The Northern Arts Council installed its officers for the coming year and approved $12,950 in grants for local organizations at its annual meeting Thursday. Grants approved included a $5000 grant for the University of Wisconsin School of the Arts in Rhinelander and sums for ArtStart and Food for the Mind.

Julie Bronson will serve as the group’s president; Torrey Youngstrum as vice-president; Tim Klunder, secretary, and Tom Winquist will serve as treasurer. Carol Carlson, Camille Maurice, Linda Davidson, James Sage, Michelle Riopel and Lorrie Cirilli will serve as board members.

Northern Arts Council was formed to promote development and sponsorship for art and cultural programs. The organization has become a driving force in the development of arts and culture in the Rhinelander area and has become a source of support for non-profit music, theater and art groups.

In addition to the grant to the School of the Arts, the Northern Arts Council provided funds to the Rhinelander District Library, Adult Department ($2000); Children’s Department ($1100); Northwoods School of Dance ($1500), and Headwaters, Inc. ($500). Additional grants were awarded to WXPR radio, the Rhinelander Area Community Band, Nicolet Choraliers, Nicolet Male Chorus, and the Northwoods Singers. Grants to ArtStart, an organization establishing an arts and cultural center in downtown Rhinelander, and Food for the Mind, which provides books at no charge for low-income families, are additions to Northern Arts Council’s list.

“We were impressed by the applications these organizations submitted for grant consideration,” Bronson said, “and felt that their contribution to the arts community justified our support.”

“We are pleased this year to have the financial resources to support a broad spectrum of the arts in the Northwoods.”

Financial support for the Northern Arts Council comes from membership dues and contributions. The group sponsors programs such as the Northern National Art Competition held annually and displayed in the Nicolet College gallery and the performances of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra in Rhinelander.