Northern Lakes Arts Association Honored with 2025 Jackpine Bob Cary Community Spirit Award

The Ely Chamber of Commerce has named the Northern Lakes Arts Association (NLAA) the recipient of the 2025 Jackpine Bob Cary Community Spirit Award — a prestigious honor recognizing individuals and organizations who give unselfishly of their time and talents to make Ely a better place to live, visit, and grow. Under the leadership of Executive Artistic Director Ian Francis Lah, NLAA has redefined what it means to be a community-centered arts organization in the Northwoods — not just entertaining, but engaging, educating, and transforming.

“It is so exciting to see the work that NLAA has been doing over the past three years being recognized by our community,” said Lah. “We feel that one of the biggest gifts we can give back is our creativity and the opportunity to experience and be a part of the awe and wonder of the arts. So to receive this, just as we begin planning our 40th anniversary season, is a thrilling way to start.”

Honoring the legacy ofJackpine Bob Cary.

Few names are as intertwined with Ely’s identity as Bob Cary — known to many as "Jackpine." He was a writer, artist, radio personality, cross-country ski enthusiast, and lifelong ambassador for Ely and the Boundary Waters. His columns, illustrations, and storytelling drew people into the heart of Ely, combining wit with warmth and always celebrating the rugged beauty and community character of the region.

The award created in his honor celebrates that same spirit — a dedication to community, a sense of place, and a drive to share it with others. It’s not presented every year, but only when a group or individual embodies Cary’s joyful, generous legacy. In 2025, NLAA rose to meet that standard.

The arts as a catalyst for community and tourism.

Founded in 1986, NLAA has been a cultural cornerstone in Ely for nearly four decades. But in recent years, its impact has deepened and widened — becoming a vital force not just for the arts, but for community and economic vitality.

Under Ian Lah’s leadership, NLAA has introduced accessible pricing models, youth and adult theater education, new partnerships, and a fresh commitment to creative placemaking. Its programming now spans musicals, concerts, workshops, visual arts, and immersive community events — all while keeping the arts rooted in the people and landscape of Ely.

One of NLAA’s most significant achievements of the past year was the launch of the Great Nordic Shakespeare Festivalin January 2025. Not only did the festival attract new visitors during Ely’s coldest months, but it also brought Shakespeare to life in classrooms across the region

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“The best part of the Shakespeare Festival wasn’t seen by our public, by our community, but rather by the students of area schools,” said Lah. “During the festival, the company toured to five regional schools — Ely, Vermilion Country School, Marshall, and more. And to watch these kids become enraptured by Shakespeare brought so much joy to these actors, especially since many of them weren’t sure if modern youth would love it. But they did. And it was magic.”

A teacher at one of the schools later reflected, “Some of our students have never seen live theater before, much less Shakespeare. But they were riveted — they laughed, they leaned in, they asked questions. It opened a door to something they didn’t know they were allowed to love.” Moments like these remind us that the arts are not a luxury — they’re a gateway to curiosity, empathy, and confidence for young people who are still discovering who they are.

Through efforts like these, NLAA has positioned Ely as not just a wilderness destination, but as a growing arts and cultural hub in northern Minnesota.

Looking ahead: a new chapter as NLAA prepares to turn 40.

As NLAA prepares to celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2026, this award marks a meaningful moment of reflection and anticipation. While the organization isn’t revealing specific programming just yet, the vision is clear: NLAA’s future is focused on connection, inclusion, and creative sustainability.

“We see the future of NLAA as an economic resource that supports the town, that brings new people to make this town home, and that helps Ely become a space where all people are welcome — where all people have the opportunity and access to be a part of the arts,” said Lah. “Through the arts, we can build a more compassionate society, a more knowledgeable society, and a society that cares about one another and the planet we live on.”

NLAA’s anniversary season will honor the past while actively shaping the future of Ely through creativity, inclusivity, and courage.

A Community that believes in the arts.

For NLAA, the Jackpine Bob Cary Award is a recognition not just of leadership or programming — but of community collaboration. The success of the arts in Ely depends on volunteers, donors, artists, teachers, families, and supporters who all show up to make this shared vision real.

“While we are so grateful for the support of Ely and all of our sponsors and donors, we look forward to continuing this work — and leading in our community through our actions, our words, and our energy devoted to our cause,” Lah added.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the NLAA Board of Directors, our dedicated production teams, volunteers, and community collaborators — especially the teachers, small business owners, and families who make the arts a part of daily life in Ely. Thank you for believing in the power of story, for showing up, and for helping us keep building something beautiful together.

For more information about NLAA’s programming and upcoming events — or to support their work — visit www.northernlakesarts.org.