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Native News
Mathew Holding Eagle III
Bemidji, Minn.

Third annual Anishinaabe Arts Festival offers community engagement — and food 

Bemidji State University campus
Bemidji State University hosts the 2024 Anishinaabe Arts Festival this weekend
Monika Lawrence for MPR News

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Bemidji State University will host the third annual Anishinaabe Arts Festival this weekend. It will feature art from approximately 50, Anishinaabe artists and vendors. This year’s festival has moved from the Sanford Center to Bemidji State University to accommodate its growing popularity. 

Local nonprofit 4-Directions Development is one of the organizers. Executive Director Sharon James said participating artists helped plan the event. Their styles range from traditional to modern. 

“The artists that you’ll be experiencing are just top of the notch of their skill level,” she said. “The artists are part of making this festival happen. So, it’s for them, so we wanted to make sure they had their input, but it is an experience. You’ll be learning historical information, cultural information, as well as contemporary beauty that they create.” 

James said last year because of restrictions at the Sanford Center, which hosted the festival, it didn’t offer any food.

“This year we are bringing it back by major demand,” she said. “Everybody was saying ‘Where’s the food?’ So, we are bringing the tasting tables back in addition to our traditional fry bread tacos, so you will have a good menu to pick from this year.” 

 James said one of the festival’s main goals is just for the artists to enjoy themselves. 

“And to make as many connections as possible with potential sales and with the community,” she said. “You know, we’re all about building those relations with our neighbors. So, it’s really a big social event, as well as a sales event for the artists and those artists being able to create their hobby into a revenue generator, I think is a major achievement for them.”  

The event is organized by 4-Directions Development, Gizhiigin Arts Incubator and Leech Lake Financial Services. Additional support was provided by the three tribal nations in the area (Leech Lake, White Earth and Red Lake) Bemidji State University, the Region 2 Arts Council and Visit Bemidji. 

The festival runs July 26 and 27 ending Saturday evening with a closing ceremony.