To the Editor,

  The Lakes Region Arts Council recently announced the Mentorship Program Applications are open for all students who are interested in mentoring with an artist who works in their craft. If you know of a young person who perhaps hopes to perform or work in the arts, please encourage him/her to apply.  The deadline for this program is on January 25. LRAC will help find the proper mentor if needed, answer questions about the grant process, and encourage your youth in their endeavor to do more. The money they get from the grant gives them the chance to pair up with a professional who works in the art in which they want to grow.

    While the obvious hope is that these youth will then go on as artists in the world, the reality is that not all do. Our sons were both grant recipients, but pursued education in the sciences. However, both became better at their craft and developed a lifelong passion for their respective art forms: one for theater and the other for music. Both still make contributions in these areas. They grew in confidence and independence, learned organization and planning which helps them today. The adults who mentored them are still in their peripheral orbit and someday I expect our sons to pay that forward. If you know of a young, budding artist, I urge you to encourage them to seek out this program. Please contact the Lakes Region Arts Council for more information.

Beth Rose,

Henning