The Region 2 Arts Council recently allocated $5,580 in Sudden Opportunity Grant funding to individuals and small organizations in the Bemidji area.

With up to $500 available in funding, the new grant is designed to support urgent needs. The program offers a rolling deadline to cover expenses related to essential travel, training, transportation and project-related supplies.

“The goal is to provide support for creative people and projects that is available quickly to respond to dynamic circumstances,” a release said.

The grant is open to artists and culture bearers living in the Minnesota counties of Becker, Beltrami, Cass, Clearwater, Hubbard, Itasca, Lake of the Woods, Mahnomen or Roseau. It is also available for small organizations located in the Minnesota counties of Beltrami, Clearwater, Hubbard, Lake of the Woods or Mahnomen that perform or teach music, theater, and/or other arts and cultural programming.

The following artists and organizations were selected for this round of funding:

Charles Alberti of Bemidji was awarded $500 to create posters to market the “Windows and Books” exhibit/show at Loon Country Arts Gallery in Bemidji in March.

Josiah Wood of Bemidji was awarded $280 to repair a broken film sprocket on their Canon A1 camera.

Michael Bowman Sr. of Bemidji was awarded $500 to expand his woodworking skills by taking a course at the North House Folk School.

David Paquette of Cass Lake was awarded $500 to purchase materials and cover transportation costs to and from his shop in Bemidji.

Jesica Smith of Ogema was awarded $500 to purchase print supplies and to create new artworks in a larger format for exhibition at local galleries.

Lead for Inclusion in Bemidji was awarded $500 to purchase arts supplies, including adaptive arts supplies, and pay artist instructors and co-leaders to organize inclusive arts and theater workshops as part of their Youth Summit.

Lenore Siems of Bemidji was awarded $500 to cover travel expenses to attend fiddle and dance workshops at the mid-winter Minnesota Bluegrass and Old Time Music Association in Plymouth, Minn.

Project for Change of Bemidji was awarded $500 to host a free community paint party, to paint an affirmational image, have community conversation, discuss the community strengths and opportunities for growth and use art as healing.

Tawnee Corning of Bagley was awarded $500 to register in Zoey Frank’s online painting workshops, “Breaking the Surface Part 1 and Part 2: Exploring the History of Pictorial Space” and “Painting Change: Still Life in Motion” to further develop her craft.

Petra Ybarra-Johnson of Redby was awarded $500 to buy beading supplies to fulfill current commissions and create work for upcoming summer vendor shows.

Isabelle Harmon of Shevlin was awarded $500 to purchase an H-Frame easel to use in demonstrating painting techniques in upcoming painting classes she is teaching in Bagley and Park Rapids.

Emmy May of Red Lake was awarded $500 to purchase beads and beading supplies to keep up with requests for graduations and powwow season.