Heartland Arts

Who We Are

Park Rapids Lakes Area Arts Council, now Heartland Arts, was founded in 2005 “to promote excellence in the arts through creation, education and performance.” After 14 years with the acronym PRLAAC, the Arts Council has changed its name to Heartland Arts – following the example of the Chamber’s rebranding to “Heartland Lakes” to be more inclusive of our neighboring communities.

Heartland Arts serves as an umbrella organization for 16 arts and cultural organizations in the greater Park Rapids area. Representatives from these arts groups and other arts champions meet at noon on the first Monday of most months to coordinate calendars, share information – e.g. about grant or partnership opportunities – and develop interest in new projects.

Be sure to check out website to learn more about arts events, our member organizations and more.

What We Do

Heartland Arts will sponsor two events in 2021:

Noon Hour Concerts - series takes place in the summer months - June, July and August - on Thursdays from 12:15 to 12:45 starting June 17. The concerts bring live music to the community during the day in area churches. The concerts are an opportunity for people who can’t go out at night because of health reasons, or because they are elderly and it offers a social activity. It also gives people the opportunity to hear live music such as Bach and Mozart that is otherwise inaccessible because of our location. The concerts are free but a free-will offering is invited with proceeds going to the musicians.

Art Leap – a driving tour of artists’ studios, organized in 2006 with dates tied to the Headwaters 100 bike ride each fall. The first year there were 6 artists and locations on Art Leap. In 2019 60-plus artists exhibited at 20 locations. In 2021, Art Leap will be Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 25 and 26.