I have been a board member at the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council for, like, four years now. It has enriched my life immensely. Immensely. Consider joining as an Duluth member, at-large.

ARAC is currently accepting applications for the upcoming term starting in June. Positions that will be available include a board representative from Koochiching County and at-large members from any of the seven Arrowhead region counties.

For more information on becoming an ARAC board member and how to apply, click here.

The Arrowhead Regional Arts Council awarded a total of $93,840 in two-year operating support grants in January. There were eight organizations awarded out of 11 applicants. The program awards up to $12,000 over a two-year period to established nonprofit regional arts organizations to maintain their ongoing operating needs and services. The following is a list of organizations granted:

• County Seat Theatre, Cloquet
• Lake Superior Community Theatre, Silvery Bay
• Matinee Musicale, Duluth
• Mesabi Symphony Orchestra, Virginia
• Nordic Center, Duluth
• North Shore Music Association, Grand Marais
• Northern Lights Music Festival, Inc., Aurora
• Twin Ports Wind Ensemble, Duluth

ARAC also awarded a total of $39,090 in rural and community art project grants. There were nine organizations awarded out of 10 applicants. The program provides grants up to $5,000 to nonprofit, regional arts groups to support community- or artist-initiated arts activities that will affect the group and/or the community it serves. The following is a list of organizations granted:

• Chalk.a.Lot, Two Harbors
• Cook Area Chamber of Commerce, Cook
• Friends of B’nai Abraham, Virginia
• Good Harbor Hill Players, Grand Marais
• Grand Rapids Area Male Chorus, Grand Rapids
• Grand Rapids Players, Grand Rapids
• Great River String Ensemble, Aitkin
• Itasca Choral Society/Itasca Community Chorus, Grand Rapids
• Minnesota State Old Time Fiddle Championships, Virginia