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Photo: Ojibwe artist Roxanne Laducer holds up one of her handcrafted dreamcatchers during a workshop at Arts for Vets in Grand Forks, where the piece is currently on display.
Welcome to NDCA's E-News, ND Council on the Arts' monthly newsletter including statewide & national news, time-sensitive opportunities, and upcoming events.
This November 2025 edition honors Native American Heritage Month with a spotlight on Roxanne Laducer and an invitation to the Native Heritage Showcase at the Capitol on November 21. We also announce new grant awardees, introduce a new NDCA Board member, and highlight arts-in-education opportunities & newly opened grant programs.
As we approach Thanksgiving, we give thanks to all who support the arts in ND -- and especially honor the life and legacy of Laurel Reuter, whose impact continues to inspire.
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Remembering Laurel Reuter
Oct. 17, 1943 – Oct. 13, 2025
Laurel Reuter was the visionary founding director and chief curator of the North Dakota Museum of Art (NDMOA), a role she held for 50 years until her retirement in 2022. Born in Devils Lake and raised in Tokio, ND, on the Spirit Lake Reservation, Laurel transformed a small student gallery at the University of North Dakota into a world-class institution for contemporary art on the Northern Plains.
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Her curatorial work brought global perspectives to local audiences, including landmark exhibitions like The Disappeared, which received international acclaim. She was a tireless advocate for Native American artists, new commissions, and arts education. In recognition of her extraordinary contributions, she received a North Dakota Governor’s Award for the Arts in 2007 (photo above). Her legacy continues through the Laurel Reuter Director’s Fund, ensuring future generations can access the transformative power of art.
Reflections from Jessica Christy, Executive Director, NDCA
"There’s no doubt that Laurel Reuter had a deep impact on the landscape of the arts in North Dakota. What might be easily overlooked is the impact she had on the people. One of my earliest arts memories is in the NDMOA. As my mother installed exhibitions, I explored all corners of the museum - the galleries, the gift shop, those bathrooms. The work that was housed within those walls was formative to me; Laurel was formative to me. She cared about my creations, even as a child. Before I was school-aged, I was impacted by artists she invited in such as Jackie Torrence, Barton Beneš, and Patrick Dougherty. Those ripples continued to surface throughout my career. Laurel not only showed up for the arts in our state, she showed up for our people. And for that, I’m so grateful."
Reflections from Matthew Anderson, Director of Arts in Education, NDCA
"Laurel was my boss, mentor, and hero. I worked with her for more than a decade at the North Dakota Museum of Art, and no one has shaped my artistic life more. She taught me how to see—really see—and to develop an artistic eye grounded in curiosity, rigor, and care. Laurel supported my ideas and, just as importantly, my failures. She gave me permission to take risks, to test an idea, and to learn from what didn’t work. That trust changed me as an artist and as an educator. Laurel built a place where art matters because people matter, and I carry that lesson with me every day. I will miss her voice, her standards, and her fierce belief in possibility, but I will keep her wisdom close and try to live up to the example she set for all of us."
ND Arts in Education Updates and Opportunities
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Last Call: Register Now for the 2025–26 POL Program!
North Dakota schools and educational institutions have until November 28, 2025, to register for the 2025–26 Poetry Out Loud (POL) program -- a national arts education initiative that encourages high school students to engage with poetry through memorization and performance.
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The newly updated, national POL website features an expanded poetry anthology, lesson plans, teacher toolkits, and video resources to support educators and students throughout the competition.
Supported by the National Endowment for the Arts and state arts agencies, Poetry Out Loud helps students build public speaking skills, self-confidence, and a deeper appreciation for literary heritage. The program begins at the classroom or school level, with winners advancing to regional, state, and national competitions.
The 2026 North Dakota POL State Finals will take place in Bismarck on February 23, and the state champion will represent North Dakota at the National Finals in Washington, D.C., April 27–29, 2026.
Don’t miss this opportunity -- register your school today and help your students find their voice through poetry!
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The ND Afterschool Network, in collaboration with NDCA, is pleased to offer funding to afterschool and other out-of-school time programs ranging from $500 to $2,000 to increase opportunities for students in grades K-12 to engage in arts programming during the 2025-2026 school year.
- Applicant must be an afterschool, summer, or other out-of-school time program located in ND and serving students within K - 12 grades.
- Activities must include direct engagement with an artist or arts institution (museum, gallery, theater, etc.) and K-12 students in afterschool, summer, or other out-of-school time program.
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NDCA Welcomes New Board Member for Region 4
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North Dakota Council on the Arts is pleased to welcome Kierstin Hurtt of Hoople to its board of directors, representing Region 4 in the northeast corner of the state. Kierstin brings a strong background in education, rural advocacy, and community arts engagement. She has helped expand access to childcare and after-school programming in her district and co-founded the Hoople Beautification Committee, which recently hosted Tator Town Day -- an event filled with local art, live music, and small-town pride.
We also extend our sincere thanks to Dawn Mandt for her dedicated service as the previous Region 4 representative. Her contributions to the board and the arts community are deeply appreciated.
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 Guarding the Dreamtime: Ojibwe Artist Roxanne Laducer Celebrated for Keeping Traditions Alive
Last month, we shared the exciting news that Roxanne C. Henry Laducer of Rolette, ND received the 2025 Midwest Culture Bearers Award. Now, we invite you to read her full story—one of healing, heritage, and the power of art.
A dreamcatcher artist and member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa, Roxanne shares, “To me, [the dreamcatcher] is a spiritual symbol of great love… a way of writing and preserving the people.” Her journey is a moving reflection on cultural resilience and the joy of teaching others.
Photo: War Shield created by Roxanne Laducer
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Congratulations to Hip Hop & Hope!
2025 Bush Prize: North Dakota Honoree Receiving $250,000
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Hip Hop & Hope is one of two organizations honored with the 2025 Bush Prize: North Dakota, presented by Strengthen ND in partnership with the Bush Foundation. Known for its creative use of hip hop, mentorship, and fitness, the organization supports individuals impacted by addiction, incarceration, and homelessness. A repeat participant in NDCA’s Artist in Residence program, Hip Hop & Hope brings arts-based recovery and empowerment programs into schools, prisons, and sobriety houses --demonstrating how the arts can be a catalyst for healing and community transformation. |
Arts and Culture Drive Tourism in North Dakota
Destination Development Grants Awarded
The North Dakota Department of Commerce recently awarded $15 million through its Destination Development Grant program, with several projects highlighting the powerful connection between tourism and the arts. From Jamestown’s expanded arts programming to Mandan’s creative makerspace and Hettinger’s dinosaur-themed destination, these grants show how cultural experiences are key to attracting visitors and enriching communities. Investments like these prove that arts, culture, and heritage are not just local assets -- they’re essential to building vibrant, year-round destinations across the state.
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Arts, Culture, & Heritage-Focused Grant Recipients:
- Raising the Bar for the Arts (Jamestown): $500,000
- Scandinavian Heritage Park (Minot): $110,943
- Valley City Heritage Voices: $31,303
- Bear Creek Events & Cultural Center (Fargo area): $1,000,000
- Barn to Yarn Experience, Nome Schoolhouse: $181,200
- Carrington Rainbow Gardens & Interpretive Center: $200,000
- Medora Conference & Heritage Commons: $250,000
- Trestle Commons (Bismarck): $500,000
- Tourism Makerspace Hub (Mandan): $500,000
- Jurassic Junction (Hettinger): $1,200,000
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These projects reflect how storytelling, heritage preservation, and creative placemaking are central to North Dakota’s tourism strategy.
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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 - 6 weeks prior to planned activities - for NDCA's ongoing FY26 grant programs (project dates: July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026).
*NDCA is currently NOT accepting applications for Special Projects or Professional Development. Please check back later in the fiscal year to see if the grants have been reopened.
NOW OPEN (until funds are exhausted):
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**Artist in Residence (up to $3,000)
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Tiered match requirements:
- Title 1 and/or 21st Century Schools: Up to 90% of the total project cost with a 10% cash match
- Non-Title 1/Non-21st Century Schools: Up to 70% of the total project cost with a 30% cash match
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ND250 Commission Community Initiative Grants
The ND250 Commission is offering Community Initiative Grants of up to $10,000 to support events and projects commemorating the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. Grants will be awarded until funds are exhausted.
Grants are available to non-profit organizations, as well as city, county, or tribal governments, for projects related to the celebration of the past 250 years of North Dakota’s people, places, innovations, and achievements contributing to the nation’s story during America’s 250th anniversary.
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ND - I Voted Sticker Design Contest (Nov. 15)
North Dakota residents of all ages are invited to submit original artwork for the state’s official “I Voted” sticker. The winning design will be featured at polling places statewide. The selected artist will be honored by Secretary of State Michael Howe and will be recognized in a statewide press release.
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ND Teen Takeover Program (Dec. 5)
ND teens are invited to submit original artwork interpreting the theme “What will North Dakota look like 250 years in the future?” Finalists’ work will be showcased in spring 2026 at the ND Heritage Center & State Museum, and one grand champion will receive $150. There is no entry fee.
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For organizations, including new applicants:
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The Shubert Foundation Inc. Grants (Dec. 4 & Dec. 11)
The Shubert Foundation Inc. is the nation’s largest funder dedicated to unrestricted funding of not-for-profit theatres and dance companies. General operating support grants of $15,000 or more are awarded to professional organizations that have an established track record as well as a history of fiscal responsibility.
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NEA / Arts Midwest Big Read (Jan. 15, 2026)
The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and Arts Midwest are now accepting applications for the 2026–27 cycle of the NEA Big Read, a national program that offers matching grants of up to $20,000 to support community-wide reading programs. This year’s NEA Big Read will center around the theme America250, honoring the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, marking America’s semi-quincentennial.
A mandatory Intent to Apply is due Jan. 15, 2026, with final applications due Jan. 29. Funded programs will take place between Sept. 2026 and June 2027.
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Shakespeare in American Communities (Intent to Apply Due Jan. 29, 2026)
Three matching & non-matching grant opportunities ranging from $15,000-$30,000 for eligible nonprofit theater organizations:
• Schools Program: Supports Shakespeare-related performances and educational activities for middle and high school students.Â
• Juvenile Justice Program: Brings Shakespeare-related theater experiences to juvenile justice facilities.
• Apprenticeship Program: Provides paid apprenticeships for early-career theater professionals in administrative and technical roles. The programming that apprentices support does NOT have to be Shakespeare related.Â
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For individual artists ONLY . . .
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*** Programs for Artists with Disabilities . . .
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*Send new opportunities and request changes to current listings by emailing Rhea Beto: rbeto@nd.gov.
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NDCA / Partner Arts Activities, Events, & Workshops
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ND Native Heritage Showcase
Join us for a day of celebration, culture, and community at the ND Native Heritage Showcase, held at the ND State Capitol in Memorial Hall on Friday, Nov. 21, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
This special event will highlight the richness of our Native traditions through:
- Live performances by Native artists and poets
- Cultural presentations throughout the day
- Register for Sacred Pipe’s Indigenous Food Crawl – a unique opportunity to explore traditional Native cuisine.
- All are welcome to attend.
- Admission is free.
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NDCA-Sponsored Activities, Events, and Workshops
South Central
Southeast
Live Streaming (ONLY)
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Is your event partially funded by NDCA? Email information to Rhea Beto <rbeto@nd.gov> by the 1st of each month if you would like to be included in this new section (above) of the e-news.
- If your event is NOT sponsored by NDCA, you are invited to post the information on the ND Tourism website (example image below). For more information on how to post your event, visit the NDCA Calendar of Events web page.
Resources
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