Diverse Radio for Minnesota’s Communities
17 Unique Stations from Border to Border
17 Unique Stations from Border to Border
The COVID 19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on many industries and the performing arts is no exception. In fact, it is getting hit exceptionally hard. With show cancellations and stay at home orders there aren’t many opportunities for artists to perform, and that loss of performance means loss of livelihood for many. Today on Art Beat we speak with Rich MacDonald, local performing musician and Professor Emeritus at Winona State University to hear his thoughts on the hurdles artists currently face and how we might move forward in new ways for the future.
Springboard for the Arts is a community and economic development organization based in St. Paul and Fergus Falls. They serve artists and communities across Minnesota and across the country with programs and resources that help artists make a living and a life, and help communities connect to the creative power of artists. Springboard understands the role of artists in communities, how they can create change, how they help people have complicated conversations, and how they contribute to new solutions for community challenges. To this, Springboard has developed the Handbook for Artists Working in Community, a resource for both artists and community leaders. Jul-Li Wang, Springboard’s Associate Director of Community Programs told us about how the handbook can be used and why it’s important for artists to engage in community action and community development.
Bemidji State University and Northwest Technical College begin classes Monday, August 24th. This will be the first time both campuses will have students in attendance since this past March when in an effort to flatten the COVID-19 curve, students simply did not return after spring break. Colleges and universities across the country are grappling with the safest ways to provide quality educational experiences during the pandemic. Randy Westhoff is the BSU Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs. Travis Greene is the BSU Associate Vice President for Student Life and Success. They spoke on the morning show about how the school year is going to unfold and what has gone into preparing.
The Bemidji Sings! competition happens Thursday, August 6th at 7pm. We spoke with Headwaters Music and Arts executive director Tricia Andrews about how the contest is happening virtually this year. Everyone is welcome to hop on the Headwaters YouTube channel to watch the big event unfold! Tricia also discussed upcoming events at Headwaters including a jam band camp and a special event Saturday, August 22nd that allows kids and families to learn more about what the school offers and get signed up for classes and activities
Ashley Hudson worked as a COVID responder in New York City this spring and is Miami now. Approach and care in terms of dealing with the virus are changing. Hudson spoke on the morning show about her work and what she and other medical professionals have learned along the way.
Collage- An artistic composition made of various materials. In this hodge-podge episode of Real College Podcast: Quarantine Edition, we take a look at how the pandemic has forced music in Minneapolis to stay at home, a dive into corn vending, and some gems from the RCP vault.
1:08-How Music Stays at Home-Casey McCabe
7:48-Corn Stand Audio Postcard-Tosin Faseemo
12:30-The Great Climate Change Debacle-Megan Palmer
21:00-How Did You Get Your Name?-Yves De Jesus
Bruce Piersol of Red Lake Falls MN – retired music director at Lafayette High School in Red Lake Falls – has been honored by the Northwest Minnesota Arts Council with the “Arts Advocate of the Year Award 2020.”
In his retirement, Bruce contributes his time and talent in supporting young artists in NW Minnesota develop and exhibit their skills in music!
Tessa Beck is the Gallery Director at the Nemeth Art Center in Park Rapids. She spoke on the morning show recently about the Nemeth’s delayed opening due to Covid-19, the current, collaborative exhibit Of Course, Where Else, and how the Nemeth is thinking outside the box in terms of programming, artist receptions, virtual exhibits, and more.
Matthew Sanford was a recent, featured author at the Brainerd Public Library Brown Bag Author Series. His book Waking: a Memoir of Trauma and Transcendence won the Minnesota Book Award for Non-fiction/Memoir in 2007 and continues to inspire readers to find hope and opportunity thru trauma and loss. Sanford became paralyzed from the chest down in a car accident that took the lives of his father and sister. Waking resonates universally with anyone facing challenges, trauma, disability, or loss.
