Northwest Minnesota Arts Council seeks nominations for annual awards

WARREN, Minnesota — The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council is seeking nominations for its “Of the Year” awards. The deadline to submit nominations is Feb. 29.

Nominees must reside in the council’s seven-county service area in northwestern Minnesota: Kittson, Marshall, Norman, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake and Roseau.

The awards, given annually to recognize artists and arts activists in the region who stand out in terms of artistry or volunteerism, are: Arts Advocate of the Year, Artist of the Year, and Northwest Star Award.

The Arts Advocate of the Year Award honors someone who is a voice and advocate for any of the arts disciplines within the community, local school, or the council’s service area. The award includes a $500 cash prize.

The Artist of the Year Award can be given to any art discipline, including visual, performing or creative writing. The nominee is an emerging artist or is at a midway point in their artistic endeavors. A $500 cash prize is given with this award.

The Northwest Star Award is considered a lifetime achievement award, according to an announcement from the arts council. The $5,000 cash prize “can be a wonderful gift to those who have chosen a hard career path related to artistic expression,” said Mara Hanel, the council’s director.

Funding for the Northwest Star and Northwest Artist of the Year awards is provided by The McKnight Foundation.

Funding for the Northwest Arts Advocate of the Year award come from the Minnesota State Legislature.

The nomination form is on the council’s website at:

https://northwestminnesotaartscouncil.org/nominations-for-of-the-year-awards

.

The awards are scheduled to be presented at the Northwest Art Exhibit reception April 21 at the Kittson County History Museum in Lake Bronson.

Anyone who has a nominee in mind and has questions is welcome to contact the arts council office at (218) 745-8886, ext. 1, or email

director@NWArtsCouncil.org

for more information.