Grand Marais Art Colony

Located on the rugged northshore of Lake Superior, the Grand Marais Art Colony is Minnesota's longest lived art colony. It is housed in a picturesque 1916 mission church in the heart of the coastal village of Grand Marais, MN. Begun in 1947 as a summer program called The Outdoor School of Painting, it quickly became a fixture in the community. Soon after it was established as the Grand Marais Art Colony and has served for decades as an incubator for creative exploration.

With the 2005 addition of a new building, the Art Colony has a studio for glass, clay, printmaking and visual arts. Grand Marais, and the Art Colony, are visually inspiring places to experience that unleash your creative soul. We offer hands-on classes, events and exhibits in a variety of mediums as well as professional studio space for artists to rent on a daily, weekly and monthly basis.

We offer numerous annual events that operate from the heart of our mission including Empty Bowls, Grand Marais Arts Festival, Plein Air Painting Competition & Exhibition, Member Show and Winter Arts Festival. People come back time and again to learn, experience and draw upon the creative well that is inspired here.

Membership provides the Art Colony with the essential funds needed to keep our doors open and mission thriving while providing you with the benefits. Your support is instrumental in our financial health and ability to grown into the future.

Membership Benefits:

• Be in the Know. Members receive our monthly e-newsletter, annual course catalog and invitations to events & exhibits
• Studio Access. Members can rent studio space to work in or host an event. Members can also check out books from the Art Library.
• Sales. Members can exhibit in our Annual Member Show & Sale as well as receive notification of other art sale opportunties.
• Voice. Share your thoughts about the Art Colony at the Annual Member Meeting.
• Pride. Participate in an historic arts tradition and shape its future.
• Gift Card. Value increases with your membership level.
  • $25-$49 member: $5 gift card
  • $50-$74 member: $10 gift card
  • $75-$99 member: $15 gift card
  • $100-$249 member*: $20 gift card
  • $250-$499 member**: $40 gift card
  • $500-$999 member***: $75 gift card
  • $1,000+ member****: $150 gift card
• Members at the $100+ receive additional benefits:
  • *Recognition in the Annual Report
  • **a George Morrison Poster & above
  • ***Gift Membership & above
  • ****Name on Art Colony Plaque & above