Description of the Program

The Arts Council of the Northwest Regional Development Commission announces the Student Artist Training Mentor Program. This is the third year we are offering this program. For eight years our office offered the Artist/Mentor program (1988-1996), then for eight years we offered the Student Individual Artist grants (1997-2004), now we are combining the two programs to offer these Artist Training Mentor grants. The goals of the program are:
1) to meet the needs of students who demonstrate a high motivation in the arts
2) to expose these students to a diversity of viewpoints
3) to help high school artists afford training opportunities
The program also serves to supplement the arts education in our region’s high schools by providing students the opportunity for intense study of their chosen art form through individual instruction with a practicing artist or attending a training.

Students attending public and private high schools in the region will be awarded a training or mentorship on the basis of commitment and potential artistic development. The region includes Kittson, Marshall, Norman, Polk, Pennington, Roseau, and Red Lake Counties. Selected students will be matched with a mentor or a training session if they have not already suggested one on their applications. Students and mentors will work together according to a plan and schedule they establish.

Application, Selection Process, and Important Dates

Application forms are available on-line at www.nwrdc.org/artsgrants.htm - note in the web page this category is highlighted with purple.  and are the purple.  Applications may also be requested by calling Mara Wittman at 1-800-646-2240.   The student will return the application materials to the NWRDC, 115 South Main, Warren, MN 56762 by a postmark deadline of November 1, 2007.

By December 1, 2007, a panel will review application materials and interview each student. The panel will include artists, teachers of the arts and/or others knowledgeable in various arts disciplines. The arts study would take place between January 1, 2008 and January 1, 2009.

Selection Criteria

Students will be reviewed on creative potential, maturity, accomplishments the student has made to date, and personal motivation. Application and selection will be limited to students currently in grades 8, 9, 10 and 11.  Note: Some 12th grade students will be eligible but their training must conclude by September 1, 2008.  Students will be selected on the basis of motivation and commitment, creative ability, proficiency, and potential for artistic development.

Mentors and Trainings

Mentors: Qualified mentors will be actively sought and screened by the Northwest Regional Arts Council to match the needs of the selected students. Mentors will be selected on the basis of their professional ability and their ability to work with high school age students. They will be chosen from a geographical area as near as possible to the student’s home. Mentors, students and parents will establish the objectives of the arts study and a study schedule.
Trainings: If instead of a mentor a specific training seems more appropriate the student will be given the grant as a stipend to use toward attending the training. Trainings can be local, national, or international in nature. Most students who would like to attend a training will know so when they are applying and suggest the training on their application form.


Funding for this program is provided by The McKnight Foundation. Contact Mara Wittman, Arts Council Director, at the NWRDC for further details and application materials.  Contact Mara by phone 1-800-646-2240.  Information, guidelines and application forms are also available on-line at www.nwrdc.org/artsgrants.htm 

Student Artist Training Guidelines