Three awards are given each year to recognize artists and arts advocates within our region who stand out in terms of artistry or volunteerism in the arts. Often people serve in both roles. Nominations are due on Wednesday, January 15.

Northwest Star Award

The Northwest Star Award is a lifetime achievement award. This award is for $5,000 and can be a wonderful gift to those who have chosen a hard career path related to artistic expression. Artists can only receive this award once.

Artist of the Year

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 to use however they see fit.

Arts Advocate of the Year

Our Arts Advocate of the Year award is $500 and honors someone who keeps being a voice and advocate for arts within the community or local school or the region. Arts includes all disciplines.

An ELIGIBLE NOMINATION must include one completed nomination form, narrative on merit, letters supporting the nomination, a copy of the nominee’s resume or detailed qualifications, five work samples if artist, and be received by the last day of February. Only residents of the Minnesota counties Kittson, Marshall, Norman, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake, and Roseau are eligible for these $500 awards. We also give a large Northwest Star Artist award. The first step is to nominate the person for Northwest Artist. One person will be selected to receive a $5,000 cash award from the pool of candidates and receive our Northwest Star recognition. This person must be beyond an emerging or student status to be considered. This truly is a once in a lifetime award. Additional criteria apply so please contact our office for more information if you feel your nominee will be considered 218-745-8886.

RESTRICTIONS: Each award can be received only once in a lifetime. Nominations will not be carried over from year to year. Previous nominees must be re-nominated each year. It is the policy of NWMAC that nominees will not be notified of their nomination unless they are chosen to receive an Award.
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Please consider nominating someone who you view as a deserving candidate from our seven-county service area in northwestern Minnesota. Questions? Contact our office at (218) 745-8886 or email director@NWArtsCouncil.org for more information. The nomination form is here. Curious who has received these awards in the past? Find out here.

Awards are presented at the Northwest Minnesota Arts Exhibit reception. 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.

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.

Three awards are given each year to recognize artists and arts advocates within our region who stand out in terms of artistry or volunteerism in the arts. Often people serve in both roles. Nominations are due on the last day of February each year.

Northwest Star Award

The Northwest Star Award is a lifetime achievement award. This award is for $5,000 and can be a wonderful gift to those who have chosen a hard career path related to artistic expression. Artists can only receive this award once.

Artist of the Year

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 to use however they see fit.

Arts Advocate of the Year

Our Arts Advocate of the Year award is $500 and honors someone who keeps being a voice and advocate for arts within the community or local school or the region. Arts includes all disciplines.

An ELIGIBLE NOMINATION must include one completed nomination form, narrative on merit, letters supporting the nomination, a copy of the nominee’s resume or detailed qualifications, five work samples if artist, and be received by the last day of February. Only residents of the Minnesota counties Kittson, Marshall, Norman, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake, and Roseau are eligible for these $500 awards. We also give a large Northwest Star Artist award. The first step is to nominate the person for Northwest Artist. One person will be selected to receive a $5,000 cash award from the pool of candidates and receive our Northwest Star recognition. This person must be beyond an emerging or student status to be considered. This truly is a once in a lifetime award. Additional criteria apply so please contact our office for more information if you feel your nominee will be considered 218-745-8886.

RESTRICTIONS: Each award can be received only once in a lifetime. Nominations will not be carried over from year to year. Previous nominees must be re-nominated each year. It is the policy of NWMAC that nominees will not be notified of their nomination unless they are chosen to receive an Award.* * * * * * * *

Please consider nominating someone who you view as a deserving candidate from our seven-county service area in northwestern Minnesota. Questions? Contact our office at (218) 745-8886 or email director@NWArtsCouncil.org for more information.