R2AC Awards Anishinaabe Arts Initiative Grants

The Region 2 Arts Council (R2AC) awarded $3,900 through the Anishinaabe Arts Initiative (AAI) Program. Monies awarded are for arts activities related to its mission of supporting, maintaining, and promoting traditional and contemporary Native American arts in North Central Minnesota. The Anishinaabe Arts Initiative grants program is supported by a grant from the McKnight Foundation. Current AAI Council members are Tom Buckanaga, Mary Guardipee, Douglas Lee, Genny Lowry, Bernice Mitchell, Delana Smith, Debra Warren, Delina White, and Harold "Dunesy" White, Jr. The grant recipients and information about their projects are listed below.

Dana Goodwin, of Mahnomen, received $1,000 to create, in collaboration with Dennis Williams, a beaded, quilted, and brain-tanned buckskin skirt to accompany a fully beaded northern traditional top.

Dennis Williams, of Mahnomen, was awarded $989 to create, in collaboration with Dana Goodwin, a beaded, quilted, and brain-tanned buckskin skirt to accompany a fully beaded northern traditional top.

David Clark, of Bemidji, received $1,000 to purchase Protools software and Grace Design M101 microphone pre-amp to help in recording his next album with his band N8ive Bro.

Mika Marqui Pacheco-Northbird, of Cass Lake, was awarded $911 to create fully beaded dance regalia to be used as first prize in a local Iron Man Contest.

The next deadline for the Anishinaabe Arts Initiative (AAI) Grant for Native American Artists is October 3, 2012. Call the Region 2 Arts Council office at 751-5447 or 1-800-275-5447 for more information. Applications for these grants will be available in the Region 2 Arts Council Office at 426 Bemidji Avenue, Bemidji, MN 56601, or download an application from our website, http//r2arts.org.