In answer to a call for enhancing the arts culture of Ely and the surrounding area, Northern Lakes Arts Association (NLAA), a community arts council, was born in 1986. In 1988, Northern Lakes Arts had 18 members. By 1990, it had grown to 85 members. Today it has over 550 individual, family and business members and is reaching for a membership goal of 1000. (Join today!)

Besides producing events by local performers, the association has brought world-class acts to Ely such as the State Dance Company of Belarus, which has appeared twice, and the Twin Cities' James Sewell Ballet, formerly of New York City. Other concerts have included the Dale Warland Singers, the MN Chamber Music Society Summer Camp performers, Bobby Vee, Pat Donohue and Randy Sabien.

NLAA promotes the arts among amateurs in the five disciplines of dance, art, music, theatre and literary arts, as well as promoting artistic development for children.

Residents of Ely and the surrounding area can count on two or three major musicals or dramatic productions a year, such as  "Kismet,"   "Wonderful Town" and South Pacific." These productions are presented in multiple performances in the 185 seat Fine Arts Theatre at Vermilion Community College.

Another important addition to the arts in Ely during the late eighties was the creation of a community arts and library trust. The city fathers had been made aware that an old painting hanging in the public library (for 50 years) was a work by well-known American Impressionist Frederick Frieseke. Too valuable to keep, they sold it to a private collector for a half-million dollars. Named after the donor of the work, The Donald G. Gardner Humanities Trust provides operating and programming funds as well as scholarships to the arts and lends support to the needs of the public library.

In 1992, a city bond was passed which enabled a renovation 900-seat Washington Auditorium, improving on the lighting and sound systems.

Mission Statement
The mission of NLAA is to support and develop the arts -- visual, performing and literary -- in order to enrich the quality of life in Ely, for its members, the community, and the surrounding area of northern Minnesota.