Singer-songwriter Gaelynn Lea and storyteller-playwright Kevin Kling combine their talents in an original musical fable, which weaves together storytelling and song to create a unique theatrical experience. This production blends their internationally-renowned skills in music and storytelling to create an intimate show that is rich in the wit and wisdom inherent in Disability Culture.

The Largroff (Gaelynn Lea) is a platypus who was born with a spontaneous genetic mutation that caused her to sprout wings, horns and a snout. The Grasshopper (Kevin Kling) lost two of his limbs as a nymph, and is on a quest to get to the city for a peaceful retirement. Together this unlikely pair embarks on a journey where they come face-to-face with different worlds, dangers and dreams. This musical play touches on identity, disability and the stories we tell ourselves. Featuring Kling’s signature poetic word-play, and an array of captivating songs, written and sung by Lea, who plays her violin accompanied by George Ellsworth.

This show will be heavy on fun and adventure, while also centering accessibility and Disability Culture. Every performance will have ASL interpretation as well as projected captioning. There will also be narrated audio descriptions at the beginning of each scene to help blind and low-vision audience members better place themselves in the worlds we are creating.

Enjoy Duluth’s beloved holiday parade from the comfort of a private party in the DAI art galleries. Trade the long hours of standing, crowds, and cold weather for a cozy spot, a gorgeous evening view of the street and hillside, hors d’oeuvres, beverages, and great company. Dress in gold, silver, jewel tones, cocktail attire. VIP limo shuttle from nearby reserved parking behind the Depot included.

Winter is the longest and most defining season in the North. With snowy days and dark nights, this season is a time both for outdoor adventure and for gathering to share traditions, meals, and stories. 

The Winterers’ Gathering & Arctic Film Festival celebrates the crafts, customs, history, and stories that have been inspired by winter. Featuring winter-centric coursework, a winter tent camp, gear sale, film festival, speakers, and more, this is a classic event to welcome the start of the chilliest season.

The 2024 Winterers’ Gathering will welcome special guest instructor Niilá Omma to teach a knifemaking course. Niilá is a duojár, a traditional Sámi craftsman, from Skellefteå, Sweden. He uses mainly reindeer antler and birch to make knives, cups, boxes, jewelry and other traditional items, and sells his work in Sweden and internationally. This is his first visit to North House Folk School. 

ARAC Grantee Alex Blust will give a presentation titled “Handmade Shoes: Lasted Bootmaking” on Saturday, November 23, at 1 p.m.

Singer-songwriter Gaelynn Lea and storyteller-playwright Kevin Kling combine their talents in an original musical fable, which weaves together storytelling and song to create a unique theatrical experience. This production blends their internationally-renowned skills in music and storytelling to create an intimate show that is rich in the wit and wisdom inherent in Disability Culture.

The Largroff (Gaelynn Lea) is a platypus who was born with a spontaneous genetic mutation that caused her to sprout wings, horns and a snout. The Grasshopper (Kevin Kling) lost two of his limbs as a nymph, and is on a quest to get to the city for a peaceful retirement. Together this unlikely pair embarks on a journey where they come face-to-face with different worlds, dangers and dreams. This musical play touches on identity, disability and the stories we tell ourselves. Featuring Kling’s signature poetic word-play, and an array of captivating songs, written and sung by Lea, who plays her violin accompanied by George Ellsworth.

This show will be heavy on fun and adventure, while also centering accessibility and Disability Culture. Every performance will have ASL interpretation as well as projected captioning. There will also be narrated audio descriptions at the beginning of each scene to help blind and low-vision audience members better place themselves in the worlds we are creating.

ARAC business meetings and orientation are scheduled on the third Thursday of the month from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. All business meetings take place over Zoom and are conducted in the spirit of the Open Meeting Law. Prior to each board meeting, board members receive important materials related to decisions and discussions for the meeting which can include financials, staff reports, panel funding recommendations, and any other items that require Board action.

All board meeting dates are open to the public unless otherwise stated. Meetings are held electronically.
To receive login information please email info@aracouncil.org

Take It With You: Season 8

Join us for 4 new episodes of this hour-long, originally scripted, live radio theater podcast complete with versatile voice actors, all original music, and foley sound effects, performed in front of a studio audience.

• September 24th

• October 22nd

• November 19th

• December 17th

Join Artist Sarah Brokke and Poet Kyle Leia as they share their collaborative project ‘Irrevocable Wholeness’; focused on healing and whole-hearted navigation of our humanity. Works on view include pieces inspired by Kyle Leia's writing, and, in turn, poems created based on Sarah Brokke's paintings; which will result in an upcoming publication.

Special Program 5:30-5:45pm (discussion of project, process, and poetry reading with live music)

This work is made possible in part by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

Image: Sarah Brokke’s piece ‘Dandelion’ based on Kyle Leia’s poem ‘I am the Dandelion’. The exhibition is on view now through the end of November.

Singer-songwriter Gaelynn Lea and storyteller-playwright Kevin Kling combine their talents in an original musical fable, which weaves together storytelling and song to create a unique theatrical experience. This production blends their internationally-renowned skills in music and storytelling to create an intimate show that is rich in the wit and wisdom inherent in Disability Culture.

The Largroff (Gaelynn Lea) is a platypus who was born with a spontaneous genetic mutation that caused her to sprout wings, horns and a snout. The Grasshopper (Kevin Kling) lost two of his limbs as a nymph, and is on a quest to get to the city for a peaceful retirement. Together this unlikely pair embarks on a journey where they come face-to-face with different worlds, dangers and dreams. This musical play touches on identity, disability and the stories we tell ourselves. Featuring Kling’s signature poetic word-play, and an array of captivating songs, written and sung by Lea, who plays her violin accompanied by George Ellsworth.

This show will be heavy on fun and adventure, while also centering accessibility and Disability Culture. Every performance will have ASL interpretation as well as projected captioning. There will also be narrated audio descriptions at the beginning of each scene to help blind and low-vision audience members better place themselves in the worlds we are creating.

Saturday, November 16th
5:00pm – 7:30pm
Free event at Blacklist Brewery and Taproom – 206 E. Superior St. Duluth, MN\

• Presentations and Open Forum – One on One Q&A with Homegrown Staff

• Learn more about the festival and how to become a volunteer

• Mix with other local musicians and artists

• Purchase tickets for the 2025 festival

• Free Concert!

  • 8pm Zeb or Zeke and the Run Away Screamings

  • 9pm Stardust Collective

  • 10pm Greg Cougar Conley

  • 11pm Privilege of the Crunchy Bunch

Singer-songwriter Gaelynn Lea and storyteller-playwright Kevin Kling combine their talents in an original musical fable, which weaves together storytelling and song to create a unique theatrical experience. This production blends their internationally-renowned skills in music and storytelling to create an intimate show that is rich in the wit and wisdom inherent in Disability Culture.

The Largroff (Gaelynn Lea) is a platypus who was born with a spontaneous genetic mutation that caused her to sprout wings, horns and a snout. The Grasshopper (Kevin Kling) lost two of his limbs as a nymph, and is on a quest to get to the city for a peaceful retirement. Together this unlikely pair embarks on a journey where they come face-to-face with different worlds, dangers and dreams. This musical play touches on identity, disability and the stories we tell ourselves. Featuring Kling’s signature poetic word-play, and an array of captivating songs, written and sung by Lea, who plays her violin accompanied by George Ellsworth.

This show will be heavy on fun and adventure, while also centering accessibility and Disability Culture. Every performance will have ASL interpretation as well as projected captioning. There will also be narrated audio descriptions at the beginning of each scene to help blind and low-vision audience members better place themselves in the worlds we are creating.

Singer-songwriter Gaelynn Lea and storyteller-playwright Kevin Kling combine their talents in an original musical fable, which weaves together storytelling and song to create a unique theatrical experience. This production blends their internationally-renowned skills in music and storytelling to create an intimate show that is rich in the wit and wisdom inherent in Disability Culture.

The Largroff (Gaelynn Lea) is a platypus who was born with a spontaneous genetic mutation that caused her to sprout wings, horns and a snout. The Grasshopper (Kevin Kling) lost two of his limbs as a nymph, and is on a quest to get to the city for a peaceful retirement. Together this unlikely pair embarks on a journey where they come face-to-face with different worlds, dangers and dreams. This musical play touches on identity, disability and the stories we tell ourselves. Featuring Kling’s signature poetic word-play, and an array of captivating songs, written and sung by Lea, who plays her violin accompanied by George Ellsworth.

This show will be heavy on fun and adventure, while also centering accessibility and Disability Culture. Every performance will have ASL interpretation as well as projected captioning. There will also be narrated audio descriptions at the beginning of each scene to help blind and low-vision audience members better place themselves in the worlds we are creating.

ARAC’s office will be closed today (11/11/2024) in observance of Veterans Day.

The 2024 inaugural edition of Chamber Music Up North offers a unique combination of classical and folk music rooted in Scandinavian tradition, and a new perspective on classical contemporary music that incorporates and imitates folk musical material.

Presented in partnership with the North Shore Music Association and Nordic Center Duluth, the concerts will feature an exciting repertoire that combines traditional Swedish fiddle music and Danish, Norwegian and Finnish folk music arranged for a classical string quartet. The aim of this event is to bring the North Shore communities together to celebrate their Nordic roots and traditions and bring attention to their rich cultural heritage.

The performances will feature the string quartet: Erin Aldridge, Irina Mueller, Pedro Oviedo, Magdalena Sas, along with Paul & Marikay Dahlin and Ensemble REPRISE (Swedish traditional music).

The 2024 inaugural edition of Chamber Music Up North offers a unique combination of classical and folk music rooted in Scandinavian tradition, and a new perspective on classical contemporary music that incorporates and imitates folk musical material.

Presented in partnership with the North Shore Music Association and Nordic Center Duluth, the concerts will feature an exciting repertoire that combines traditional Swedish fiddle music and Danish, Norwegian and Finnish folk music arranged for a classical string quartet. The aim of this event is to bring the North Shore communities together to celebrate their Nordic roots and traditions and bring attention to their rich cultural heritage.

The performances will feature the string quartet: Erin Aldridge, Irina Mueller, Pedro Oviedo, Magdalena Sas, along with Paul & Marikay Dahlin and Ensemble REPRISE (Swedish traditional music).

The 2024 inaugural edition of Chamber Music Up North offers a unique combination of classical and folk music rooted in Scandinavian tradition, and a new perspective on classical contemporary music that incorporates and imitates folk musical material.

Presented in partnership with the North Shore Music Association and Nordic Center Duluth, the concerts will feature an exciting repertoire that combines traditional Swedish fiddle music and Danish, Norwegian and Finnish folk music arranged for a classical string quartet. The aim of this event is to bring the North Shore communities together to celebrate their Nordic roots and traditions and bring attention to their rich cultural heritage.

The performances will feature the string quartet: Erin Aldridge, Irina Mueller, Pedro Oviedo, Magdalena Sas, along with Paul & Marikay Dahlin and Ensemble REPRISE (Swedish traditional music).

Celebrate two artists’ explorations of materials and processes: Brian Boldon’s Scatter / Gather and Tom Rauschenfels’ 34. Meet the artists during the reception and learn about their unique approaches to art making.

On Friday, November 8th there will be an artist reception of Sam Zimmerman’s new collection Manidoosag/Little Spirits from 4-7 pm at Lizzards Art Gallery. The exhibition will run through the month of November.

Our annual event of respectful remembering & reimagining.
All are invited! Let us know ASAP if you'd like to volunteer or make an altar display Oct 22nd.
Nite of: Come as you are, dress as a skeleton if you dare! Otherwise we suggest black. (Please reserve Dias de los Muertos to those of Mexican heritage.)
Bring photocopies and/or small mementos to add our community altars to honor your lost beloved people/pets. Write out and carry Rotten Ideas you'd like to see go extinct for our fire ceremony!
*Do not park on W Michigan St between the Depot and Library. Please leave the street between the Depot and Library as open as possible for our lantern procession. The W 4th Ave.S. Auto Park across W 5th Ave. S. is free evenings/ weekends. Enter thru the lower Depot doors of the North Shore Scenic Railroad. https://duluthtrains.com/directions/
This is a freewill donation event, suggested $10 to feed the live artists. Part of the evening is outdoors weather permitting. It will be likely be a bit cold - Minnesotans, be sure to layer up! *Returning attendees requested to be guides to Newbies throughout the evening!

4:30 Oasis del Norte food truck opens in Railroad Plaza, face paint
5:30 pm Train Station Entrance: Northern Lights Aerials, displays
6:00 LSRM Opening Ceremony: Jillian Forte & friends
6:10 W 5th Ave S Side Depot Walkway - Funeral for Rotten Ideas: Follow the Grim Reapers & Sara Sha, bagpipes. Use crosswalks.
6:20 Library Plaza Community Spiral Dance: led by Helen Makela
Projections by Daniel Benoit and River Aquamann, Yabobo drums
6:30 Reading and burning Rotten Ideas
6:45 Bob Dylan Way Lantern Procession east around the Auto Park back down to LSRM w/ the Boys Back Home brass and our new life-size, glowing, articulated moose!

7:15 Studio 4 Sadkin, alternative pop w/ giant Max Skeleton & others
8:00 Closing Ceremony
8:15 Railroad Plaza Spin Collective Fire Dances
8:45 LSRM Tidy Up

Other 2024 DASN Dates:
Skeleton vignettes starting Oct 2, including Lane Ellis collection of Mexican Folk Figures
Tues., Oct. 22nd LSRM Altar Display Set-up 2-5 pm,
Viewing available afterwards during LSRM Hours 10 - 5
Fri., Nov. 1st Studio 4 Poetry Reading w/ MC Zomi Bloom 7-9 pm
Sun., Nov. 3rd 10 am - noon LSRM Finish dismantling Displays

North Shorror! is an annual eerie event featuring Twin Ports and regional artists of all kinds in celebration of the spookiest season. North Shorror! creates an extraordinary space to build community connections...while also giving visitors the chills.

North Shorror! is an annual eerie event featuring Twin Ports and regional artists of all kinds in celebration of the spookiest season. North Shorror! creates an extraordinary space to build community connections...while also giving visitors the chills.

North Shorror! is an annual eerie event featuring Twin Ports and regional artists of all kinds in celebration of the spookiest season. North Shorror! creates an extraordinary space to build community connections...while also giving visitors the chills.

North Shorror! is an annual eerie event featuring Twin Ports and regional artists of all kinds in celebration of the spookiest season. North Shorror! creates an extraordinary space to build community connections...while also giving visitors the chills.

North Shorror! is an annual eerie event featuring Twin Ports and regional artists of all kinds in celebration of the spookiest season. North Shorror! creates an extraordinary space to build community connections...while also giving visitors the chills.

North Shorror! is an annual eerie event featuring Twin Ports and regional artists of all kinds in celebration of the spookiest season. North Shorror! creates an extraordinary space to build community connections...while also giving visitors the chills.

North Shorror! is an annual eerie event featuring Twin Ports and regional artists of all kinds in celebration of the spookiest season. North Shorror! creates an extraordinary space to build community connections...while also giving visitors the chills.

North Shorror! is an annual eerie event featuring Twin Ports and regional artists of all kinds in celebration of the spookiest season. North Shorror! creates an extraordinary space to build community connections...while also giving visitors the chills.

Work of Art Retreat
Saturday, October 26th and Sunday, October 27th, 2024
10:00 AM - 12:30 PM, 2:00 PM - 4:30 PM
Tuition: $100 for the entire weekend or $30 per workshop
Ely Folk School Instructors may attend free of charge

Join us for the Springboard for the Arts "Work of Art" Retreat! This retreat is all about bringing together local working artists and providing them with business skills and resources to support their practice. Here at the Ely Folk School we are fortunate to have the expertise of several working artists who share their passion for their craft through teaching, while also earning on consignment from the handmade goods sold in our mercantile.

The “Work of Art” retreat is a free opportunity for instructors who teach at the Ely Folk School. For artists in the Ely area who do not (yet!) teach with the Folk School, workshop attendance will cost a fee (per workshop or at a discount for the entire weekend.) The workshops will include training focused on pricing, funding, engaging customers and selling work, and business plan essentials, and the weekend will also offer opportunities for connection and conversation with other creators. Join us Sunday after the final workshop for a potluck and social time.

Funding Workshop: Learn how to think creatively about diversifying your funding streams by exploring different models for generating value, resources, and revenue. This workshop will run Saturday, October 26th from 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM.

Pricing Workshop: This analytical approach isn’t intended to be the only way to price your work. It’s intended to show you the factors of product production that apply to everything in the marketplace. Once you understand what each of the variables are you’ll be able to customize a formula that fits your business model. This workshop will run Saturday, October 26th from 2:00 PM - 4:30 PM.

Business Plan Essentials: Learn how to prepare a simple business plan, in arts-friendly language, to help you organize all the various aspects of your artistic practice and make informed business decisions. This workshop will run Sunday, October 27th from 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM.

Engaging Customers & Selling Your Work: Learn tools and techniques to communicate the value of your work to potential customers. This workshop will run Sunday, October 27th from 2:00 PM - 4:30 PM.

About Springboard for the Arts: Springboard for the Arts' mission is to support artists with the tools to make a living and a life, and to build just and equitable communities full of meaning, joy, and connection. Founded as an independent nonprofit in 1991, Springboard for the Arts has an innovative 30-year history of supporting artists making a living and a life and artist-led community development work.

This event is made possible in part by funding to the Ely Folk School by the McKnight Foundation.

North Shorror! is an annual eerie event featuring Twin Ports and regional artists of all kinds in celebration of the spookiest season. North Shorror! creates an extraordinary space to build community connections...while also giving visitors the chills.

North Shorror! is an annual eerie event featuring Twin Ports and regional artists of all kinds in celebration of the spookiest season. North Shorror! creates an extraordinary space to build community connections...while also giving visitors the chills.

North Shorror! is an annual eerie event featuring Twin Ports and regional artists of all kinds in celebration of the spookiest season. North Shorror! creates an extraordinary space to build community connections...while also giving visitors the chills.