The Back Track to Art

Artist grant information sessionsIndividual artists who would like to learn about grant opportunities offered by the Minnesota State Arts Board and their regional arts councils, are invited to attend a free grant information session. Twelve sessions will be held throughout the state; artists may attend any session. The schedule of sessions is available on the Arts Board’s Web site.

Note: This session is intended to serve our region.

But, in case you can’t make this meeting, there are plenty of other meetings scheduled around the region and around the state.

Artists can also schedule a one-on-one appointment with an Arts Board program officer, on the morning after each session. During the appointment the program officer can answer questions about Arts Board grant opportunities, and offer specific advice on how to apply for a grant.

To register for an information session, and/or to schedule a one-on-one appointment with a program officer, call the Arts Board at (651) 215-1600 or (800) 866-2787.

At the Northfield Guild, we struggle with modern economic realities, just like most modern families do. This past month, for instance, while we finally received a generous donation of desperately needed new(ish) computers, of course the cost to have the hardware put in place and the software installed still came to over $1000–a bill we can scarcely afford, especially considering how tight has been charitable giving this past year…

But this is not to complain. Instead, it’s to indicate we Guilders fully understand how hard it can be to make ends meet these days. And this, of course, can be especially true of hard-working artists, struggling to sell their work to a stressed out public and to find resources to keep their practices alive.

This awareness of modern economic realities is why we are proud to announce the launch, at long last, of the Artists Resource Center at the Guild. This is thanks to several recent donations of materials, as well as the hard organizational work of our able intern, Caleb Hendrickson. The Center includes resources, information, and other services that are intended to help artists help themselves. In a week or 10 days, I will post a full list of the current resources available (or soon to be available) at the Guild’s Resource Center, and I will issue a challenge to artists to continue to pool their resources for the good of each other. If you would like to know in advance of that posting, feel free to come by or email me at michael(at)northfieldartsguild(dot)org.

Be well, and don’t be distant.

…who help themselves.

This idea, which I believe strongly, was posited in a recent article in the Mankato Free Press, called “A career in art means marketing yourself.” This article describes the typically gloomy-doomy atmosphere that most artists inhabit.

The [recently published] ‘Economic Impact of Minnesota’s Individual Artists’ showed artists in southwest Minnesota have difficulty finding a market to sell their work.

While 26 percent of the artists in the Twin Cities work full time on their craft, only 6 percent do so in south-central Minnesota.

When the study was released, Kevin Kroeber of Mankato said he’s one of those struggling artists. He said he worked four part-time jobs to help support his family and had little time to paint. Even if he did have more time to paint and show his work more often, he doubts it would make much of a difference in this market.

“There’s not a big enough clientele in Mankato,” he said. “I just think it’s the rural mentality. Most of the artists that can support themselves off their art live in the metropolitan area.”

Brenda Flintrop, executive director for Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council, said Kroeber is not alone. Many artists in southern Minnesota struggle not only to sell their work, but also to find places to show it.

Still, despite the difficult local art market a number of Mankato artists have found ways to make a niche for themselves. The key? According to the story, artists simply have to be willing to get out there and do the work themselves to establish a market and an audience.

I’ve written here on this blog a number of times about the Northfield Arts Guild’s commitment to helping artists help themselves. The main initiative that I have started here at the Guild to address artists’ needs is the Artists Resource Center. In coming days, I’ll be writing about some of the recent developments with the A.R.C. and about some recent donations that will be of help to artists.

I’ll also be soliciting artists–yet again–to do something to contribute to their own welfare by contributing to the A.R.C. Stay tuned!

The arts need support in this country, on that we can all agree. But the tough question is how can a community ensure a stable source of support for the arts through the varied and ever-changing winds of politics, the economy, and simple social trends?

One community’s solution? Use a sin tax to support the arts! Apparently Cuyahoga County in Ohio (read: Cleveland an environs) has put in place a 1.5 cent per cigarette tax to fund the arts. Thus far, the tax has generated $500,000 that will be doled out in grants to individual artists by late 2008.

Pass me the smokes, wouldya? It’s for a good cause!

I highly recommend to any and all artists and arts-minded people in Northfield and its environs that you try to attend the upcoming Springboard for the Arts Health Fair for Artists. Not only is it FREE(!), but it looks to provide some very crucial information for any artist grappling with our nation’s tangled health care system.

Date/Time:   Saturday, Nov 3 10:00 am - 2:00 pm

Location:    Carleton Lofts, 2285 University Ave, Saint Paul, MN

Once again, this event is completely FREE. The only requirement is that you need to RSVP and register in advance here.

Here’s a little bit more info (from Springboard’s website):

This year’s BIGGER and BETTER Health Fair for Artists is for ALL artists, arts administrators, and their families. There will be health-related workshops, low-cost screenings, a flu shot clinic, and representatives of affordable health insurance, nutrition, fitness, low-cost clinics, and alternative care. As in past years, there will be hourly seminars on topics of special interest. And we are adding financial planners to the roster- they can help you design a plan for a healthy future, without the high pressure. Residents of the Carleton Artist Lofts will open up their spaces to Health Fair attendees, so you can check out the work of local artists while getting connected to health resources.

Springboard for the Arts has requested that we inform our artist membership of the upcoming Health Fair for Artists.

Please join us at Springboard for the Arts’ Health Fair for Artists, a day devoted to connecting all artists, arts administrators, and their families to healthcare resources.

The Health Fair is on Saturday, November 3rd from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm at the Carleton Artist Lofts in St. Paul (2285 University Ave).

The event is FREE; pre-register online at www.springboardforthearts.org or by phone at 651-292-4381. Please see below for event features, including free screenings and a list of Table Sponsors.

As many of you are aware, Northfield’s Laura Baker Services has for over a century helped people with developmental disabilities reach their potential. Laura Baker’s annual fundraising gala, held this year on October 13, features silent and live auctions. They are currently seeking donations, including works of art in any shape or form.

If you or an artist you know wishes to donate an item or service, please contact Gail Jones Hansen at writes(at)charter(dot)net (or at 645-1666) with a description of the item and, if possible, its estimated value. She’s willing to pick up your item, or you can deliver it directly to Laura Baker at 211 Oak Street.

Please consider donating, as this is one great cause! Your gift is tax deductible as allowed by law.