Beltrami County Historical Society Hosts Art is HERstory Reception
Beltrami County Historical Society will host Art is HERstory, an artists reception and sale celebrating local women artists, at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 17 at the Beltrami County History Center in Bemidji. The free event offers residents a chance to meet artists, purchase work, and see how public Arts and Cultural Heritage funding supports local cultural activity.
The Beltrami County Historical Society will hold Art is HERstory at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 17 at the Beltrami County History Center, 130 Minnesota Avenue SW, Bemidji. The reception and sale celebrates work by local women artists, and is open and free to the public. Attendees will be able to meet artists, view and purchase artwork, and enjoy light appetizers and nonalcoholic beverages.
Organizers say the activity is supported in part by an Artists Engage Community Grant from the Region 2 Arts Council, using Arts and Cultural Heritage funds. That public funding component connects this exhibition to broader decisions about how regional and state resources are allocated for cultural programming. For residents, the grant means the event can offer entry at no charge while providing a direct sales opportunity for participating artists.
The event is a practical outlet for community engagement during the holiday season, bringing foot traffic to the downtown Bemidji area and creating opportunities for artisans to generate income from sales. For the Beltrami County Historical Society, hosting the reception advances the institution's role as a community cultural hub and expands access to locally produced art within museum and historical settings.
The use of Arts and Cultural Heritage funds underscores ongoing policy questions about public investment in culture, transparency in grant making, and how regional priorities are set. Voters and civic leaders who review funding allocations may consider events like Art is HERstory when assessing the local impact of arts funding, including economic benefits, audience development, and representation of underrepresented artists.
Practical considerations for residents include free admission and the ability to purchase artwork directly from artists at the event. Those seeking more information may contact the Beltrami County History Center at 130 Minnesota Avenue SW, Bemidji. The reception provides a straightforward opportunity for community members to engage with local artists, observe how public cultural funds are used at the local level, and participate in a civic conversation about the role of arts programming in Beltrami County.
