*Stories marked with an asterisk were written by experienced contributing editors with the goal of showing North Dakota's diversity.
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*Stories marked with an asterisk were written by experienced contributing editors with the goal of showing North Dakota's diversity.

Two ND businesswomen renovate 1916 schoolhouse into Fiber Arts/Event Center

Tuesday, October 10, 2023 at 02:00 pm

Categories: Featured Stories

dilapidated 3-story 1916 Nome Schoolhouse with dead trees and broken windowsChris Armbrust and Teresa Perleberg bought and restored the 1916 Nome Schoolhouse, open since 2021, to accommodate their fiber arts businesses but also to create a community hotel and retreat/event center.

By Rhea Beto


*Shall WE dance?

Tuesday, October 10, 2023 at 12:00 pm

Categories: Featured Stories

Aparupa Chatterjee with shoulder-length dark hair, dot on her forehead and nice smile, wearing a traditional blue and teal Indian sarisLearn how cultural diversity, diaspora, and artist migration all may have a considerable contribution towards the artistic exploration of professional dancer and choreographer Aparupa Chatterjee. 

A first-person account by contributing editor Aparupa Chatterjee, Ph.D.


Watford City High School mural project strengthens community

Thursday, September 7, 2023 at 11:30 am

Categories: Featured Stories

Watford City High School students painting a mural on a wallWatford City High School students and community members collaborated on the making of six murals at the school. The intent was to establish a sense of pride for anyone walking the halls, including students, staff, and the community at large.

By Rhea Beto


*Weaving Cultural Threads Through Playwriting, Togolese Drumming, and Storytelling in North Dakota

Thursday, September 7, 2023 at 10:00 am

Categories: Featured Stories

Head and shoulders of Hamzat Koriko with toothy smile, short, black hair, wearing a light brown leather suit jacket, orange patterned undershirt and long black and white scarf wrapped around his neckHamzat Koriko's dedication to playwriting, Togolese drumming, and storytelling has enriched his life and woven a tapestry of unity and cultural exchange within the vibrant artistic landscape of North Dakota.

A first-person account by contributing editor Hamzat Koriko, Ph.D.


World-renowned music group returns to North Dakota

Wednesday, August 9, 2023 at 09:00 am

Categories: Featured Stories

New York City skyline with words New York Kammermusiker underneath, all in black inkIn 1969, ND native Ilonna Pederson founded a professional double-reed ensemble called the New York Kammermusiker (NYK), a non-profit organization seeking to expose new audiences to the instruments and music from the Renaissance era. While the group has performed in dozens of countries across five continents, there is one place they keep coming back to – North Dakota.

By Rhea Beto


*Heart, Spirit and Soul

Friday, August 4, 2023 at 10:00 am

Categories: Featured Stories

Head and shoulders of Native North Dakota artist Shawna Fricke (Piaute, Taos Pueblo) with long curly black hair, toothy smile, wearing long beaded necklace, patterned shirt and light grey shawlND artist Shawna Fricke, Piaute/Taos Pueblo, believes it’s important to buy art from inspired Natives and not “Native inspired” art. “We are out there trying to make our statement and establish our identity. A Native artist’s work is deeply personal to them, and they want to make sure it matters.”  

By Contributing Editor Alicia Hegland-Thorpe


Sewist showcases unique artform at Turtle River State Park

Wednesday, July 5, 2023 at 05:00 pm

Categories: Featured Stories

Cynthia McGuire Theil wearing a long-sleeve teal-blue shirt with short red hair, sewing red roses on a black dressSewist Cynthia McGuire Thiel was “shocked and thrilled” when she was chosen to be the Artist in Residence at Turtle River State Park, July 14-23, 2023. 

By Rhea Beto


NDCA visits thriving arts community in SW North Dakota

Friday, June 9, 2023 at 12:00 pm

Categories: Featured Stories

A group of people sitting at a wooden table and smiling widely at the cameraAfter an extended visit to Region 8 in June 2023, NDCA was pleased by the well-attended Dickinson community reception, the variety of arts projects happening across the region, and the overwhelming enthusiasm for the arts. 

By Rhea Beto and Kim Konikow


The creation of On the Edge of the Wind exhibit

Tuesday, May 9, 2023 at 03:00 pm

Categories: Featured Stories

On the Edge of the Wind exhibit logo with text underneath a buffalo skullProduced by NDCA in association with the State Historical Society, 𝘖𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘌𝘥𝘨𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘞𝘪𝘯𝘥: 𝘕𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘚𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘳𝘴 & 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘢𝘯𝘥, explores connections between cultural practices, regional landscapes, and tribal oral narratives. It’s the result of a 10-year project by State Folklorist Troyd Geist to photograph landscapes sacred to Native American tribal nations that share geography with ND and record Indigenous stories told by elders and knowledge keepers related to these significant and spiritually powerful places. 

By Troyd Geist and Rhea Beto


World Fest celebrated in Minot

Thursday, April 6, 2023 at 03:00 pm

Categories: Featured Stories

Arts Midwest World Fest in Minot wording with 3 photos of musical ensamples stacked on topIn 2020, the community of Minot, coordinated by Minot Area Council of the Arts (MACA), was chosen to be the North Dakota World Fest host from 2022 through 2025. MACA Operations and Special Projects Coordinator Chandell Lattin outlines the program and describes the positive impact on the community.

By Rhea C. Beto


Rebecca Engelman Tribute

Friday, March 10, 2023 at 11:30 am

Categories: Featured Stories

Tight headshot of Rebecca Engelman with flowing dark grey hair and a big smileAfter 13 years of service for the state of North Dakota and over 36 years working with arts in education, NDCA Art in Education Director Rebecca Engelman has decided to retire. In her official notice she wrote, “I have enjoyed my time with ND Council on the Arts and am grateful for all the professional opportunities and support provided to me during these past years." 

By Rhea C. Beto


NDCA Year in Review: 2022

Monday, January 9, 2023 at 03:30 pm

Categories: Featured Stories

L to R: (back row) Kim Konikow, Rebecca Engelman, Robin Bosch, Troyd Geist, Vanessa Voskuil; Rhea Beto (front). Looking back on 2022, NDCA is extremely grateful for the support of its program partners, the NEA, Arts Midwest, its board of directors, Governor Burgum and his staff, fellow Agencies and especially the ND State Legislature, for the opportunity to support arts and cultural opportunities for the citizens of North Dakota. 

By Rhea C. Beto


Nelda Schrupp metal noisemakers inspired by Native culture

Thursday, December 8, 2022 at 10:30 am

Categories: Featured Stories

Head and shoulders of Nelda Schrupp with short grey hair, wearing glasses and tie dye t-shirt and her artistic Native jewelry hanging on the walls behind herND artist Nelda Schrupp has been letting her artwork lead the way since she discovered her talent during her college years. That is when she decided to create her own contemporary style of rattle, also known as a noisemaker, to give homage to her Native culture. Nelda’s noisemakers have gained national attention and are currently on display at prestigious museums across the country.

By Rhea C. Beto


Winners of 2022 ND Governor’s Photo Contest seize the moment

Thursday, November 10, 2022 at 12:30 pm

Categories: Featured Stories

ND Governor's Photo Contest with Laura Gardner Best in Show Lake Sakakawea photo in backgroundThe winners of the 19th Annual ND Governor’s Photo Contest were celebrated at a reception mid-October at the Morton Mandan Public Library. While they came from a wide range of generations and varying walks of life, the photographers shared many of the same characteristics: strong family connections, a love of nature and the determination to capture the moment.

By Rhea C. Beto


English Learners at Williston High School increase vocabulary through Picturing Writing

Thursday, September 8, 2022 at 04:30 pm

Categories: Featured Stories

Williston High School student holding their art and writing booklets up to the monitor during Zoom classIn May of 2022, NDCA Rostered Teaching Artist Beth Olshansky conducted a 9-day Virtual Picturing Writing Residency initiated by Williston EL high school teacher LeAnne Tracey. Students used crayon resist watercolors to paint 2 pictures and then described them in 2 separate poems. 

By Rhea C. Beto


Retired ND Museum of Art founding director leaves behind sustainable future

Thursday, August 11, 2022 at 10:00 am

Categories: Featured Stories

Painted portrait of head and shoulders of Laurel Reuter with dark hair in elegant bunAfter dedicating fifty years of her life to the North Dakota Museum of Art, Founding Director 
Laurel Reuter was not about to walk away without helping members of the board and staff plan for the future. 

By Rhea C. Beto


Minot Symphony Orchestra director plans new strategy after attending national conference

Monday, July 4, 2022 at 03:00 pm

Categories: Featured Stories

Orchestra conductor and violinists of LA Philharmonic

In June of 2022, Minot Symphony Orchestra Executive Director Ellen Fenner attended the League of American Orchestras 77th National Conference in Los Angeles, CA. When she returned, she laid out plans to implement many of the ideas and suggestions she had learned at the conference. The trip was funded in part by a Professional Development Grant from NDCA. 

By Rhea C. Beto


North Dakota’s ONLY Trombone Choir performs new works by ND composer

Wednesday, June 8, 2022 at 11:00 pm

Categories: Featured Stories

7 men and 1 women in all black, holding trombones, standing on UND CampusIn the spring of 2022, University of North Dakota (UND) Teaching Assistant Professor, Author and Composer Dr. Chris Gable wrote an eight-part composition for the North Dakota Trombone Choir called Alarum Within. The project was meant to portray the negative impact on society caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic. 

By Rhea C. Beto


Wayne Beyer retires leaving strong legacy for art community

Tuesday, May 10, 2022 at 11:00 am

Categories: Featured Stories

Wayne Beyer wearing glasses, grey hair, smiling, sitting on a chair with white bulldog on his lapAfter 42 years of service, Wayne Beyer is retiring from Director of Wahpeton Park and Rec. To explain the strong connection he experienced with the art world, Wayne wrote, "Parks and recreation is very diversified and art has been a great way to offer many unique opportunities."


Protect and preserve ND Ukrainian culture and heritage

Tuesday, April 5, 2022 at 09:00 am

Categories: Featured Stories

Psyanky - Ukrainian Easter EggsAround 10,000 Ukrainians immigrated to North Dakota between 1896 and 1899, according to a 1984 book by Francie Berg called “Ethnic Heritage in North Dakota.” The timing is significant because North Dakota had just become a state in 1889. Ergo, Ukrainian culture began intertwining with North Dakota heritage during the first few years of statehood.

By Rhea C. Beto


Envisioning what is possible: The Grue Church Project

Wednesday, March 9, 2022 at 11:00 am

Categories: Featured Stories

Black and white side view of Grue Church in Buxton, NDIn the small community of Buxton, ND stands a 130-year-old church that was scheduled to be destroyed in 2020. A group of passionate people in the community decided to not only save the building, but restore, re-purpose and reimagine ways to use the facility to celebrate its heritage and continue the cultural folk traditions it was founded upon.

By Rhea C. Beto


Walker Bruns Fish Story

Tuesday, February 8, 2022 at 11:00 am

Categories: Featured Stories

Head and shoulders smiling Walker Bruns with full beard standing among trees and tree trunks with a canopy of leaves holding colorful fish decoyWalker Bruns began his fishing tackle business called Bruns Tackle while he was in the 8th Grade. He was assigned a school project to create a mock business including a product, pricing, and a full business plan. Six years later, his business is thriving, he is a graduate from North Dakota State University with a degree in Business Administration, a minor in Entrepreneurship, and has a whole new skill set of creating spearfish decoys thanks to the NDCA Folk and Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program.

By Rhea C. Beto


Lakota singers breathe new life into old Native songs

Tuesday, January 11, 2022 at 11:00 am

Categories: Featured Stories

Frances DensmoreProject underway revisits century-old recordings made at Standing Rock

Before singing, Red Weasel bowed his head in prayer, “Wakan'tanka, hear me.  This day I am to tell your word.  But without sin I shall speak. The tribe shall Live.  Behold me for I am humble.  From above watch me.  You are always the truth, listen to me, my friends and relatives, sitting here, and I shall be at peace.  May our voices be heard at the future goal you have prepared for us.”    

From Teton Sioux Music & Culture by Frances Densmore (1918)

 


Imitation may be the biggest form of flattery; the story behind the Lake Region Arts Festival

Tuesday, December 7, 2021 at 11:00 am

Categories: Featured Stories

Lake Region Arts Festival logoDiscover the collaboration and inspiration that lead to the overwhelming success of the first ever Lake Region Arts Festival in Devils Lake, ND. 

By Rhea C. Beto


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