Area Voices: Beltrami County History Center hosts ‘Art is HERstory’ reception

BEMIDJI — Art and history are more connected than most people may think.

While art may not serve as a definitive record of history, it does serve as a reflection of its time. Beltrami County History Center celebrated that connection throughout 2025 with its series of Art is HERstory events.

Art is HERstory was a year-long series of workshops featuring local women artists. Not only did these artists host workshops at the Bemidji location, but also at the history centers in Kelliher and Blackduck. Now, these artists will be celebrated with a reception and sale at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 17.

History center Director Emily Thabes told Area Voices on the KAXE Morning Show that the artists will keep all the proceeds as a thank you for their contributions to the arts and creativity in this community. The sale will feature mosaic, paint, stencil, basket pieces and more.

Project origins

This year, the Beltrami County History Center wanted to showcase how women’s rights evolved over time in the county.

“One thing that we know about, historically, is that women have been undervalued in the workplace, and that's especially true in art,” Thabes said. “We wanted to take this opportunity to not only uplift and recognize these incredibly talented women artists that we have in the county, but also take this opportunity through the grant to pay them fair wages.”

Every artist who taught classes was paid $125 an hour, thanks to a Region 2 Arts Council grant.

Thabes added, “That's really hard work to do. Not just to have the talent and creativity to make something, but then to teach others to make it. It's such an extra add-on.”

The classes were free, and the reception and sale will be free to attend as well. There will be appetizers and beverages available. The goal of the event is to support local artists during the holiday season to help them pay for things like art supplies and travels they made throughout the year.

Events like these not only benefit the artists involved, but the history center itself.

Larissa Donovan

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KAXE

“It's just a really great opportunity for us to share our resources and our value to the community as a historic service, as a community space, and to make connections to people between their history and art," Thabes said.

" ... It's just small connections like that we were able to make between these programs and these services, and it's such a great opportunity for us to extend our mission.”

Thabes also expects big things for the Beltrami County History Center in 2026. Next year will be the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. She hopes to focus on what Minnesotans' contribution to the country was.

There will also be a book club about the Declaration of Independence, and a program that will honor the sons and daughters of the American Revolution. Both will happen in January. The center will also continue its project of collecting 100 oral histories of Beltrami County residents.

People can keep up with events at the history center through its website and Facebook page. They’re also looking for volunteers to help out with upcoming events.

Tell us about upcoming arts events where you live in Northern Minnesota by emailing psa@kaxe.org.

Area Voices is made possible by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund and the citizens of Minnesota.