🌸 May 2025 NDCA E-news: Celebrating Asian Pacific Heritage Month!

Legislative Update: We’re happy to share that the 69th Legislative Assembly has concluded with strong support for the arts in North Dakota. Lawmakers approved our base budget, added dollars to enhance Arts Across the Prairie (AAP) education, and established a brand-new State Troubadour program under our direction. They also gave us the green light to use interest from the Cultural Endowment Fund to support the fabrication, site preparation, and installation of AAP projects. We’re grateful for the continued investment in the arts and excited for what’s ahead!

A collaboration among the Governor's Office, ND Tourism, AAA, and NDCA, the 2025 ND Governor’s Photo Contest winners were announced during the ND Travel Industry Conference in Minot on April 30. Selected for their stunning seasonal landscapes and engaging activity shots, the winning prints will be on display throughout May on the 18th floor of the Capitol as part of NDCA’s Featured Artists at the Capitol program.

Region 2 Arts Across the Prairie Stakeholders selected the icon (left) that will be used to represent their proposed public art project. The installation will be located at the Heartland Bison Ranch, south of Balta in Pierce County.

NDCA’s annual grant programs are now going through the panel process. After receiving an increase in applications compared to last fiscal year, NDCA's annual programs are now under review by panels of external individuals with a range of backgrounds and expertise. Each program's panel will provide funding recommendations to NDCA’s Board of Directors who will make the final award decisions based on those recommendations and the availability of funds.

North Dakota Council on the Arts (NDCA) is funded in roughly equal parts by the state legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). More than half of NDCA’s overall budget—particularly the NEA funds—is awarded to organizations and individuals across ND through a variety of grant programs.

Special congratulations to ND students who participated in the 2025 Junior Duck Stamp Program & Contest, where K–12 youth learn about wetlands and wildlife conservation, then express what they’ve learned through original artwork.

Kaylen Kasel of Maple Valley High School earned First Place Conservation Message at the national level with: “Nature needs heroes; be one.”

In the North Dakota contest, Best of Show went to Francheska Flores-Gargarita of Valley City High School for her colored pencil drawing of northern shovelers (left), and Runner-Up to Gabe Coleman of Bismarck for his acrylic painting of mallards on cattails. View North Dakota’s top 100 entries on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Flickr site.

The National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation announce that Isavel Mendoza, a 12th grade student from Bethlehem, PA, is the 2025 Poetry Out Loud® National Champion. After reciting poems by Keith S. Wilson, Kabir, and E.E. Cummings, Mendoza was named champion on May 7 during National Finals in Washington, DC. As National Champion, Mendoza receives a cash prize of $20,000. The second-place winner was Teonna Randle, a 12th grade student from Sioux Falls, SD, who receives a $10,000 prize.

Although North Dakota’s 2025 Poetry Out Loud State Champion Leah Hochhalter did not place at the national competition, NDCA Arts in Education Director Matthew Anderson emphasized that the experience goes far beyond awards. “What stood out most was the sense of connection and encouragement,” he shared. “Poetry Out Loud is more than a competition—it’s a community. Past champions welcomed this new class with open arms, and the support among students, educators, and partners, like the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation, was truly inspiring.”

NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS - North Dakota artists, organizations, and educational institutions are strongly encouraged to apply for NDCA's ongoing FY26 grant programs (project dates - July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026).

Many programs have limited funding. Early submission is highly recommended!

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**Applications due 6 weeks before event.

NOW OPEN:

• Community Arts Access (up to $4,000)
  • Round 2 Deadline: Sept. 4, 2025
• **Professional Development (up to $1,000)
• **Special Projects (up to $1,500)

OPENING SOON:

• **Artist in Residence (up to $2,500)

ND Parks 2025-26 Artist in Residency Program - (May 23)

NDCA and the ND Parks and Recreation Department are now accepting applications for the 2025–2026 Artist in Residency program! Artists of all disciplines are invited to apply for a chance to stay and create in one of ND's beautiful state parks: Cross Ranch State Park (Aug 4–13, 2025), Turtle River State Park (Aug 10–17, 2025), and Fort Ransom State Park (June 2–8, 2026). 

Grants for Arts Projects (up to $100,000; July 10)

Grants for Arts Projects (GAP) provides funding for public engagement with the arts and arts education, for the integration of the arts with strategies promoting the health and well-being of people and communities, and for the improvement of overall capacity and capabilities within the arts sector. Watch the Feb. 18 NEA webinar covering the FY 2026 updated (GAP) grant guidelines.

ND County Fair Resiliency Grants (up to $100,000; May 30)

Offered by the ND Department of Agriculture (NDDA), these grants are to be used by county agriculture fair associations in the state for the planning, design, and construction of infrastructure projects. NDDA reserves the right to offer an award amount less than the amount requested. 

Levitt Music Series Grants (up to $120,000; June 30)

The Levitt Foundation is inviting proposals from U.S.-based nonprofits to present a Levitt Music Series in 2026, 2027 and 2028. These multi-year matching grants will activate underused public spaces, ensure access to the arts and strengthen the social fabric of communities through creative placemaking, bringing people together of all ages and backgrounds through free, outdoor concert series.

Vilcek Foundation Grants (up to $50,000; June 30)

The Vilcek Foundation invites applications for grants to support nonprofit organizations that work with immigrant artists and communities, and that promote diversity in the arts, sciences, education, and humanities. A portion of the foundation’s grants are identified and initiated directly by the Vilcek Foundation.

Midwest Nice Art - call for visual art (May 20)

Solar Flare 2025 by Sunspot Lit - writers/designers (May 31)

Spring 2025 Innovate Grant - call for visual art (June 26)

National Garden of American Heroes: Statues (July 1)