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!

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.

A Northfield artist has alerted the Arts Guild of an important and useful upcoming workshop that is being organized by Springboard for the Arts.

If anyone is interested in attending a workshop introducing artists to NYFA Source–a database of helpful services to artists–on October 11, the artist is looking for someone to carpool with. To arrange this ride, please contact us at 507-645-8877 or email me at michael(at)northfieldartsguild(dot)org.

FORECAST PUBLIC ARTWORKS’ annual grant program supports emerging Minnesota artists who wish to research or produce a public art project anywhere (*Blogger Note: Includes Northfield) in the state. Grants given include: (4) $1000 Research & Development Grants, (4) $4500 Project Grants, and (1) $9000 University Avenue Commission.

PUBLIC ART WORKSHOPS — Free and open to all. Workshops cover a brief introduction to public art, civic engagement theories, examples of successful projects, and an application overview.

Saturday, Sept. 29, 1 - 4 pm — Duluth, Arrowhead Regional Arts Council

Wednesday, Oct. 3, 6 - 9 pm — Twin Cities, Forecast Public Artworks

Saturday, Oct. 13, 1 - 4 pm –  Twin Cities, Forecast Public Artworks

Sunday, Oct. 14, 1 - 4 pm — Rochester, Rochester Art Center

Please RSVP for a workshop by calling 651-641-1128 or by emailing melinda(at)forecastART(dot)org.

Application materials are available at the workshops, at www.forecastPUBLICart.org or by phone request.

*Note: This blog post is based on an essay I originally wrote for mnartists.org. **Warning: This post is longer than is typical of most blog postings.

All of us in the arts know by now that the economics of the arts is a tricky negotiation. Though some time ago I traded in the pressures of the artist’s life for those of the critic and administrator, I have continued through the years to study and address the struggles of visual artists.

Unfortunately, though perhaps understandably, public discussions about the welfare of artists often turn into long bellyache festivals, in which the assembled artists spill much personal frustration. For example, at a focus group on the needs of aging artists I ran last year, I met Lyn Foulkes, a long-brilliant seventy-odd-year-old L.A. painter. I was hopeful, since he has exhibited work throughout his career in New York, Paris, and in many major institutions, that he would have insights to offer about how to build a successful artist’s life; instead, Foulkes dashed my hopes by opening the discussion with loud gusts of frustration, blaming his current professional woes on gallery owners, artistic peers, the media, and the public, who, he claimed, prefer hot young artists and fresh new trends over more established artists.

“If I were given the choice now to become an artist,” he said, “I’d probably choose not to become one.”

My interest in finding ways to help artists like Foulkes had led to my escape from Minnesota two years ago to attend the H. John Heinz III School of Public Policy and Management at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. Here, among other activities, I established and led a four-month group research project called “Essential Services for Aging Artists” (ESAA). The ESAA project made use of focus-group discussions of artists in New York, Los Angeles, and Pittsburgh, a survey of more than 1,300 artists currently working nation-wide, a study of existing information about the state of artists and research into what services currently exist for artists, and a group analysis of the data we collected. The project’s goals were to gain a clearer understanding of the problems and needs that visual artists face as they age, to research services that currently exist to address these needs, to pinpoint needs still unaddressed, and to make recommendations for addressing these needs. Our final report on aging artists was comprised of chapters on our findings regarding details about the overall current “state of the artist” and on the needs of artists in eight essential service categories: housing, estate planning, business skills, archiving, legal services, retirement, insurance, and health care.

THE ESSENTIAL SERVICES FOR AGING ARTIST PROJECT uncovered a few general themes. The most important of these was the need for ALL artists, both young and old, to become educatedin the wide range of services available currently to address their needs. ESAA’s survey repeatedly revealed that most artists have limited knowledge about what services are available to assist them with such challenges as finding affordable housing, obtaining business skills, providing for their own retirement, or protecting themselves in the event of a health crisis. In the report, therefore, we suggest that artists of all ages take more initiative in obtaining information about critical needs they will face throughout their careers and about the services to address these needs. We also recommend to providers of services for artists that they implement more effective marketing of their services to what is a rather eccentric interest group.

This suggests another important theme revealed through our research. The practice of visual art typically demands that artists spend long hours alone in a studio in front of their art works and away from other people. This isolation has important ramifications. For instance, ESAA’s survey revealed that 24.3% of respondents felt somewhat set apart from other people, and 7.4% felt very set apart. A 75-year-old female painter who participated in our New York focus group concurred: “In not being joiners, we are holed up in our own studios.” In Pittsburgh, a male painter agreed, responding: “I think [being alone] is a professional hazard.”

While the practice of visual art may create strong, independent, and individualistic thinkers, it also seems to create a broad aversion toward working or cooperating with others. This aversion is particularly troublesome, because, as independent contractors, visual artists typically are forced to take control of such critical career aspects as planning for their retirement, drafting contracts and running a business, obtaining health coverage, and so on. ESAA’s report recommended therefore that individual artists do everything they can to establish a strong support network—become part of a greater community—as early as possible in their careers.

Becoming part of a network of artists, of an artists’ membership organization (NOTE: Like the Northfield Arts Guild!), or of the larger community can have important practical benefits for visual artists. Joining a network not only helps artists find necessary services to address their needs, but it also builds confidence, provides support, and leads to opportunities for networking. Strength in numbers may even allow a group of visual artists to have influence over arts organizations, communities, or local politics and decisions regarding issues important to artists. Artist membership organizations, meanwhile, offer other practical benefits. By joining an organization, visual artists can take advantage of group rates for health insurance, educational workshops, or workspace. Although many membership organizations charge yearly dues, the cost of the dues can be offset by group discounts on art supplies or on other services. In addition, these dues are tax deductible.

Alyson Stanfield, an artist consultant, recommends specifically that visual artists get out of the studio and join up with others not only because of the benefits mentioned above, but because this “builds your confidence, provides emotional and professional support, and opens your eyes to opportunities you never knew existed.” Stanfield suggests that 85-95% of artists get gallery shows because of a recommendation from “another artist, dealer, curator, collector, or other art world type.” Even if no appropriate organization exists, Stanfield suggests that by doing something as simple as holding an “artists’ salon,” or an informal gathering where artists can share work and ideas and can discuss challenges they are facing, everyone can receive significant benefits.

EVEN IF YOU, AS AN ARTIST, BELIEVE IT’S A WASTE OF TIME to do anything other than focusing on creating and exhibiting work, community involvement does not have to interfere with your artistic practice, and the benefits far outweigh any disadvantages. The basic fact is while it is difficult to sustain a career as a visual artist over the long haul, and while it often seems that no one cares about the artist’s struggles and no one is willing to listen to the artist’s complaints, in actuality there are plenty of places in the community that artists can turn to for help. Artists need only be willing to commit to and belong to a community arts organization.

Individual artists should be advised of two upcoming information sessions regarding grants for Minnesota artists.

Artist Grant Information Sessions

The Minnesota State Arts Board and Minnesota’s eleven regional arts councils will hold a series of grant information sessions for artists this summer. If you’d like to learn about the Arts Board’s Artist Initiative programs please plan to attend.

Attendees will learn about the Arts Board’s grant review process, and will get advice on how to prepare a strong grant application. You can also sign up for a one-on-one appointment with an Arts Board program officer to discuss your work and your particular project.

In Southeast Minnesota an information session is scheduled for:

To register for a session, or to sign up for a one-on-one appointment:

.

Bush Artist Fellowship Program — Information Meetings

Regional information meetings will be held in September and October 2007 to review the application materials and selection process, as well as answer questions.

Each meeting will focus on all three programs that make up the 2008 Bush Artist Fellows Program including:

		Bush Artist Fellowships
		Enduring Vision Awards
		Dakota Creative Connections (North Dakota and South Dakota only

In Southeast Minnesota:

Lanesboro, MN
Thursday, September 13, 2007 — 5:30 p.m.
Commonweal Theatre Company
206 Parkway Avenue North

The following information was sent in by Arts Guild member Riki Kolbl Nelson. (She is going to be a presenter at this conference.)

Southeastern Minnesota Creativity and Aging Conference

Join us for a full day of performances, presentations, and artistic participation.

Keynote: “Creativity Matters! Arts and Aging across America”

Friday, September 14, 2007
SE Minnesota Creativity and Aging Conference
Cornerstone Community Church
Redwing, MN
Cost: $30.00 includes lunch

Keynote speaker Susan Perlstein is widely known for her pioneering, award-winning work in arts and ging. She is founder of the Elders Share the Arts (ESTA) in New York City and the founder and Executive director of the National Center for Creative Aging (NCCA). ESTA, founded in 1979, empowers hundreds of older adults each year to transmit the legacy of their stories through literary, visual, or performing arts.

Under Perlstein’s leadership, NCCA has launched a national campaign, “ The Art of Aging: Creativity Matters,” and has equipped artists, educators, and health care and social service professionals across the nation with the know-how and resources to engage older adults in the arts. She will highlight best practices from around the country and describe how involvement in the arts benefits older adults.

The event will also feature teaching artists in Southeastern Minnesota who will describe and demonstrate best practices they are using in their work with older adults. The day will include performances and hands-on activities plus creative conversations.

Sponsored by the Minnesota Creative Arts and Aging Network (MnCAAN)

Mail registration and payment by September 1 to:
Red Wing Senior Center
1407 West Fourth Street, Red Wing, MN 55066

For questions call:
Marie Marvin at (507) 732-7616 or Nancy Swanson at (651) 385-3296
For more information about MnCAAN please contact:
Pat Samples at patsamples@agingandcaregiving.com

The Minnesota Creative Arts and Aging Network (MnCAAN) is a Minnesota citizenled group of individuals committed to MnCAAN’S mission and led by a 20-member volunteer Design Team that meets monthly. It is affiliated with the National Center for Creative Aging and the Vital Aging Network. Among its accomplishments are holding two statewide conferences on arts and aging, sponsoring a visual arts “Art of Aging” project at eight sites around the state, and creating a highly interactive website as an ongoing information and communication center on arts and aging for Minnesotans.

This information just came over the transom. It sounds like these classes offer a fantastic opportunity for theater artists, and since there are many fabulous such people in Northfield this seemed like good information to pass along.

Introducing a new program at the Guthrie Theater - the Master Artist Series. This series of classes, workshops and seminars is presented especially for artists. It will feature the special skills and expertise of a wide range of national and international master artists working with the Guthrie throughout the coming seasons. We look forward to bringing you this informative and inspiring series!

We will begin the series this month with two workshops:

The Actor’s Process: Audition to Opening Night
With Peter Michael Goetz
Thursday, August 16
2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Guthrie Theater – Level Eight
Fee: $20.00

Speaking the Language of Shakespeare
With Andrew Wade
Tuesday, August 21
1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Guthrie Theater – Level Eight
Fee: $30.00

You can register for these workshops online at http://www.guthrietheater.org/learn/classes/for_professional_artists
or by calling the Guthrie Box Office at 612.377.2224.