R2AC Awards Arts and Cultural Heritage Grants

Region 2 Arts Council (R2AC) recently awarded $52,411 through the Arts and Cultural Heritage Grants Program, to arts organizations and non-profits in Beltrami, Hubbard, and Lake of the Woods counties. The funds will be used to create opportunities for arts access, arts education, and building bridges between Minnesotans and were made available through an appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund passed by Minnesota voters on November 4, 2008. The grant recipients included:

The Bemidji Woodcarvers Club, Bemidji, received $2,705 to provide 3 all-day workshops on Scandinavian flat-plane style woodcarving in Bemidji and Park Rapids, May 18-23, 2012.

North Beltrami Heritage Center, Kelliher, was awarded $2,650 to create a sculpture garden using local materials and plants that reflect the heritage of the surrounding area.

Park Rapids Lakes Area Arts Council, Park Rapids, received $6,000 to assist artists of many disciplines to perform/show in downtown Park Rapids on the third Thursday of every month.

Mask & Rose Theater Collective, Bemidji, was awarded $4,041 to present “Petite Rouge – a Cajun Red Riding Hood”, to under-served schools, as well as a performance at Neilson Place for elders.

Upstream Television, Bemidji, received $6,000 to provide workshops and produce a 48-hour film festival.

Bemidji High School, Bemidji, was awarded $1,200 to present “Mark Twain Himself,” to the students as an educational opportunity and to the community as a public performance.

Nemeth Art Center, Park Rapids, received $1,615 to assist in the creation of a new logo, signage and the development and distribution of printed material.

Minnesota Folklore Theater, Akeley, was awarded $3,090 to present children’s classic “Narnia” with special student matinees.

Pequana Playhouse, Baudette, received $1,200 to present a Mixed Blood Theatre Company production of “According to Coyote,” a collection of Native American tales music and folklore at the Lake of the Woods School Auditorium on October 25, 2011 at 7 p.m. and on October 26, 2011 at 9 a.m.

Depot Preservation Alliance, Baudette, was awarded $1,376 to present a high quality arts and culture experience for area residents celebrating classic, ethnic and contemporary Native American flute and Celtic Folk Harp music as performed by Timeless Traditions at the Baudette Depot Gallery Room.

Bemidji Community Theater, Bemidji, received $4,526 to produce, in collaboration with Paul Bunyan Playhouse, a children’s musical titled “The Magical Pied Piper” in April of 2012 at the historic Chief Theater in downtown Bemidji.

Red Bridge Film Festival, Park Rapids, was awarded $2,076 to select, program, promote, present and partially subsidize to a public audience a film festival consisting of at least six worthy film programs at the Park Rapids Theatre on Main Street in Park Rapids, Minnesota during April 2012.

Bemidji Symphony Orchestra, Bemidji, was awarded $6,000 to recruit and train an ensemble of young musicians from the region to perform at a March 4, 2012 concert.

Northern Light Opera Company, Park Rapids, was awarded $6,000 to produce six performances of “The Sound of Music” at the Park Rapids Area High School auditorium, July 27 - August 4, 2012.

Boys & Girls Club, Bemidji, was awarded $3,932 to assist in offering pottery, collage, and dance classes to youth ages 6-18.

The next Arts and Cultural Heritage Grant deadline is January 17, 2012

Applications are available in the Region 2 Arts Council Office, 426 Bemidji Avenue, Bemidji, MN 56601, or for download from our website, http//r2arts.org. Please call us at 751-5447 or 1-800-275-5447 for more information.