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Welcome to NDCA E-News, North Dakota Council on the Arts' monthly newsletter including statewide and national news, time-sensitive opportunities, and upcoming events.
This FEBRUARY 2025 edition announces the deadlines for NDCA's FY26 grant program applications, highlights the ND Legislative Chorus, and much more!
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THANK YOU to all who attended the 27th ND Governor's Awards for the Arts celebration in Bismarck. Your support not only honors the recipients, it shows the importance of uplifting and preserving the wide variety of cultural heritage that our great state showcases.
If you were unable to attend, you can watch the recording of the ceremony, which included some heart-felt acceptance speeches from all of the recipients.
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NDCA seeks your feedback as we begin the process of planning programs and services for the upcoming years. We want to know what our communities are thinking about or missing and what you’d like to see from NDCA. This anonymous survey should take an average of 10 minutes to complete. If you provide your email address, we’ll enter you in a drawing for one of four $50 VISA gift cards.
Please respond by March 3, 2025. Thank you for helping us focus our mission to improve the arts for all North Dakotans!
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NDCA’s annual grant season is NOW OPEN and accepting applications. Funding is available to artists and organizations for a variety of projects and opportunities, including arts in education, accessibility, folk arts, community arts, and arts-related activities and events of all sizes. Visit our Grants at a Glance webpage to learn more. |
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All are INVITED to attend two free poetry events happening at the ND Heritage Center in Bismarck.
First, there will be an Open Mic opportunity on Sunday, March 2, starting at 6:30 p.m. Students can sign up when they arrive. Then, the 2025 Poetry Out Loud (POL) State Finals will take place on Monday, March 3. There will be two rounds of oral recitations in the morning, with a final round of competition after lunch to determine the new 2025 ND State Champion.
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JOIN US for Robin Bosch's Retirement Party on Monday, March 3rd, on the 18th Floor of the ND State Capitol starting at 3:00 p.m. Robin has been NDCA’s Fiscal Officer and Grants Administrator since 2012. In this role, she’s been an integral and multi-faceted part of the agency, bringing a thoughtful approach and strong attention to detail. Enjoy cake and camaraderie as we show appreciation for Robin’s time with NDCA and wish her well as she looks forward to a future of new adventures! |
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 *Photo by Tom Stromme, Bismarck Tribune 03/23/2017
A Choir that Bridges Politics with Harmony
For over a decade, the North Dakota Legislative Chorus has brought politicians, staff, and their family members together to honor past legislators through music. What began as a simple idea by Senator Erbele has grown into a powerful tradition, performing at Memorial Services, the Governor’s Prayer Breakfast, and the ND Governor's Awards for the Arts. But with changing membership and fewer available singers, the choir faces new challenges. Will it endure? Click the link to the full story below to hear them sing and learn about the choir’s legacy, its challenges, and the voices keeping it alive.
Wahpeton arts organization receives NEA grant
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January, 2025 - Three Rivers Arts Council (aka TRAC) in Wahpeton, ND received a $10,000 Challenge America grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to support a multidisciplinary Native arts residency. Challenge America grants are awarded in all artistic disciplines and offer support primarily to small organizations for a wide variety of arts projects that extend the reach of the arts to underserved groups and communities. |
NDCA mourns the passing of Cultural Treasure John Gross of Napoleon, ND
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NDCA Folklorist Troyd Geist shared, "His passing is the passing of an era. John was a talented Germans-from-Russia folk singer who learned his first song at the age of five and whose repertoire grew to literally hundreds of Germans-from-Russia folksongs, some that are centuries old. John’s steadfast commitment to teaching others and preserving the tradition he cherished is unmatched and helped garner him an ND Governor’s Award for the Arts in the category of ‘Cultural Treasure’ in 2019. We are grateful for the artistic legacy John bestowed on others and our state.” |
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Local ongoing and newly announced . . .
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NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS - North Dakota artists, organizations, and educational institutions are strongly encouraged to apply for NDCA's FY26 grant programs. Many programs have limited funding. Early submission is highly recommended! |
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One-time opportunities (April deadlines):
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Arts Midwest Jazz Roads Tours and Creative Residencies (Mar. 5)
Jazz Road Tours offer grants of up to $15,000 to artists to develop tours into communities across the country. Jazz Road Creative Residencies offers grants of up to $40,000 to artists to support residency activities that advance their artistry and community engagement.
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Arts Midwest Walking Together (Mar. 19)
Walking Together is a national program that offers grants of $15,000–$50,000 to support folklife and traditional arts rooted in communities by investing in artists/practitioners and the community organizations that care for them.
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57th Annual Keep ND Clean Artwork and Media Contest (pre-K through 12th Grade; Mar. 7)
The goal is to educate the citizens of ND about environmental stewardship and the proper disposal of litter to allow for the continued beautification of the great State of North Dakota.
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Medora Masterpiece Painting Contest (Mar. 31)
Medora Masterpiece is a new annual contest that invites North Dakota residents or students aged 18 and above to showcase their artistic talents. Selected artists will have the opportunity to reproduce their artwork in Medora.
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For organizations, including new applicants:
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A webinar covering the updated Grants for Arts Projects guidelines will take place on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025. Registration has closed but a recording will be posted shortly after the presentation in the Applicant Resources section of the Grants for Arts Projects webpage.
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For individual artists ONLY . . .
*Send new opportunities and request changes to current listings by emailing Rhea Beto: rbeto@nd.gov.
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NDCA Arts Activities, Events, and Workshops
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20/20 Vision: Poetry Open Mic - FREE and Open to the Public!
- Sunday, March 2, 2025, 6:30-8:00 p.m. at ND Heritage Center & State Museum (Bismarck)
- An event in coordination with Poetry Out Loud participants and curated by Umoja of Fargo
- Participants can sign up when they arrive
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ND Poetry Out Loud Championship - FREE and Open to the Public!
- Monday, March 3, 2025, at ND Heritage Center & State Museum (Bis)
- High school students from across the state will recite poems from memory
- Competition starts after 9:00 a.m. CT
- The award ceremony will begin at approximately 2:00 p.m. CT
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Robin Bosch Retirement Party -
- Monday, March 3, 2025, 3:00-4:30 p.m. on the 18th, or observatory, floor of the ND State Capitol Building
- Cake will be available
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Springboard for the Arts: Artists Working in Community Workshop
- Free 2-hour online workshop for North Dakota artists
- Learn how to reach out to community organizations and businesses to expand your artistic practice and income sources
- Complete this Doodle Poll to help us find the best March date
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Email Tobias Zikmund <tzikmund@nd.gov> if you have questions
*Post or view YOUR upcoming arts events and exhibits on the ND Tourism website. For more information on how to post your event, visit the NDCA Calendar of Events web page.
Resources
Flourishing Friday blog by Clay Routledge
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