Art Project
Art Project
2023 Visual Arts Exhibition Series
Cheryl Avenel-Navara: education, Worthington Public Arts Commission chair, SW MN Opportunity council; Justin Beck, chair of Hutchinson Public Arts Commission, president of Hutchinson Center for the Arts, photography, music; Judy Beckman: vocal music, Big Stone Arts Council, Big Stone County Historical Society, Big Stone Lake Area Chamber of Commerce CEO; Cheri Buzzeo: theater, music, The Barn Theatre administration, Willmar Main St participant; Jessica Welu: writing, music, SW Regional Development Commission; Anna Johannsen: fiber artist, art teacher, Remick Gallery board, president of Windom Women's Investment group, treasurer of Cottonwood County Animal Rescue, officer of Cotton Quilters; Georgette Jones: literature teacher, theatre actor/director/teacher; David KelseyBassett: visual artist, musician, Hinterland Art Crawl board; Shawn Kinsinger: theater director, actor, musician, Palace Theatre executive director, Green Earth Players vice president, Luverne Street Music board member, Luverne High School Theater artistic director; Darlene Kotelnicki: theater, city council, library board. Cheryl Avenel Navara: education, Worthington Public Arts Commission chair, SW MN Opportunity Council volunteer; Kristine Shelstad: visual arts, Madison Mercantile art gallery, Madison Arts Council, Lac qui Parle Players; VFW; Gillian Singler, MN West Community and Technical College chair of Humanities and English instructor, Creative Healing Space volunteer, writer, theater director; Michele Knife Sterner: theater (actor), SMSU Associate director for Access Opportunity Success program; Erica Volkir: performing arts, Pipestone Performing Arts Center board, Pipestone Area Chamber of Commerce and CVB director; Mark Wilmes: Lake Benton Opera House board president, actor/director, musician, reporter
Luwaina Al-Otaibi, arts programming; Justin Beck, visual art, SMAC board; Stephen Kingsbury, music; Joyce Meyer, visual art; Eric Parrish, music, theater; Valerie Quist, writing; Gillian Singler, writing, SMAC board
Southwest Minnesota Arts Council, Nicole DeBoer (507) 537-1471
ACHF Arts Access
Audiences will have access to the arts by a reduction in geographic and physical barriers. It is our goal that by meeting the artists and learning about their work and processes, future engagement in the arts will grow for our audience. Becoming more familiar with the artists and their processes will aid in expanding audience understanding of others' experiences and expand capacity for empathy. The exhibition series is also important to artists as it allows them to increase their professional visibility, reach new audiences, and create new work. It is vital for artists within our region specifically, as there are few opportunities for them to showcase their work locally. Artist workshops not only promote the artist but also the HCA, and provide valuable arts education to the community. We evaluate and measure the success of this program by counting gallery visitors, tracking the number of views for the recorded program on YouTube, and conducting surveys. Interactive surveys at the exhibit ask viewers to select from several response choices that are representative of their experience of the exhibit and venue. Anecdotal feedback is also recorded in the exhibition guest log which invites guests to sign their name and leave feedback. Artists who exhibited are also given an anonymous online survey to leave feedback about their experience working with the gallery and whether or not this was beneficial in their career in terms of making new work, increasing their professional visibility, and reaching new audiences.