|
|
Welcome to NDCA's E-News, ND Council on the Arts' monthly newsletter including statewide & national news, time-sensitive opportunities, and upcoming events.
The November 2026 edition showcases the completion of the Arts Across the Prairie Region 2 installation, photos and recordings from the 2026 Convening, a new Capitol exhibit featuring textiles and eco-prints by Amanda Heidt, the upcoming deadline for the 2027 Governor's Awards for the Arts nominations, ongoing arts education opportunities across North Dakota, holiday gift ideas that benefit and support North Dakota artists, and FY27 grant awards supporting the preservation of the state's folk and traditional arts.
|
|
 
Arts Across the Prairie - Region 2 Installation Now Complete
 |
|
NDCA is excited to announce the completion of Sky/Dream, the Region 2 project of Arts Across the Prairie: Placemaking in Rural North Dakota.
Created by Alan and Nicole Milligan of The Milligan Studio, the monumental sculpture stands 68 feet long and 14 feet high at Heartland Bison Ranch south of Balta.
|
Inspired by the region's prairie potholes, migratory waterfowl, and expansive skies, the artwork takes the form of a giant feather constructed of steel and colorful shatter-resistant glass.
The completion of Sky/Dream caps more than four years of planning and development. Work on the Region 2 project started in 2022, when stakeholders from Bottineau, Burke, McHenry, Mountrail, Pierce, Renville, and Ward counties began meeting to define a vision for a signature public artwork. Following the selection of Alan and Nicole Milligan in 2024, another two years were devoted to design refinement, engineering, fundraising, site preparation, and installation planning. The project culminated with dozens of community members assisting in the installation, a testament to the widespread support that helped transform the vision into reality.
NDCA plans to host an official ribbon-cutting and community celebration in late spring 2027, just in time to kick off the summer travel season. The installation of Sky/Dream marks another major milestone for Arts Across the Prairie as Regions 4, 6, and 8 move toward installation and as NDCA prepares to celebrate its 60th anniversary throughout 2027.
2026 Convening Photos and Recordings Now Available
*Special thanks to our photographer Poppy Mills (DOT) and our audio/visual production company Kempix LLC (Adam Kempenich).
|
Welcome & Opening Keynote: The Healing Power of Art
NDCA PIO Rhea Beto led a conversation with Marina Carrillo and Jessie Veeder who shared moving reflections on how creativity fosters healing, resilience, and connection through life's challenges. Through dance, music, and conversation, they explored the power of the arts to sustain joy, inspire hope, and support personal well-being.
|
|
 |
 |
|
Nodakian After Hours: Shelly Sayler interviews Walter Piehl
Nodakian After Hours host Shelly Sayler sat down with renowned North Dakota artist and educator Walter Piehl for a conversation while the two created together at the pottery wheel. Sayler wrote, "Expect untold stories, a few new ideas explored, and the kind of delightfully messy magic that happens when artists get their hands dirty."
|
|
Final Keynote - Davis & Edwards: Youth Justice/Possibilities
Dr. Frederick Edwards, Jr. and Joe Davis inspired attendees to imagine their futures through the lens of creativity, healing, and possibility. Using storytelling and a reflective writing exercise, participants explored how art can help people envision fuller lives and create lasting impact in their communities.
|
|
 |
Thank you, again, to everyone who attended, presented, volunteered, and helped make the 2026 ND Arts Convening such a memorable and inspiring experience! Be sure to explore the photos and videos linked below. We look forward to welcoming you back in two years as we work together to make the next convening even bigger and better.
 New Exhibit at the North Dakota State Capitol Showcases Textiles and Eco-Prints by Amanda Heidt
|
North Dakota artist Amanda Heidt is the newest featured artist in the North Dakota State Capitol exhibit program. On display through December 2026, the exhibition includes botanical eco-prints, woven textiles, and printmaking works inspired by North Dakota's changing landscape.
Based in Fargo, Heidt explores themes of observation, process, and connection to place through naturally dyed fibers, eco-printing, and loom-weaving. The exhibit is located on the 18th floor (observatory level) of the Capitol and is open during regular business hours.
|
|
 |
 |
|
Also on display at the Capitol: a selection of winning photographs from the 2026 Governor's Photo Contest, which is partially supported by NDCA.
On view through November 2026, the exhibit is located on the hallway walls connecting the Governor's staff offices.
|
Salem Sue (above) got an Honorable Mention in the Skies category: “Black & White in Colors” by Rebecca Raber, New Salem.
Members of the public are welcome. Please stop into the Governor's Office on the first floor to request a viewing.
 Nominations Closing SOON: 2027 ND Governor's Awards for Arts
North Dakota is home to remarkable artists, educators, cultural leaders, and organizations whose work inspires creativity and strengthens communities. Help recognize their impact by submitting a nomination for the 2027 ND Governor's Awards for the Arts.
Six award categories, with *two NEW categories, honor excellence in arts education, *community engagement, cultural heritage, organizational leadership, individual achievement, and *emerging voices. Nominations are open through November 22, 2026.
A special reception and award ceremony will be held during "Arts Day" at the North Dakota State Capitol on Thursday, February 11, 2027.
 Arts Education Opportunities Continue Across North Dakota
Poetry Out Loud registration for the 2026-2027 program year will be closing soon. This national arts education program of the National Endowment for the Arts engages high school students in a dynamic poetry recitation competition that builds public speaking skills, confidence, and appreciation for literature. Educational groups may still register through Dec. 4, 2026, provided they can complete their local program and school competition by Jan. 20, 2027. North Dakota's state championship is scheduled for March 1, 2027, at the Heritage Center in Bismarck. Visit NDCA's POL webpage to learn more.
Arts in North Dakota Afterschool is back for the 2026-2027 school year. Through a partnership between the North Dakota Out-of-School Time Network and NDCA, grants ranging from $500 to $2,000 are available to support arts programming for students in grades K-12. Applications are now open for afterschool and other out-of-school time programs seeking to expand creative learning opportunities for young people across the state. For questions about the program or application process, e-mail: Dawn Hunt, or call Dawn at 701-997-2614.
Arts education opportunities remain vital as schools face educator shortages across North Dakota. According to the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction's 2026 Unfilled Positions Survey, art and music teachers were added to the state's list of critical shortage areas this year, alongside elementary teachers, special education teachers, school counselors, career and technical education instructors, and speech-language pathologists. The shortage highlights the ongoing need to support recruitment and retention efforts while ensuring students continue to have access to high-quality arts learning experiences. Visit the ND DPI Job Board to see a current listing of open positions.
 ****** Give the Gift of North Dakota Arts this Holiday Season! *****
Looking for the perfect holiday gift for the arts lover in your life? Support the arts while sharing a message of state pride with NDCA's new fundraising items featuring the statement: "ARTISTS LIVE IN NORTH DAKOTA."
Coffee mugs are available for $10 and t-shirts for $25, with all proceeds benefiting the North Dakota Council on the Arts Endowment Fund. While NDCA receives funding from the National Endowment for the Arts and the North Dakota State Legislature, the needs of North Dakota's arts community continue to grow beyond the resources currently available. Contributions to the Endowment Fund help expand grant opportunities and support new programs that increase access to the arts across the state. |
|
 |
 |
|
Items may be picked up at the NDCA office, 105 N. 4th St., Bismarck, between 1:00 and 3:00 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday (excluding holidays) through December 17. Need a different pickup time or shipping arrangement? Contact Rhea Beto (left) at 701-328-7594 or rbeto@nd.gov to schedule an appointment and arrange payment. Cash or check only. |
|
|
 FY27 Apprenticeship Program apprentice Talon Stammen (right) of Grand Forks, ND, working alongside master Bosnian acanthus woodcarver Izudin Becic, Sabin, MN
NDCA Awards $137K+ to Preserve ND’s Folk Traditions for FY27
NDCA has awarded $137,440.00 in grants through its Folk and Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program for Fiscal Year 2027, which runs from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027. This year’s funding supports 37 projects involving 91 different artists in 32 cities, including 19 towns with fewer than 1,500 residents, helping keep cultural traditions alive across the state. |
|
 |
Photo (right): mother-daughter duo Swati Kumar and Aadhya Vyas of West Fargo, ND, celebrated a rare joint Arangetram, the formal graduation performance marking years of rigorous training in Bharatanatyam, the oldest and most revered dance tradition of India.
|
|
Local ongoing and newly announced . . .
 |
|
NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS - North Dakota artists, arts leaders, organizations, and educational institutions are strongly encouraged to apply for NDCA's ongoing FY27 grant programs (project and/or activity dates - July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027).
---------------------------------------------------------------------
NOW OPEN:
**Applications due at least 6 weeks before event.
Many programs have limited funding.
Early submission is highly recommended!
|
 |
|
2026-2027 GIG Fund: Interstate Touring (Deadline for Phase 1 application extended to November 11!)
The GIG Fund is a grant of $2,000–$10,000 that helps organizations bring out-of-state artists into their community for performances, exhibitions, and workshops that reach local audiences. Non-profit organizations with budgets under two million annually, or tribal organizations of any budget size, located in North Dakota and eight other Midwest states, are eligible to apply.
The Phase 1 application is quick and easy!
|
 |
|
2027 Levitt Foundation Festival Grants (Nov. 20)
The Levitt Foundation’s Festival Grants program provides up to $5,000 to U.S.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofits that present free outdoor public festivals featuring curated performances, including paid professional musicians. The festival must run for at least four hours within a concentrated timeframe and be open to the public at no cost or prior registration.
|
 |
|
Sons of Norway Foundation Grants (Dec. 15)
Each Sons of Norway community benefits from access to grants offered by the Sons of Norway Foundation. These grants provide an opportunity for lodges, members, districts and others with Nordic interests to strengthen their communities in meaningful ways. The funds are intended to celebrate Nordic culture and heritage while making a lasting impact in the local community.
|
 |
|
2027-2028 NEA Big Read (Phase 1: Jan. 12, 2027; Applications go through Arts Midwest)
The Big Read awards cost share grants ranging from $5,000 to $30,000 to U.S. organizations, supporting community reading programs designed around a single book and a common theme. Grantees receive funding for their programming and purchasing books, and tools to support them in working with local partners, developing public relations strategies, and leading meaningful book discussions. In honor of the role of sports in American culture, the 18 books in the Big Read Library invite communities to explore themes of competition and teamwork, perseverance and resilience, self-discovery and well-being, and the unique ways in which sports bring us together.
|
 |
|
National Creative Forces® Community Engagement Grant Program (Jan. 13; apply through Mid-America Arts Alliance)
The program offers grants up to $25,000 to fund initiatives that encourage creativity, build social connections, improve resilience, and help smooth the transition from service to civilian life.
|
 |
|
2027-28 NEA Shakespeare in American Communities (Jan. 26; apply through Arts Midwest)
The program offers three matching and non-matching grant opportunities between $15,000 and $50,000 for eligible nonprofit theater organizations.
- Schools
- Juvenile Justice
- Apprenticeships
|
 |
|
Arts Midwest, NDCA’s regional arts organization, created a free and intuitive funding hub that helps ND artists and creative organizations easily find arts opportunities.
Explore arts grants and find funders who support art in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin and the Native Nations that share this geography.
|
 |
|
Arts Midwest partnered with Springboard for the Arts to bring their Job Board to the whole Midwest. For 20+ years, Minnesota artists and arts workers have used Springboard’s Job Board to find their next gig. Now, the board will be open to employers across 12 Midwestern states, so you can reach creative workers in our state of North Dakota. |
Hiring? Your First Listing is On Arts Midwest and Springboard for the Arts.
Just enter the code ARTS4MIDWEST at checkout anytime between now and December 1, 2026. You can post full-time, part-time, and contract work, and job seekers can filter by metro area and type of role.
For individual artists ONLY . . .
*Send new opportunities and request changes to current listings by emailing Rhea Beto: rbeto@nd.gov.
|
|
NDCA / Partner Arts Activities, Events, & Workshops
-
North Dakota Indian Affairs Commission celebrates Native American Heritage month
- Located in Memorial Hall at the North Dakota State Capitol
- Thursdays in November
-
November 5: Meet Native artists, explore their work, take part in cultural activities and connect with community organizations and State-Tribal Liaisons.
-
November 12: Learn about North Dakota’s tribal colleges and Native tourism and enjoy cultural performances and food.
-
November 19: Connect with Native business owners, explore their products and services, and join us for a frybread cookoff.
|
|
 |
-
Langdon Community Choir Holiday Concert
- Thursday, December 10 at 7:00 p.m
- Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
- Tickets sold at the door
- Roxy Theater, 714 3rd St, Langdon, ND
|
|
 |
-
SAVE the DATE: North Dakota Annual Travel Industry Conference
- April 12-14, 2027; Bismarck, ND
-
Nov. 14 | Timeless Traditions: Corn Husk Dolls | Williston
- Visit the Missouri-Yellowstone Confluence Interpretive Center near Williston from 2-3:00 p.m. for this free, hands-on program for ages 8 and up. Participants will learn about the history and tradition of corn husk dolls and create their own doll to take home.
-
Nov. 14 | Fibers and Friends | Bismarck
- Bring your crochet, knitting, or other fiber craft projects to the Former Governors’ Mansion State Historic Site from 1-4:00 p.m. Share techniques, work alongside fellow fiber enthusiasts, and enjoy coffee and cookies. Free admission.
-
Nov. 18 | Make-and-Take Floral Arrangement Workshop: Hunting & Harvest | Washburn
- The Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center will host a seasonal floral arranging workshop from 5:30-7:00 p.m. Participants will create a Thanksgiving-themed centerpiece inspired by abundance and gratitude. Cost is $59.99 and includes all materials.
-
Dec. 5 | Confluence Learning Lab: Pottery | Williston
- Explore traditional pottery techniques and create your own coiled clay vessel during this free, family-friendly program at the Missouri-Yellowstone Confluence Interpretive Center at 2:00 p.m. Learn about the materials, designs, and cultural significance of pottery featured in the center’s exhibits.
-
Dec. 12 | Fibers and Friends | Bismarck
- The Former Governors’ Mansion State Historic Site will again host this popular gathering for fiber craft enthusiasts from 1-4:00 p.m. Bring a project, share techniques, and enjoy refreshments in a welcoming setting. Admission is free.
-
Dec. 16 | Make-and-Take Floral Arrangement Workshop: Seasons Greenings | Washburn
- Create a festive holiday centerpiece during this seasonal floral arranging workshop at the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center from 5:30-7:00 p.m. Cost is $59.99 and includes all materials.
For more information on these and other ND State Historical Society Calendar of Events, visit history.nd.gov/events.
-
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 section (above) of the e-news. *Only available when capacity allows.
- 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
|
|
|
|
|
