@gmail.com.
Attention Musicians and Authors! MHC Open Grant Announcement and funding opportunities
The Minnesota Humanities Center (MHC) by virtue of funding provided by the Minnesota Legislature, has three open grant opportunities.
The following grant opportunities are available:
Minnesota Musicians - $400,000 – to individual Minnesota Musicians to create, produce, and perform music. The deadline to apply is September 11, 2026.
Youth Literacy - $500,000 – to individual authors and organizations to create, produce, and distribute books for youth, that celebrate cultural expression, with a focus on excellent creative work and educational value. The deadline to apply is September 11, 2026.
Underrepresented Groups Cultural Studies Materials - $400,000 - to individuals and organizations that will work to develop high-quality academic (K-12), cultural, and ethnic studies materials for communities that do not have adequate materials, or who are underrepresented in those materials, including but not limited to Hmong, Karen, Somali, and Oromo cultures. The deadline to apply is October 2, 2026.
If you are interested in applying for one of the open grant opportunities, please visit their website for more information or contact a Grants Administrator at grants@mnhum.org.
The Art of Music II
Saturday, August 8 & Sunday, August 9
1 - 4PM
STUDIO 110
Crookston
Begin your music-making journey by uncovering your unique creative voice. Through playful experimentation and guided exploration, In Progress artist Jeremy Gardner helps participants tap into their curiosities, interests, and talents in the world of digital music. Participants will have the opportunity to learn song creation, beat making and sound engineering, depending on participant interest.
Dates:
Saturday & Sunday, August 8 & 9, 1 - 4PM
Location:
Studio 110
110 South Main Street
Crookston MN. 56716
Please register below. This activity is intended to build belonging through creativity.
Questions can be directed to info@in-progress.org.
The 2026/27 MCAD–Jerome Foundation Fellowships for Early Career Artists application is now open.
The Jerome Foundation defines early career as at least 2 years but not more than 10 years of creative generative experience not including any exhibition opportunities provided through a school or college program.
There are two pre-recorded information sessions on the application site to help you. They also offer one-on-one meetings with applicants before submitting their application materials. They can provide feedback on work sample sections, editing artist statements, and organizing resumes, etc. For Greater MN artists, the fellowship covers mileage and lodging for fellow meetings, curator studio visits, and the exhibition installation so this is not a financial burden on the artists.
Here is a link to the application: https://mcad.submittable.com/submit
Deadline: Friday, September 11 at noon CT.
Contact info: gallery@mcad.edu
Keisha Williams, Program Director
Melanie Pankau, Fellowship Coordinator
Forecast Offers Creative Power, Civic Purpose
There are 2 remaining sessions in this series:
The Art of Governance: Artist–Government Collaborations for More Responsive Institutions
THURSDAY, SEPT 24 · 12–1:30 PM CT
How artists embedded in civic systems advance transparency, equity, responsiveness—and help strengthen public institutions through creative collaboration.
Funding Creative Civic Power: Investing in Artists Who Strengthen Democracy
THURSDAY, OCT 29 · 12–1:30 PM CT
Practical strategies for resourcing artists’ civic work and sustaining arts-driven democratic participation at scale.
Why This Series, Why Now
Artists are essential civic actors, building civic knowledge, connecting communities across differences, and strengthening the systems and relationships that democratic life depends on. With support from EFA, this series invites leaders from many fields to come together:
share practical tools for arts-based civic engagement
highlight place-based creative leadership in historically underfunded regions
support community-rooted civic participation and civic health
uplift models for building civic capacity and community power
illuminate how artists help strengthen democracy from the ground up
Who Should Attend
Artists, culture bearers, civic and community leaders, funders, educators, local government partners, and anyone working to strengthen civic life through creativity and community-rooted practice.
Register for Creative Power, Civic Purpose—Up next: The Art of Governance: Artist-government collaborations for more responsive institutions
Sign up today to access all remaining sessions, including calendar holds, Zoom links, updates, and session recordings.
For more information visit their website at https://forecastpublicart.org/creative-power-civic-purpose/
2026 Midwest Culture Bearers Award is Open for Applications
Supporting Midwest Culture Bearers
Every community has culture bearers: people who carry its stories, teachings, art, and creative practices forward to ensure cultural knowledge remains alive and accessible for future generations.
The 2026 Midwest Culture Bearers Award is now open and looking to support 18 Midwesterners with $5,000 awards in honor of their work. If this sounds like a good fit for you or someone you know, submit an application by August 18, 2026.
About the Midwest Culture Bearers Award
WHAT: The Midwest Culture Bearers Award is a $5,000 award. It is unrestricted and no matching funds are required. It will honor and amplify the work of 18 Midwestern culture bearers in 2026.
WHO: You may apply if you practice a folk arts or traditional cultural practice that you have engaged in for at least 10 years and focus on passing your knowledge to others.
WHERE: You must live in the Arts Midwest region. This includes Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and the Native Nations and communities that share this geography.
WHEN: Applications close at noon (12:00 p.m.) Central Time on August 18, 2026. Awards will be made in October 2026.
You can ask someone to help you complete your application. You can also nominate someone with their permission.
Ready to Apply?
Learn more about the Midwest Culture Bearers Award, review eligibility requirements, and read the full guidelines on their website.
The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council (NWMAC) is pleased to announce a Call for Art for an upcoming folk art exhibition.
We are accepting folk art entries in a variety of mediums and materials including textiles, ceramics, painting, sculpture, woodworking, calligraphy, music, dance, metal, paper, and more. Not all art will be accepted -- only those deemed to be folk art.
Here is a video that explains folk art https://youtu.be/PpNvx-5tz2M?si=al3gp1Ou6YTxAz_m
What is folk art?
Folk art reflects culture, history, and daily life
Cultural Representation. It embodies the history, heritage, traditions, or identity of a community, region, or country.
Utilitarian & Decorative. Pieces are typically created by self-trained artists for everyday use or community performance..
Generational Techniques. Folk art is created with skills and traditional designs that are passed down orally and practically.
Examples include duck decoy wood carving, bead work on Native American clothing or jewelry, painting such as rosemaling, music such as mariachi and polka, storytelling of community lore, and Fraktur calligraphy writing.
Performing artists can submit pictures of themselves or group in their traditional costumes or holding their instrument. Historical festivals may want to submit pictures of folk-art taking place at their festival. Folk music, dance, and theater entries can be enhanced with instructions/QR codes that help visitors hear your audio and/or watch your video online. (we can assist with this)
Submissions due by Friday, August 21
Submit (what, photos, size, price, comments) by Friday, August 21 to treyeverettcreates@gmail.com. You will drop off your art at our gallery in Thief River Falls August 31, September 1, or September 2. The exhibit will open September 3 until the end of November at our NWMAC gallery at Northland Community and Technical College in Thief River Falls. This exhibit will mainly feature the artists and art of our service area in Northwest Minnesota. Questions? Email Trey at treveverettcreates@gmail.com.
For more information about this upcoming exhibit visit our website at NWArtsCouncil.org. Please sign up for our e-newsletter on our website home page to see the latest news and grant announcements. Email director@NWArtsCouncil.org or call 218-745-8886, ext 1 to reach our office during regular business hours.
NWMAC is looking for board members to serve a three year term starting soon. At this time, we are prioritizing the recruitment of men and people of color, in order to keep diversity on our board and learn from members who represent a variety of demographics. First steps are to talk with our Executive Director Mara Hanel about being a Board member and what to expect while you serve. If you are a good candidate, you will be asked to fill out a self nomination form. A love of supporting artists and arts activity is a must, as well as basic computer skills to attend zoom meetings and score online applications.
To learn more, visit https://northwestminnesotaartscouncil.org/boardmembership, email Mara at director@nwartscouncil.org or call our office at 218-745-8886, ext 1.
The 7th edition of our Artists of NW Minnesota booklet accepting entries through December from Artists and Organizations/Businesses!
It's time to submit an entry for the 7th edition of our Artists of NW Minnesota booklet. Email director@NWArtsCouncil.org or call our office at 218-745-8886, ext 1 to receive a paper form. The cost is only $20 for a listing + you receive 20 copies of the booklet! You are also able to have a piece of art hanging in our office space to help promote you. And, the booklet is online on our website. What a deal!
Submissions for individuals will be accepted through December. Businesses or organizations that promote or sell local art or that serve artists can also apply for a listing at the back of the booklet. The deadline for businesses and organizations for submissions will also be accepted through December.
To learn more and to download the entry form visit this page on our website.
Find our a free print edition of our current booklet Artists of Northwest Minnesota at your local library, from featured artists, or in other public spaces throughout our region. This is the 6th edition of this publication. The directory lists fine craft and visual artists, photographers, writers, and performing artists who answered our call for entries, as well as arts organizations. It's an invaluable resource when you are looking for art and artists in our region.
Call for Art!
The East Grand Forks Campbell Library is now accepting submissions for their 2026 Community Art Exhibit!
The exhibit will open Monday, July 27th and will run for 6 weeks. If you are interested in submitting, please send Andrea an email at alorenz@egflibrary.org with your name, phone number, and the number of pieces you would like to show (for now the number of pieces an individual can show will be capped at 5, which may change ).
Submissions will be accepted until July 20, 2026.
Woodland Sky Native American Dance Company
Friday, September 18 | 6 PM | Free Hosted by the Warroad Native American Education Program. This will be at Warroad River Place.
Experience the captivating storytelling of the Woodland Sky Native American Dance Company through dance, music, movement, and song. Every step, expression, and rhythm shares stories that honor Native history, culture, and traditions, creating a powerful and immersive visual experience that educates and inspires audiences of all ages.
Middle River Goose Fest Live Music
The Middle River Community Club is excited to announce an incredible lineup of FREE entertainment during Goose Festival weekend. Thanks to the generous support of the Northwest Minnesota Arts Council, you'll enjoy outstanding local and regional talent throughout the weekend.
Friday, September 25
Middle River Sportsmen's Club
Tannis Tyler kicks off the weekend with an evening of great music you won't want to miss!
Saturday, September 26
Morning – Music on the Street
Enjoy the sounds of the "Northland Jazz Band" as they fill downtown Middle River with lively jazz and community spirit.
Afternoon – Music on the Street
An exciting lineup of talented performers takes the stage:
Cathy Erickson – Minnesota Music Hall of Fame inductee
Nathan Bukowski – Our own hometown favorite
Gracie Crocker – A rising new talent bringing excitement to the Goose Festival stage
Keybeat (The Augustines)
Saturday September 26 Evening
Middle River Sportsmen's Club Shed
Back by popular demand... WOODPICKS returns to keep the celebration going with another fantastic evening of music.
Bring your family, invite your friends, stroll through downtown, enjoy the music, and celebrate everything that makes Goose Festival one of northwest Minnesota's favorite traditions.
In Progress Offers Workshops
Cinematics I
Saturday & Sunday, August 1 & 2, 1-4 PM
Family Resource Center
1505 Central Avenue NW
East Grand Forks 56721
Cinematics II
Saturday, August 15 & Sunday, August 16, 1-4 PM
Studio 110
Crookston
Join internationally recognized filmmaker Mickies Kiros and local artist Sana Nur in learning the art of video creation. Write stories, and bring them to life using professional video cameras. Cinematics. explores the craft of videography as a powerful tool for storytelling rooted in culture, identity, and lived experience.
All ages are welcomed to join, make movies and share stories with others that reflects personal truth and the power of visual stories.
Workshop Coordinator - Rena Zapata
Please register below. This activity is intended to build belonging through creativity.
Questions can be directed to info@in-progress.org.
If you would like to find out more about In Progress - their history and the artists’ work, please visit their website at: www.in-progress.org
East Grand Forks Heritage Days Traditional Music Show
August 8 and 9, 2026
Heritage Village, 219 20th St. NE, East Grand Forks
Saturday- August 8
1:00 PM- Jeremy Kingsbury- bagpiper and historian. Jeremy plays several types of small pipes in the Scottish, French and Irish traditions.
2:00 PM Bob and Gail Johnson - Songs and tunes from Ireland and Appalachia, with guitar, harmonica, recorder, harp and more.
3:00 PM -Vidar Skrede- Norwegian folk music - fiddle, hardanger fiddle, guitar and mandolin.
Sunday- August 9
12:00 PM– O'Neil Family Band- French Canadian, Celtic and Appalachian tunes and songs – fiddle, guitar, banjo, concertina and step dance.
1:00 PM- Vidar Skrede- Norwegian fiddle music
2:00 PM- Bob and Gail Johnson- Celtic and Appalachian songs and tunes
3:00 PM Jeremy Kingsbury- Bagpiper
Chuck Gust, accordionist, will entertain for the Sunday noon dinner in the Beier Bldg.
*This activity is made possible in part by a grant provided by the Northwest Minnesota Arts Council through funding from the Minnesota State Legislature with money from the State's general fund.
Other activities on the grounds from 10 AM to 4 PM each day.
The Art of Music
Saturday, July 25 & Sunday, July 26 1-4PM
Family Resource Center
East Grand Forks
Begin your music-making journey by uncovering your unique creative voice. Through playful experimentation and guided exploration, In Progress artist Jeremy Gardner helps participants tap into their curiosities, interests, and talents in the world of digital music. Participants will have the opportunity to learn song creation, beat making and sound engineering, depending on participant interest.
Dates:
Saturday & Sunday, July 25 & 26 / 1-4PM
Location:
Family Resource Center
1505 Central Avenue NW
East Grand Forks MN. 56721
Please register below. This activity is intended to build belonging through creativity.
Questions can be directed to info@in-progress.org.
Please join NWMAC Staff Kristin Eggerling and Trey Everett in a conversation with Photographer Denise Jenson of Badger that took place on Friday, July 31. Denise has work in the current NWMAC Gallery exhibit The Great State of Minnesota. She's also been a regular entrant in our annual and other exhibits. Learn about how Denise became a photographer, composition, and much more! Denise shared this quote by Thomas Merton, “Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.” If you missed the live discussion on our Facebook or YouTube page you can watch the recording at https://www.youtube.com/live/Rj6mzeodGCY?si=h8sDOwhSlTsVSfAa.
The 2026 Northwoods Art & Book Festival is in Hackensack on Saturday, August 8, 2026 from 9 AM to 3 PM. There’s a long list of featured authors. Jackpine Writers will be there and Talking Stick books will be available for purchase.
We offer grant writing training sessions two weeks before each grant deadline. This training is Wednesday, July 15 at 2:00 PM. This can be virtual or in person. You must RSVP to attend. Please let us know if you are interested by calling 218-745-8886, ext 1 or email director@nwartscouncil.org. You can take advantage of the opportunity to come into our office and work on your grant in our grant writing space!
Count Down Is On!!!
The Dollipops are coming to Greenbush!
Friday, July 10, 2026
Outdoor Stage at Legion Park – Greenbush, MN
6:00–7:00 p.m.
FREE for all ages
Bring your lawn chairs, blankets, family, and friends for this exciting community event!
This event is made possible through funding from the Northwest Minnesota Arts Council and is hosted by Lil' Chompers Childcare Center.
Artist Reception for
Iron and Feathers: Art of the Northwest
an exhibit featuring paintings by Ross Hier and Beau Bakken
Open Through August 13 — Exhibit will Close after the Reception
at the
Historic Fournet Building, 101 N Broadway
Downtown Crookston
2nd Floor in the Atrium
Artist Reception Thursday, August 13 from 6 to 7:30 PM
Violin Music by Eden Johnson of Lake Bronson
Please join the Northwest Minnesota Arts Council (NWMAC) for an artist reception for Iron and Feathers: Art of the Northwest an exhibit featuring paintings by Ross Hier and Beau Bakken at the Historic Fournet Building downtown Crookston. This exhibit includes 35 original pieces of art in watercolor on paper and acrylic on canvas, most of which are for sale.
The Artist Reception will be on Thursday, August 13 from 6 to 7:30 PM. Refreshments will be served. Live music will be provided by Violinist Eden Johnson of Lake Bronson. Everyone is welcome to attend this FREE event. The exhibit will close after the reception.
Artist Beau Bakken. Beau Bakken of Hallock has been professionally creating art by commission since 2008. Beau has been a consistent entrant into NWMAC’s exhibits and won 1st place in the annual NW Minnesota Art Exhibit in 2011, 2014, and 2022, and given a People’s Choice award in 2025. He won the Artist of the Year in 2016. Beau was the featured artist in the Around the Farm exhibit at our gallery in Thief River Falls. His work consists of large outdoor murals, outdoor business signs, indoor murals, and indoor wall hangings and paintings. About his 8 pieces of work in the exhibit, Beau said, “My paintings in this exhibit are captures of the Red River Valley, painted with the hope that fellow citizens of the valley would find them relatable.”
Artist Ross Hier. Ross H. Hier attended the University of Minnesota earning a BS in Wildlife Management and had a 35-year career with the Section of Wildlife in the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. His time was spent researching mallards, ring-necked ducks, and the Lesser scaup, as well as managing wildlife management areas in Polk and Red Lake Counties. Nature has excited him for as long as he can remember and his creative need to express this love led him to watercolor painting. He shared, “Northwest Minnesota is such a diverse piece of geography … native grasslands, the Aspen Parklands and transition zone between prairie and forest landscapes interspersed with agricultural tracts. The ancient Lake Agassiz beach lines are quite profound on the east side of the Red River Valley and serve as linear maps for migrant birds where substantial grasslands and wetlands serve as stop-over areas for birds moving further north. The diversity of nature in northwest Minnesota is amazing. Nature has always been a force that triggers my creative thought process. I love painting with watercolors for their elusive nature and spontaneity.”
Ross continued, “It’s an honor to exhibit in the town I have long resided in and to share this exhibit with the outstanding artist, Beau Bakken. His work never ceases to amaze me. This exhibit presents the viewers with two different artists who use different painting mediums and rather different styles. I hope the exhibit brings viewers much joy and thankfulness as we celebrate the premier region of Minnesota through art. Thanks to the Northwest Arts Council and especially Exhibit Specialist Trey Everett.” Twenty-seven works in the exhibit were created by Ross.
You can find both Ross and Beau in our most recent Artists of NW Minnesota booklet.
Musician Eden Johnson lives in Lake Bronson with her husband and their three daughters. Depending on the day one might find Eden either accompanying her local Lutheran church, watching musicals with her family, reading, giving violin lessons, or practicing on one of her instruments. While her main focus and passion is the violin, Eden also sings, plays the piano, and is currently learning the harp. The violin Eden plays once belonged to her great grandmother. Eden recently completed the NWMAC Teaching Artist Training and is available for residencies and workshops.
You won't want to miss this exhibit open through August 13 at the Fournet Building, 101 N Broadway, Downtown Crookston. Parking and admission is free. Take the stairs or elevator to the second floor where the gallery is located in the atrium. Open Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 4:30 PM.
Watch this video for a virtual tour of the exhibit at https://youtu.be/emdN39orEZE or find it on our website under the exhibits tab at the top of the homepage.
For more information about this exhibit, visit our website at NWArtsCouncil.org, or if you are an artist interested in exhibiting a body of work with NWMAC, please contact Trey Everett at (218) 280-4917 or email NWArtsCouncil@gmail.com. Please sign up for our e-newsletter on our website home page to see the latest news and grant announcements. Email director@NWArtsCouncil.org or call 218-745-8886 to reach our office during regular business hours.
An Artist Reception for
The Great State of Minnesota
an exhibit reflecting
What Minnesota Means to Me
Tuesday, June 30 from 6:30 to 8 PM
The Exhibit is Open Through August 28 at the
NWMAC Gallery
Northland Community and Technical College
1101 State Highway 1, Thief River Falls
The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council (NWMAC) is pleased to announce an Artist Reception for The Great State of Minnesota at our gallery at Northland Community and Technical College, 1101 Highway 1 East in Thief River Falls. This exhibit includes 51 pieces, including pen and ink, oil, mixed media, photography, acrylic, screen print, fiber art, poetry, ceramic, block print, watercolor, charcoal, and paper mache by 30 area artists, and will run until August 28.
The Artist Reception will be held on Tuesday, June 30 from 6:30 to 8 PM at the gallery. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend. Refreshments will be served. The play Frozen will be performed at 7 PM that evening in the NCTC theater.
Minnesota received a lot of attention lately because of the ICE surge of 3,000 officers in January, large civil protests in freezing winter weather, and famous musicians like Bruce Springsteen writing songs about this historical moment in Minnesota. Because of this, the Northwest Minnesota Arts Council is highlighting our state in this exhibit. We asked artists what does Minnesota mean to you?
Minnesota evokes many feelings and meanings to different people. Maybe it's blueberry picking, cabin life, morel or deer hunting, walleye fishing, or the land of 10,000 lakes; the power of community, snowflakes and cold, or pine trees; terms like Minnesota Nice, You betcha or Uff da; foods like wild rice, hot dishes, or lefse. Our sports teams including the Vikings, Twins, Timberwolves, The Wild, Loons, and Lynx;
Icons such as Mary Tyler Moore, Prince, and Bob Dylan; Or our state symbols like the Rusty Patched Bumblebee(state bee), Monarch (state butterfly), Lady’s Slipper (state flower) or the Honeycrisp Apple (state fruit), or Agate (the state gemstone).
Jessica Ross shared, “Minnesota is my home as well as home to the many little living things that inspire my artwork. This show will be a great composition of Minnesota through the eyes of local artists. I entered my piece because I like viewers to stop and think about the small things in life that we tend to overlook at times. It just takes a moment to pause and be reminded of the beauty in this world. My artwork “Minnesota’s Ladies” focuses on small moments of wonder within Minnesota forests.”
Acacia Winters explained, “Being a transplant to the state of Minnesota has been challenging but incredibly rewarding. I love how amazing this state is geographically. Its vast landscapes and rocky superior shores mixed with the epicness of the Twin Cities always means there is something to do and explore. The things that keep me here are the wonderful people and communities I’ve been invited into and helped create. This has made this state into my home. People should visit to see the incredible talent of artists in northern Minnesota.”
Therese Masters Jacobson said, “Minnesotans emphasize kindness, empathy, and prosocial behavior, or in other words, they are nice. Minnesota has long been a refuge and haven for many people, like my childhood family who visited each summer from Illinois. A change during my adult life brought me back to Minnesota—a place to belong.”
Finally, Debbie Dahl Aune said,” My Gramma Esther Dahl picked blueberries with me until she was 82. Living in northern Minnesota we found the true peace of God as we trekked around Beltrami Forest, the Mud Lake Refuge and the McDonaugh Swamp. Still today, I find the outdoors to be my favorite distraction from the political and economic uncertainties of the day. Today, I still get out to the forests, however, you'll find me painting Plein Air as well as picking.”
Original art in the Great State of Minnesota exhibit, including Prowling Past the Pines by Warroad Artist Shelly Grove. She explained that “even though I was born in Canada I call Minnesota my home. Since deer hunting is a big part of living in northern Minnesota it seemed appropriate to submit this piece. I gravitate towards pointillism and this pose worked up so well. The pine trees really add character. Can’t you just hear the wind howl when you look at this?”
As our nation celebrates its 250th anniversary this summer, visit our exhibit to see the art created about Minnesota. Artists were encouraged to reflect on Minnesota as the Northstar State, our Minnesota State Flag, our Great Seal of Minnesota, and our state symbols. Minnesota’s motto is L'Etoile du Nord = Star of the North, which refers to Polaris, the North Star, that remains in the same spot in the night sky, representing stability and direction. Our flag symbolizes the state's natural resources, identity, and future. It features a light blue field (water/sky), a dark blue shape (state outline/night sky), and a white 8-point "North Star" representing our motto and the state's northern location. The 8-point star also represents guidance, hope, and its northern position, while also honoring diverse cultural heritage, including Native American designs, Nordic patterns, and barn quilts, and echoing the star on the Capitol’s rotunda. It’s a multicultural symbol, often appearing like four “M”s for Minnesota and resembling a snowflake, connecting to the state’s climate and indigenous artistry. The Great Seal of Minnesota features a common loon (our state bird), the North Star, wild rice, Norway pines (state tree), and stylized water, with the Dakota phrase "Mni Sóta Makoce" -- "Land where the waters reflect the skies."
Take a virtual walk through of this exhibit at https://youtu.be/X3M3S9H95GI (on the NWMAC YouTube page). The video is also available on our website under the exhibits tab on the top of the homepage.
The NWMAC Gallery at Northland Community and Technical College in Thief River Falls is at 1101 State Highway 1, Thief River Falls 56701. The gallery is open during Monday-Friday from 8 – 4:30 PM and at other times when events are held at the college. Please call to make sure the college is open before making a special trip. Hours can change, especially during the summer. Enter through Door B, which is right next to the gallery. Visitor parking is free.
For more information about this exhibit or if you are an artist interested in exhibiting a body of work with NWMAC, please contact Trey Everett at (218) 280-4917 or email NWArtsCouncil@gmail.com. Please sign up for our e-newsletter on our website home page to see the latest news and grant announcements. Email director@NWArtsCouncil.org or call 218-745-8886 to reach our office during regular business hours.
Outdoor, Immersive Theater in Hallock June 27
FARM A new immersive outdoor theater experience from Sod House Theater
Celebrate the Return of Summer with Outdoor Theater in Rural Hallock
Far North Spirits — Rural Hallock
2045 220th Avenue, Hallock MN 56728
Saturday, June 27, 2026
Performance begins at 7:00 PM
Food Truck at 6:00 PM
“Each day I go into the fields to see what is growing and what remains to be done. It is always the same thing: nothing is growing, everything needs to be done.”
— The Farmer by W.D. Ehrhart
Sod House Theater, the Minneapolis-based company known for creating immersive, community-engaged performances in rural spaces, announces the summer tour of FARM, a moving theatrical meditation on small family farming in Minnesota, including rural Hallock.
Blending music, dance, storytelling, and large-scale visual imagery, FARM explores the labor, rituals, joys, and uncertainties of agricultural life. Featuring Twin Cities artists alongside local community performers, the production invites audiences to reflect on farming traditions, food accessibility, and Minnesotans’ relationship to the people who grow their food.
Through a series of vivid theatrical vignettes, audiences will encounter scenes of hard work in the fields, family meals, celebrations, storms, dance, and play — culminating in a music-filled “ghost grove” honoring the past, present, and future of farming in Minnesota.
Performed outdoors at working farms and community gathering spaces, FARM offers audiences an immersive journey through the landscapes and stories that shape rural Minnesota.
Ticket information and reservations are available at Sod House Theater Tickets & Information
Audience
Audience members will be guided to four different locations throughout each site during the performance. The experience includes walking and standing, so guests are encouraged to bring:
A lawn chair or blanket
Comfortable walking shoes
An umbrella or weather protection for sun or rain
Parking will be available. In the event of severe weather, performances may be canceled. Cancellation notices will be posted on the Sod House Theater website and emailed to ticket holders. Rain locations may be used.
About Sod House Theater
Founded in 2011 by co-artistic directors Darcey Engen and Luverne Seifert, Sod House Theater is now in its 16th season of collaborating with Minnesota communities to create imaginative, site-specific performance events.
The company has produced acclaimed reimaginings of classics including The Cherry Orchard, The Visit, Peer Gynt, and Urinetown, alongside original productions such as Hoopla Train with Yard Master Yip and His Polkastra and Arla Mae’s Booyah Wagon.
Sod House Theater selects touring works for their relevance to small-town communities and stages them in nontraditional venues that connect deeply to local history and culture.
For more information, visit Sod House Theater Official Website
Created by Darcey Engen and Luverne Seifert
Choreography by Berit Ahlgren
Original Music by Jenna Wyse and Christopher Hepola
Media Contacts: Darcey Engen, 612-281-8998, darcey@sodhousetheater.org
Luverne Seifert, 612-414-2032, luverne@sodhousetheater.org
Check out our full calendar of upcoming events
Our Funding
The NWMAC serves Polk, Pennington, Marshall, Kittson, Red Lake, Norman and Roseau counties in northwestern Minnesota.
Funding for our programs comes primarily from The Minnesota State Legislature. We, along with the other 10 regional arts councils, work with the Minnesota State Arts Board to provide arts services, staffing and grants.
We also receive funding from the McKnight Foundation. This allows our organization to help artists grow and prosper through their continued financial support and leadership training. Their funds help to promote and showcase our artists’ art.
Related to funding, Please Note: The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council will NEVER ask you to purchase items or gift cards on our behalf. If you receive a suspicious message like this, do not respond. Report it as phishing and delete it immediately. If you ever have doubts about a message claiming to be from us, reach out directly to us. Thank you!