2026 Kerlan Award with Betsy Bowen

Celebrated artist, author, and woodblock printmaker Betsy Bowen will be the recipient of the 2026 Kerlan Award. This hybrid event is free and open to all. Registration is required to attend in person or online. PROGRAM 5:30 p.m. – Doors open 6 p.m. – Program begins 7 p.m. – Reception and book signing, with book sales provided by Red Balloon Bookshop The Kerlan Award, given annually in recognition of singular attainments in the creation of children’s literature and in appreciation for the generous donation of unique resources to the UMN’s Kerlan Collection, celebrates Bowen’s lasting impact on the cultural fabric of Minnesota. About Betsy Bowen Based in Grand Marais, Minnesota, Betsy Bowen is renowned for her profound connection to the North Shore and the Boundary Waters. Through her distinctive woodblock printing—a meticulous technique of carving images into wooden blocks and hand-pressing them onto paper—Bowen has spent decades documenting the seasonal rhythms and rugged beauty of the