Northwest Minnesota Arts Council announces awards deadline – Grand Forks Herald
GRAND FORKS – The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council is accepting applications for nominations for its annual artist, arts advocate and lifetime achievement awards. The deadline is Feb. 28.
The Northwest Artist of the Year and Northwest Arts Advocate of the Year awards each includes a $500 cash prize. The Northwest Star Award, which is considered a lifetime achievement award, includes a $5,000 cash prize.
Residents in the council’s service area – Kittson, Marshall, Norman, Pennington, Red Lake and Roseau counties – may be nominated for the awards.
“In my opinion, there isn’t enough to show the community’s support of these key artists, arts advocates and lifetime achievers to validate their work and just provide them with that public recognition that’s so important (to encourage) others to step into these roles in our region,” said Mara Hanel, the council’s director.
“Especially in a rural area, there aren’t as many awards that are given, even when you submit them into the bigger pool of awards that might be awarded, for instance, down in the Twin Cities. It’s a little more ‘few and far between’ that our key people are looked at and given those awards. So, we feel that to do it annually is very important to bring together those that support them as well as people in attendance at our artists reception in the community where we hold it, just to warmly congratulate them on what they’ve been doing or what they see potential for doing in the future.”
The awards also may serve as an incentive or encouragement for an artist who has increased their commitment to, for example, stage acting and has had a significant impact, Hanel said. “It becomes a nice way to encourage someone to keep up the good work” and, by example, inspire others to consider making a similar commitment.
All of the “Of the Year” awards will be presented at the council’s Northwest Art Exhibit on April 25 at Warroad RiverPlace in Warroad, Minnesota.
The awards have been given each year since 2002 to recognize artists and arts advocates who have distinguished themselves in terms of artistry or volunteerism in the arts. Oftentimes there are nominees who serve, or have served, in both roles, Hanel said.
The Arts Advocate of the Year award recognizes someone who is a voice and advocate for the arts within the community, local school or the region. In this category, “arts” refers to all disciplines, Hanel said.
The Artist of the Year award can be given to an artist who works in any discipline, including visual, performing and creative writing and who may be considered an emerging artist. The recipient will be someone who is at a mid-way point in their artistic endeavors.
The Northwest Star Award, given for lifetime achievement, can be “a wonderful gift” to someone who has chosen “a hard career path related to artistic expression,” Hanel said.
Recipients are chosen by the Northwest Minnesota Arts Council’s 11-member board. The membership consists of one person from each county in the service area and three at-large members. Nominees who are not selected may be carried over into another year, Hanel said.
Funding for the Northwest Star and Northwest Artist of the Year awards comes from The McKnight Foundation. Funding for the Northwest Arts Advocate of the Year award comes from the Minnesota State Legislature.
Anyone who believes their nominee qualifies for the Northwest Star Award, and has questions, should contact the Northwest Minnesota Arts Council at (218) 745-8886, ext. 1, or email
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The nomination form is available on the council’s website,
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