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ND's new official Troubadour Chuck Suchy in the Great Hall of the Capitol, March 2025
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 APRIL 2025 edition highlights the final deadlines for NDCA's FY26 grant program applications, features an Arts in Justice program happening at YCC, & much more!
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North Dakota's new Troubadour & state waltz! March 27, 2025, Governor Armstrong signs a bill, which almost unanimously passed both chambers, making Chuck Suchy our first official Troubadour and his song Dancing Dakota the state's official waltz. Facilitated by NDCA, Suchy will serve a term of five years, offering public performances and teaching opportunities across the state. At the end of Suchy's term, the Chair of NDCA will name the next Troubadour. |
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NDCA welcomes Gail Schmidt as our new Fiscal & Administrative Officer, managing all financial aspects of the agency, ensuring compliance, accurate record-keeping, and effective budget oversight. Prior to joining NDCA, she held a variety of leadership and accounting roles in state government, higher education, healthcare, and the private sector. Gail earned her Bachelor of Science in Accounting, magna cum laude, from the University of North Dakota. |
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HELP US cheer on ND Champion Leah Hochhalter of Valley City as she competes against 54 other students in the 20th Annual Poetry Out Loud® (POL) National Finals in Washington, DC, May 6-7, 2025! The semifinals and finals will take place at the George Washington University and will be available through a one-time only webcast at Arts.gov/Poetry-Out-Loud. A total of $50,000 in prizes and organizational stipends will be awarded, including $20,000, $10,000 and $5,000 respectively for 1st-3rd place. |
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FINAL CALL for NDCA’s annual grant programs! A majority of the grant programs offered by NDCA are only open for applications once a year and that door is beginning to close. These grants provide funding to artists and organizations for a variety of projects and opportunities, including arts in education, accessibility, folk arts, and arts-related activities and events of all sizes. Visit our Grants at a Glance webpage (link below) to learn more & APPLY! |
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 L to R: Joe Davis, Melissa Spelchen (CREA), Michelle Pfaff (YCC), Frederick Edwards Jr., Jessica Christy, and Matthew Anderson (March 2025)
Arts in Juvenile Justice: Healing, Hope, and a Microphone
Since 2023, the Youth Correctional Center (YCC) in Mandan, ND has been incorporating an Artist in Residency initiative into its curriculum. Every few months, residents at YCC have the opportunity to participate in a weeklong program led by poets and teaching artists Frederick Edwards Jr. and Joe Davis. The week begins with Fred and Joe sharing their own personal stories and performing original poetry to demonstrate how the artform became a path to healing. Then, they guide students through the process of writing their own stories—emotions and all—into powerful poems. At the end of the week, students typcially present their final pieces during a Poetry Slam. Before performances begin, participants are treated to a celebratory meal with the program’s leadership team.
NDCA Arts in Education Director Matthew Anderson said, “YCC staff have shared that these residencies create a noticeable shift in mood and morale. They see increased student engagement, improved communication, and even reduced behavioral incidents. It’s clear that arts programming provides intervention against isolation.”
The artist residencies at YCC are managed by the Central Regional Education Association, with funding provided equally from ND Council on the Arts and the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
Arts and Culture Fuel North Dakota's Economy, Adding $1.8 Billion and 15,000 Jobs
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New data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) shows that North Dakota’s arts and cultural sector is a powerful economic driver, contributing $1.765 billion to the state’s economy in 2023. Representing 2.32% of the state’s total GDP, arts and cultural industries also supported 14,852 jobs and provided nearly $903 million in compensation. While North Dakota's GDP growth was at 3%, the state’s Arts and Culture Value Added increased by 10.03%. |
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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 (project dates - July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026). Many programs have limited funding. Early submission is highly recommended!
NOW OPEN (applications due 6 weeks before event):
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Upcoming FY26 Program Deadlines (project dates - July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026):
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Bush Prize: North Dakota - 2 grants of $250,000 each (April 30)
The Bush Prize celebrates organizations that are highly valued within their communities and have a track record of successful community problem solving. Bush Prize grants are flexible and can be used to build reserves, test a big idea or for anything else that would best support the organization’s ongoing good work.
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Volunteer to be an NEA Panelist (ongoing)
Serving as a grant review panelist offers a unique opportunity to learn more about the NEA's application review process. The NEA relies on panels composed of individuals who represent a broad range of viewpoints, and is also interested in boosting the number of panelists from under-represented areas, such as North Dakota.
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For organizations, including new applicants:
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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FREE Webinar: Creating Passionate Young Readers and Writers
- Thursday, April 24, 3:10 p.m. (RSVP before 8:00 a.m. that morning)
- Register by emailing Beth.Olshansky@comcast.net & request a Zoom link.
- Join Beth Olshansky for a lively 50-minute overview of two dynamic, evidence-based approaches to teaching writing and fostering literacy.
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Picturing Writing: Fostering Literacy Through Art® integrates both drawing and image-making and has been proven effective for a wide range of learners.
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Convergence Expo: Where Art, Health, and Community Meet
- Saturday, April 26, 12:00-5:00 p.m. at the Plains Art Museum (Fargo)
- Free and open to the public - RSVP for Convergence Expo
- Whether you’re a community member, artist, healthcare provider, or advocate for well-being, the Convergence Expo is an opportunity to re-imagine how museums and creative spaces can contribute to public health.
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2025 NEA Jazz Masters Tribute Concert
- Saturday, April 26, 8:00 p.m. at the Kennedy Center’s Eisenhower Theater in Washington, DC
- Live webcast via kennedy-center.org. An archive of the webcast will be available following the event at arts.gov.
- The 2025 award recipients: Marshall Allen, Marilyn Crispell, Chucho Valdés, and recipient of the 2025 A.B. Spellman NEA Jazz Masters Award for Jazz Advocacy Gary Giddins.
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2025 POL National Finals - celebrating the 20th Anniversary
- May 6-7 at George Washington University, Washington, DC, and available through a one-time only webcast at Arts.gov/Poetry-Out-Loud
- Cheer on 2025 ND State Champion Leah Hochhalter!
*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
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