At the Northern Lakes Arts Association (NLAA) in Ely, the arts are more than entertainment—they’re a way to hold a community together.
“Our mission is uplifting Ely and the surrounding communities by presenting, promoting, and celebrating the visual, literary, and performing arts,” said Executive Artistic Director Ian Francis Lah (he/they), who returned to their hometown after working across the country as an actor, director, and cruise ship entertainer. “We’re all about using the arts to uplift our community.”
Founded nearly 40 years ago, NLAA has grown from a small-town presenter to a creative hub drawing artists and audiences from across Minnesota, the Iron Range and beyond. It hosts local talent and professional touring performers, balancing community expression with outside inspiration.
“Sometimes we bring shows in so people in the area can see new things,” Lah said. “And sometimes we create opportunities for locals to perform and participate. It’s both—being an audience member and being a dancer, an actor, a poet.”
A Costumer’s Eye and a Teacher’s Heart
For Laurie Kess, an NLAA board member, the organization’s impact is personal and communal. A retired home economics teacher and former principal at Ely Memorial High School, she began volunteering in the costume department years ago.
“I really enjoy the work—it’s a nice creative challenge,” Kess said. “All the performances here mean people don’t have to travel far for entertainment. For me, the arts here have been life-enriching.”
Kess said NLAA is especially valuable in winter, when it gets residents out of the house and socializing. Her son, Brian, participated in NLAA productions during his school years and went on to major in theater at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
Youth Programs That Build Confidence
Jennifer Toddie, who moved to Ely from St. Paul four years ago, said her daughter Asa, now 11, has blossomed through NLAA’s theater and arts programs. Asa has performed in “Matilda” and “Elf,” attended the Greenstone visual arts camp, and danced with Reflections Dance Company. “It’s been an amazing confidence-builder and identity-shaper,” Toddie said. “It pushed her beyond what she thought she could do.”
Toddie credits the directors, choreographers and fellow cast members for creating a space that is both nurturing and challenging. “She’s learned to trust herself, trust the people around her, and develop strong relationships with other cast members.”
Asa remembers being nervous before her first audition. “I definitely was shy,” she said. “But being in the plays and doing all that work with NLAA has made me a lot less shy and more confident.”
Camps, Classes, and Inclusive Dance
The 22-year-old Greenstone Art Camp—offered in partnership with the nonprofit Greenstone Arts group—serves students in grades 1-6 with three-day camps. In addition, workshops are available for students in grades 7-12, covering painting, sculpture, and mixed media.
Reflections Dance Company creates “a welcoming and joyful environment for all people, of all ages and body types, to have fun and move their bodies.” The group emphasizes accessibility and inclusivity, offering a space where creativity flourishes.
With many rural schools unable to offer robust arts instruction, NLAA helps fill the gap, giving young people opportunities to discover and develop creative skills.
The Arts as an Economic Engine
Lah believes the arts are a powerful economic force, especially in small towns like Ely.
“I’m a firm believer that arts and culture are the unspoken economic hero of the Iron Range,” Lah said. “We’re non-extractive and nonseasonal. If we have a bad winter, the arts can still bring people here. We’re the glue.”
In recent years, ticket buyers have come from Thunder Bay, Florida, Nebraska, and across Minnesota. But the real reward, Lah said, isn’t in the numbers—it’s in the grocery store.
“There’s always a show each year that reminds me why I do this,” Lah said. “Last year, ‘Bright Star’ lit up the stage. This year, ‘Next to Normal’—with its portrayal of mental health struggles—moved people deeply. Weeks after the show, I’ll run into someone while picking up milk, and they’ll say, ‘That changed something for me.’ That kind of connection doesn’t always happen in big cities.”
Looking to the Future
Lah’s goal is not just to sustain NLAA, but to lead.
“I want us to be a gem of the Iron Range,” they said. “If we invest in placemaking, in culture, in art-making, we’re not just making Ely better. We’re showing what’s possible across the whole region.”
To learn more about the Northern Lakes Arts Association in Ely, visit: northernlakesarts.org.
