In Focus: Bemidji’s Headwaters Music & Arts Hosts Renaissance-Themed Open House

A shieldcraft studio, “Guild of the Potters,” and “Ye Ole Photo Booth” quest may seem like something out of the olden days, but the costumed swordsmen and homemade crowns were all a part of Headwaters Music & Art’s Renaissance fair and open house, which took place Friday evening in Bemidji.

“It’s part of our mission to be a part of the community and to be that friendly, accessible place for music and art experiences,” stated Headwaters Music & Arts Executive Director Tricia Andrews. “Many times, people will walk by our building for years and eventually wander in and say, ‘Oh, I was always wondering what you do here.'”

Headwaters has been hosting the open house for years, but this is only the second year it’s been held with the Renaissance theme. The idea came from finding a way to engage more with kids and families as they come in.

“I like how everyone dresses up and I do like old-fashioned,” said Headwaters vocal student Reina.

Attendees start their Renaissance adventure with a quest card and then move on to pottery, making crowns and shields, and learning about Headwaters classes themselves.

“We do music lessons and art classes and camps all year round, but it’s in September that a lot of our year-round programing kind of kicks off,” said Andrews.

“They teach you how to sing and they do warm-ups,” explained Reina of her experiences at Headwaters. “I want to be a singer one day. I like singing on stage.”

Among all the old-fashioned activities, Renaissance dress-up, and face paint, the biggest hit of the night was when everyone could actually try out the instruments.

“My favorite part is when an adult or a child wanders through and they think they’re going to be interested, say, in the piano, but then they sit down and try out the cello or a guitar or an instrument they never even heard of,” Andrews added. “And they realize that they like the sound of it and the feel of it, and they can picture learning that instrument.”