At the October 8, 2026, meeting, the Central MN Arts Board (CMAB) awarded $27,945 to nine area organizations in support of Artist Residencies.
The Artist in Residence (AIR) program is designed to enhance education through the arts with supportive grants to schools and nonprofit organizations. The intention of any residency proposal must be to increase interaction between students, community members and professional artists. Funding for this grant program is provided through the Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund created by the Voters of Minnesota.
The following organizations were awarded:
1. 510 Art Lab, $3,500, for artist Nikki Moritz to conduct a Pottery Demonstration and Class Series February – April 2027 at 510 Art Lab in Sauk Centre, MN.
2. Avon Hills Folk School, $3,500, for artist Gasinee Pitakkan to lead free origami crane workshops in multiple locations in Avon and St. Joseph, MN culminating a collection of participant’s work arranged together like barn quilt visually representing the different places, people, experiences, and dreams that make up the community. The finished work will include a map with a color-coded key indicating the city or town each creator is from.
3. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central MN, $1,250, for artist Heather Mastromarco to lead a multi-session theatre residency at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Minnesota, St. Cloud, MN.
4. Boys & Girls Clubs of Central MN, $3,500, for artist Shania Hirdler to guide Club teens in designing and painting a large-scale mural inside the Club’s gymnasium at Southside Boys & Girls Club, St. Cloud, MN.
5. Great River Educational Arts Theatre, $3,500, to support theatre residencies lead by GREAT teaching artists at eight elementary school locations around St. Cloud, MN.
6. St. Cloud Area School District, $2,420, in support of Opera for the Young, a professional, touring opera company, to conduct residencies for students at Clearview, Lincoln, and Discovery elementary schools in St. Cloud, MN.
7. St. Cloud Technical High School, $3,500, for artist Laura Ruprecht to lead high school students in created mosaic mandalas. Students will use what they have learned to collaboratively to create 12 large scale mosaic mandalas for installation and presentation at Technical High School, St. Cloud, MN.
8. STMA Music Boosters, $3,275, to support a choral residency lead by Blake Morgan that includes masterclasses and concert for high school students at St. Michael Albertville High School in St. Michael, MN.
9. STMA Theater Boosters, $3,500, for a Theater Music composition residency led by Musical Director Joshua Burniece for high school students at St. Michael Albertville High School in St. Michael, MN.
The Central Minnesota Arts Board supports collaborative and innovative arts opportunities through partnerships and financial investments in Benton, Sherburne, Stearns, and Wright counties. The CMAB is one of eleven Regional Arts Councils designated by the Minnesota State Arts Board working with community partners to increase access to the unique cultural assets of Minnesota.