Lake Region Arts Council awarded seven Career Development Grants totaling $12,000 in May.
The Career Development Grants are funded by a grant from Lake Region Arts Council through McKnight Foundation funding.
Shanna Cramer, Visual Artist/Painting - $2,000, Clay County
Cramer will invest in a painting mentorship, obtain an easel to hold larger wedding-sized canvases, and promote herself as a live wedding painter. The one-on-one online mentorship with renowned artist Joe Paquet will improve her skills and focus as an artist. The easel is lightweight enough to carry to weddings, and large and sturdy enough to hold larger wedding-sized canvases. “Wedding painting is usually done onsite and completed in the studio. The wedding day is to capture the energy and mood. The studio time is to complete the details. When the wedding couple views the final painting, I want them to feel the mood and vibe of the day. This can be captured on canvas in a way nothing else can.” - Cramer
Douglas Harbin, Music/Composition- $1,800, Clay County
Harbin will record audio of a variety of insect sounds, in collaboration with Dr. Courtney Gruba (USDA), to use as source material to then compose a new electronic composition for cello and electronics about the plight of the honeybee. “Some of the sounds that I hope to record include minute sounds of an individual honeybee, a hissing cockroach amplified by a drum/timpani, and the active sound of a multitude of bees in a local sunflower field.” - Harbin
Phillip Gilbert, Music/Instrumental - $2,000, Becker County
Gilbert will pursue one-on-one lessons with champion fiddle player, Loy Larson. Classes will be both on-line training and in-person training, focusing on accuracy, tone, performance along with his mandolin skills. Gilbert will upgrade his mandolin and replace his violin bow to produce a clearer and more resonant sound. “I am confident that working with Loy Larson, I will improve my playing skills and techniques for playing bluegrass, old-time, blues and country genres on both violin and mandolin.” - Gilbert
Kim Larson, Literary Artist/Children’s - $2,000, Clay County
Larson will develop brand awareness as a children’s book author by reading her debut picture book and giving a presentation to students in grades K-2 at seven Lake Region Area public schools. Her debut picture book is a humorous early reader. Children will laugh while learning to read. “My second story, Doll Trouble, will be published in spring 2025 by Clavis Publishing. It explores how the world might see you if your appearance changed after an accident. I want a child to learn empathy and have courage to stand up for those disabled.” - Larson
Mary Olson, Literary Artist/Fiction - $1,600, Otter Tail County
Olson will work with a developmental editor in order to improve, polish, and complete her manuscript, "Death Sells". Her novel is a contemporary fiction novel that explores the subjectivity of truth, perspective, and morality, all while offering the reader a thrilling and entertaining read, leaving them wondering if it's right or wrong for them to be thrilled with the book at all. “My goal as a writer is to entertain and illuminate, to create stories that provoke thought all while being enjoyable to read. I continue to hone my craft by exploring new narratives, reading, participating in writing contests, and using learning resources.” - Olson
Michael Pettit, Visual Artist/Sculpture - $1,770, Otter Tail County
Pettit will purchase woodworking equipment, miter saw, planner, router, and a set of carving chisels, which will expand the complexity and quality of his work. He is starting to transition to the use of more wood that he’s harvesting. “The equipment will allow me to increase the complexity and quality of my work.” - Pettit
Craig Palm, Visual Artist/Sculpture- $630, Grant County
Palm will procure supplies and equipment to create business marketing, and an art fair booth exhibit with the ultimate goal to establish new steel sign business opportunities. He will have his first public exhibit this summer at the Phelps Mill Festival in July. “The beauty of nature is my true inspiration for my project ideas. What really pleases me is when a sculpture is complete, and I see the smiles it brings to others.” - Palm
The LRAC Career Development Grant is a $2,000 grant, open to all applicants in the LRAC nine-county region: Becker, Clay, Douglas, Grant, Otter Tail, Pope, Stevens, Traverse and Wilkin counties. The next round of the LRAC Career Development Grant will open on February 17, 2025. This grant program is funded by McKnight Foundation and these grants may take place outside of the LRAC region.
In the summer of 2024, LRAC will be offering the Artist Quick Start Grant for individuals in the LRAC region. The Artist Quick Start grant will fund up to $1,000 per applicant for trainings, workshops, supplies, equipment, marketing, production, and time to create new work. The application will open July 1, 2024 and the deadline to apply is Thursday, August 8, 2024. Both the LRAC Artist Quick Start and the Career Development Grant are funded by a grant from Lake Region Arts Council with McKnight Foundation funding.
