Art Lives Here: Why Rural Art Matters More Than Ever

Art Lives Here: Week 1 – A Campaign by the Northern Lakes Arts Association

When people think of the arts, they often picture grand symphony halls in big cities, sleek galleries on bustling streets, or Broadway stages filled with lights and spectacle. And while those places are powerful, they’re not the whole picture.

Here in Ely, Minnesota, the arts look and feel different—and that difference is our strength.

At the Northern Lakes Arts Association (NLAA), we’ve spent nearly 40 years creating, nurturing, and advocating for the arts in the heart of the Iron Range. Our stage may be surrounded by pine trees instead of skyscrapers, but our stories, our voices, and our artistry are just as vital. In fact, they may be more so—because in a rural community like ours, the arts are not just entertainment.

They’re a lifeline.

Art lives here.

The cast of NLAA's 2024 production of "Fiddler on the Roof," featuring Aaron Reini, celebrate the tradition of our annual spring musical.

It lives in a child’s first brushstroke in our summer art camp. It lives in the standing ovation for a teenager’s debut performance. It lives in the elder who picks up a pen to write poetry after decades of silence. It lives in the hands of volunteers who build the world we perform in. It lives in every laugh, tear, gasp, and moment of connection our audiences share together.

And it lives in you.

Starting today, we invite you to join us on a 12-week journey to celebrate the deep, transformational role of the arts in rural communities like ours. Each week, through this blog and our social media platforms, we’ll be sharing stories, snapshots, and statistics that reveal how and why the arts are not just surviving—but thriving—right here in northern Minnesota.

Through this series, you’ll discover:

• How our youth arts programs foster self-expression, confidence, and community

• The way a theater production can support mental health and healing

• What every $25 ticket does to strengthen our local creative economy

• Why art is a tool for advocacy, identity, and belonging—especially in small towns

• How NLAA creates accessible, equitable pathways to participate in and enjoy the arts

  
  

You’ll hear directly from our artists, students, teaching staff, volunteers, and community members. You’ll see how a small arts organization like NLAA has an outsized impact, and why investing in rural arts isn’t just nice—it’s necessary.

For nearly four decades, we’ve watched lives change on our stages, in our classrooms, and across our community. But we’ve also watched the challenges increase: shrinking rural populations, disinvestment in the arts, and the dangerous belief that the arts are “extra.”

We’re here to say they are essential.

Elyites participate in a collaborative writing workshop led by author Alec Osthoff, engaging in creative discussions and sharing insights.

Here’s how you can be part of this movement:

• Subscribe to our blog so you don’t miss a single post.

• Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @NorthernLakesArts, and share our stories with your network.

• Tell us your story. How has the arts changed your life here in Ely? Email us or tag us with #ArtLivesHere.

• Come to an event. Bring a friend. Show up, cheer loudly, and let the performers feel your presence.

• Donate if you’re able—your support makes scholarships, productions, residencies, and exhibitions possible.

Art lives here. It always has. And with your help, it always will.

Welcome to Art Lives Here—a celebration of the power of creativity, community, and connection in rural America. We’re so glad you’re here.

Cast of Ely Community in NLAA's 2021 production of "A Grand Night For Singing" showcasing their enthusiasm on stage.