Lake Region Arts Council offers two different Artist Cohort Programs.
Programs alternate every other year. The Artist of Color Cohort will run in LRAC’s 2025-26 fiscal year and is funded by McKnight Foundation. The Artist Cohort runs from 2026-27 and is funded by the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. The programs’ purpose is to help artists identify and work on achieving their professional goals.
This free, nine-month program runs from October 2025 through June 2026 and provides intensive career support to help artists advance their professional goals. Applications open Tuesday, September 9 and close Monday, September 29, 2025.
Participants will receive:
• One-on-one career support, coaching, and goal setting
• A professional photoshoot of their work and a headshot
• A professionally produced 2 or 3-minute promotional video
• Grant writing support and guidance on applying for funding
• Springboard for the Arts “Work of Art” training series
• Individual support with Artist Statements and Bios
• A feature article in LRAC’s ArtsNews newsletter
• Career promotion through LRAC’s Facebook page
• Talking Circles hosted by professional artists of color
• A group exhibition in LRAC’s Main Gallery
• …and much more!
Naomi RaMona Schliesman
Artist Cohort Coordinator
Eligible counties for the LRAC BIPOC Artist Cohort: Becker, Clay, Douglas, Grant, Otter Tail, Pope, Stevens, Traverse, Wilkin, Cass in MN, and Richland Counties in North Dakota.
Eligible counties for the LRAC Artist Cohort: Becker, Clay, Douglas, Grant, Otter Tail, Pope, Stevens, Traverse, & Wilkin.
Feel free to contact Naomi, Program Coordinator, for more information at LRAC4@LRACgrants.org or 218-739-5780.
Participants in the 2024-2025 Artist Cohort:
Maren Kostrzewski
Emma Tomb
Whitney McClain
Katy Olson
Tina Goodmund
2023-2024 Artists of Color Cohort
Lera Hepner
Jalaya Whitecloud
Richard Palay
2022-2023 Artist Cohort
Courtney Werk
Annette Marchand
Vicky Radel
Jessica Hexum
Anna Lasonde
Brian Christiansen
2021-2022 Artists of Color Cohort
Amanda Strauss
Brenda Uses Arrow
Judy Smiley
2020-2021 Artist Cohort
Nancy XiaoRong Valentine
Jillayne Hanson
Michael Burgraff
Kelli Sinner
Carmen McCullough
Kandace Creel Falcon
Other Artist Cohorts from Years Past
Patricia Wahl
Chris Mortenson
Ruth Hanson
Chanda Kraft
Bridget Guiza
Su Legatt
Becky Albright
Jon Thompson
Sarah Eckel
Sharon Marquardt
Katherine McDowell
Ann DuHamel
Grace Clark
Michael Weatherly
Victoria Hannah
Amanda Boyle
Jodi Peterson
Alexis A. Johnson
