Applications are open for nominations for the Northwest Minnesota Arts Council Of the Year Awards. Three awards are given each year to recognize artists and arts advocates within the region who stand out in terms of artistry or volunteerism in the arts. Often people serve in both roles.
The Arts Advocate of the Year award is $500.00 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.
The 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 $500.00 to use however they see fit.
Artists can only receive the 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 always the last day of February each year — this year it is February 29. 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) 745-9111 or email mara@nwrdc.org for more information. The nomination form is on the NWMAC website www.northwestaminnesotaartscouncil.org.
The awards will be presented at the Northwest Minnesota Arts Exhibit reception in Red Lake Falls on April 29 at 5:00 pm. 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.
