Charitable giving fuels more than just programs—it builds community, nurtures creativity, and sustains the arts in Ely for generations to come. At the Northern Lakes Arts Association, your support directly impacts youth education, artist livelihoods, and the creative heartbeat of our town. Discover how your generosity creates lasting change and why, truly, art lives here because of you.

In Ely, Minnesota, the arts aren’t an afterthought—they are infrastructure. From rehearsal halls to mural-covered streets, creativity is woven into the very fabric of our rural identity. This week, we celebrate how local stories, shared stages, and painted walls continue to shape who we are and who we’re becoming.

In northeastern Minnesota, where 64.3% of adults with mental health needs go untreated, creative programs are more than enrichment—they are lifelines. At NLAA, we've seen firsthand how the arts reduce isolation, build resilience, and create safe spaces for healing. As federal arts funding faces new threats, support for local programs like Art Lives Here is more urgent than ever. Art isn't extra. It's essential.