NWMAC Calendar
Upcoming Events
NW Annual Art Exhibit
This year, the annual Art Exhibit will be at the University of Minnesota Crookston from Monday, April 7 until Sunday, April 27. Artwork will be dropped off on Monday, March 31 from 10 AM - 7 PM at UMC. Details about times will be announced.
Artists and creatives from our 7 county- service region will be competing for $2,300 in cash awards. The first place prize for adults is $500! Exhibit cash award winners will be chosen while the exhibit is on display by a qualified juror. They will be recognized and receive their check at the Artist Reception at UMC on Sunday, April 27. Some of the artwork will be for sale.
Submissions Due for Annual Art Exhibit
Submissions Accepted Through February 28 for the NW Annual Art Exhibit
Our “Call for Entries” for the 2025 Annual Art Exhibit is open until February 28, 2025. The deadline to submit your artwork is February 28, 2025.
This year, the annual Art Exhibit will be at the University of Minnesota Crookston from Monday, April 7 until Sunday, April 27. Artwork will be dropped off on Monday, March 31 from 10 AM - 7 PM at UMC.
Artists and creatives from our 7 county- service region are invited to enter this art exhibit and will be competing for $2,300 in cash awards. The first place prize for adults is $500! Artists must reside in Kittson, Marshall, Norman, Polk, Pennington, Roseau, or Red Lake counties to be eligible. Both adults and high school students are encouraged to enter up to two pieces. Exhibit cash award winners will be chosen while the exhibit is on display by a qualified juror. They will be recognized and receive their check at the Artist Reception at UMC on Sunday, April 27. Artists are welcome to have their work in the exhibit available for sale.
See https://northwestminnesotaartscouncil.org/nwmnartsexhibit-apply for more information, including the exhibit entry rules and directions. If you would like the entry form mailed to you, please contact our office 218-745-8886 ext 1 or director@nwartscouncil.org. The entry form must be submitted no later than February 28, 2025.
NW Art Exhibit
The Northwest Minnesota Annual Art Exhibit
Open April 3 – April 21
Kittson County History Museum
Lake Bronson
Reception and Program on April 21 to
Honor Exhibit & Of the Year Award Winners
The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council is pleased to announce the NW Annual Art Exhibit is at the Kittson County History Museum in Lake Bronson from April 3 until April 21.
Adult artists from our 7 county- service region (Kittson, Marshall, Norman, Polk, Pennington, Roseau, and Red Lake Falls) will enter their art art, including photography, sculpture, drawings, and paintings, into this exhibit and are competing for $2,300.00 in cash awards. Attendees at the exhibit can vote for People’s Choice. Exhibit cash award winners will be chosen while the exhibit is on display by a qualified juror. They will be recognized and receive their check at the Artist Reception.
Student art will be included in the exhibit and will also be eligible for cash awards.
The exhibit is at the Kittson County History Museum at 332 East Main Street, Lake Bronson and will be open for the public to view art and vote for People’s Choice. Stay tuned for times and dates.
Wednesday, April 3. Opening Day.
Sunday, April 21. Closing Day. Exhibit opens at noon. Reception begins at 2 pm, Program at 3pm.
There will be a reception and program on April 21 at the Lake Bronson History Museum. Exhibit will be open for viewing artwork at noon. Reception with light refreshments and music will start at 2:00 PM in the cafeteria with the program at 3:00 PM. Of the Year Awards -- the NW Star Award -- Lifetime Achievement, Artist of the Year, and Arts Advocate of the Year will be presented, in addition to exhibit awards. The Exhibit and Reception are open to the public and free to attend. Many pieces of art are for sale and the public is encouraged to shop. Purchases can be marked as sold and picked up on April 21 after the reception. The reception is a wonderful day of celebrating the arts in our region.
Funding for these awards is provided by the McKnight Foundation and the Minnesota State Legislature.
NW Art Exhibit Drop off art
Today is the day to drop off your art for the NW Art Exhibit. Trey will be there from 10 AM to 7 PM to receive it.
NW Exhibit and Of the Year Reception and Program
Please join us on Sunday, April 30 to view the NW Art Exhibit and honor awardees of the exhibit and Of the Year winners. The exhibit has been open at the Middle River Legacy Center in March and April.
The reception and program on April 30 will be held at the Middle River Legacy Center. According to NWMAC Director Mara Hanel,
“Our artist reception is a great time to celebrate our award winners and the talented residents from our area. Please attend to show your support and see the high-quality art on display. I look forward to this reception each year since it is an annual highlight!"
The reception and program includes mingling, refreshments, and live music. Of the Year Awards -- the NW Star Award (Cathy Erickson)-- Lifetime Achievement, Artist of the Year, (Debbie Auntie) and Arts Advocate of the Year (Bonnie Stewart) will be presented.
NW Art Exhibit awards will also be presented to:
Adult Winners
1st Place $500 Jessica Ross of Thief River Falls for painting “Field Work”
2nd Place $300 Betsy Saurdiff of Grygla in Folk/Traditional Fine Craft “Grandma's Quilt”
3rd Place $200 Megan Sugden of Hallock for photography ‘Abandoned Divco Milk Truck’
Merit $100 Dennis Lee of Red Lake Falls in acrylic painting “Old House”
Merit $100 Nancy Vraa of Red Lake Falls in Folk/traditional Fine Craft ‘Country Classic”
Merit $100 Tim Anderson of Goodridge in Folk/Traditional Fine Craft “Let Your Light Shine” (wood bowl)
Merit $100 Debbie Dahl Aune of Gatzke for watercolor painting “Long Shadows”
Merit $100 Andrea Halvorson of Goodridge for drawing “Carrying Mom to Heaven”
People’s Choice $100 TBD
Student Winners
1st Place $300 Carter Lee Johnsrud of Goodridge for mixed media “Masking”
2nd Place $150 Andrew Glad of Greenbush for Other Folk Art “Vincent“
3rd Place $100 Geneva Gartner of Fertile in sculpture “Moth”
Merit $50 Quinn Pittman of Greenbush for drawing “Moe”
Merit $50 Ashton Jensrud of Fertile for other typewriter drawing “15” (Boston terrier)
Merit $50 Rhiana Utter of Greenbush for print “Elsa”
Merit $50 Paris Sondreal of Middle River in sculpture Vase Tumbler
Merit $50 Logan Krueger of Fertile for mixed media “Frederick” (burned paper skull)
People’s Choice $50 TBD
The Exhibit and Reception are open to the public and free to attend. Many pieces of art are for sale and the public is encouraged to shop. Purchases can be marked as sold and picked up on April 30 at the reception. The reception is a wonderful day of celebrating the arts in our region.
NW Art Exhibit Submissions Due
Submission Deadline for NW Art Exhibit
The Northwest Minnesota Art Exhibit is held annually at locations throughout our region. Artists from our 7 county- service region can enter into this art exhibit and compete for $2,300.00 in cash awards. Artists must reside in Kittson, Marshall, Norman, Polk, Pennington, Roseau, or Red Lake counties to be eligible. Both adult and student artists are encouraged to enter. You can enter up to two pieces of artwork. To be eligible a work must have been completed within the last five years and not have been accepted into a previous Northwest Minnesota Art Exhibit. Exhibit cash award winners are chosen while the exhibit is on display by a qualified juror. They are recognized and receive their check at the Artist Reception held at the end of the exhibition.
A juror or committee will determine which pieces will be part of the exhibit from the slides or photographs you submit with your entry form. Selected work must be delivered to the exhibition site and framed correctly. Contact us with questions.
To enter. The entry form is now in our on-line portal and it is due the last day of February each year. Click >>> LOGIN then Create New Account to set yourself up as a user. (If you have already applied for one of our grant programs, you can use your same Login.) This is the same place that applicants register to receive a grant. Therefore, once you are registered you will be able to use this same website to monitor your entry and see past entries and receive automatic emails; and manage any grants you may receive from our office.