Singer/songwriter Joe Paulik is one of the many area performers who have performed in the Harbor Park during the summer. With the formation of the Grand Marais Music Collaborative, it will be much easier for musicians to book a time and place to play in the park. To learn more about Joe and his music, go to www.joepaulik.com.
It’s taken some years, more than 10 by one estimate, but a music collaborative has been formed in Grand Marais and the hope, said its organizer John Mianowski,“is to make Grand Marais an honest to goodness draw to the community and create a thriving music scene.”
Grand Marais Music Collaborative is now a not-forprofit corporation, organized to serve the needs of those who produce, perform, or enjoy music in the Grand Marais area, said Mianowski.
“We look forward to working with other local non-profits, businesses, governments, and venues to help build and strengthen our music community,” said Todd Miller, chairman of the board of directors, which includes Secretary/Treasurer John Mianowski and board members Grant Adams and Betsy Bowen.
“Our first major accomplishment has been to arrange with the City of Grand Marais to allow live performers in the downtown Harbor Park during the summer under a blanket peddler’s permit that we have purchased for them which allows musicians to offer items for sale or ask for tips during their performance. This is available to our members at no cost. Residents and visitors alike will soon be able to enjoy the festive atmosphere that live music creates as they shop, stroll, or just relax and enjoy the downtown Grand Marais area. Individual musicians and groups who want to take advantage of this great opportunity, as well as anybody else who would like to help strengthen and promote our local music scene, should contact the Grand Marais Music Collaborative,” Mianowski said.
Grand Marais Music Collaborative has been recognized as a public charity with tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code. Contributions donated to Grand Marais Music Collaborative are fully tax-deductible retroactive to the founding of the organization on March 13, 2015.
With this change designation, the organization is able to apply for government and foundation grants and funding, giving them access to resources to broaden and strengthen their ability to serve the Grand Marais community by promoting and supporting area music and musicians.
“Our goal is to set up a model similar to the one used by the Grand Marais Art Colony,” said Mianowski.
As part of the 501(c)(3) designation, the collaborative will create a service and support organization for musicians, said Mianowski. “It’s still early, but we are thinking of setting up gear exchanges, open mike nights, benefits. …whatever struggling musicians need to make their lives better we will try to do.”
For the first year there will be no cost or dues to join the collaborative. However, said Mianowski, “We would like people to make contributions, but that will be entirely up to them.”
“It’s going to take a lot of work, a lot of time, but someday we hope to create a mini-Memphis on the North Shore. Right now people come to the shore for the scenery, the shops, and the music is secondary. We hope eventually that people will come here primarily for the music and the rest will follow. We hope to grow the visitor base to the area,” Mianowski said.
For more information please contact: Grand Marais Music Collaborative, c/o John Mianowski, secretary, johnm@boreal.org, PO Box 123, Grand Marais, Minnesota 55604 or call (218) 370-9216.
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