When people think of the arts, they often picture grand symphony halls in big cities, sleek galleries on bustling streets, or Broadway stages filled with lights and spectacle. And while those places are powerful, they’re not the whole picture. Here in Ely, Minnesota, the arts look and feel different—and that difference is our strength. At the Northern Lakes Arts Association (NLAA), we’ve spent nearly 40 years creating, nurturing, and advocating for the arts in the heart o