Featured Stories

NDCA FY24 Individual Artist Fellow and playwright Kathleen Coulde-King gives an update on her project, "Whispers in the Wind: North Dakota's Disappeared Speak,” a play about people who seemingly disappeared after they became associated with mental institutions in North Dakota. 

By Rhea Beto

Over the course of a week, the students at Four Winds High School had not only written a song together but had also arranged it, produced it, and filmed it, creating their own video during a workshop led by Teaching Artist Stuart James.

By contributing editor Lisa McCallum

Born and raised in North Dakota, artist Mollie Douthit always felt a strong connection to her family's European roots. Learn how she reconciled her desire to belong by following her own path.

A first-person account by artist and contributing editor Mollie Douthit

From the beginning of Dakota artist Holly Young's career, through her remarkable accomplishments, one thing was never lost - her commitment to preserving and sharing traditional art forms and lifeways with her people. 

By Contributing Editor Alicia Hegland-Thorpe

With a mission to share their passion and train the next generation of artists, the 2023 National Snow Sculpting Champions: Jay Ray, Mike Nelson and Josh Zeis, describe the reductive process, display their tools, show samples of their work, and share what they have learned about snow sculpting.

By Rhea Beto

Creative director, teaching artist, and driving force behind Umoja and Fred’s Dissonance, Fred Edwards shares his story and how it empowered him to establish these programs that foster narrative justice and community empowerment. 

A first-person account by contributing editor Frederick Edwards Jr.

When Yolanda Rojas moved from Arizona to Watford City in 2014, she saw no signs of her Hispanic cultural traditions and language. To help fill the void, she founded Hispanic Advocacy of ND to provide opportunities that empower and enrich the Hispanic community in North Dakota.    

By Contributing Editor Yolanda Rojas

The ND Native Tourism Alliance, founded in 2016, is a nonprofit organization committed to protecting, preserving, promoting, and educating the world about the culture, history, and environment of the five Native nations of North Dakota. 

By Contributing Editor Alicia Hegland-Thorpe

Chris 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

Learn 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 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

Hamzat 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.

In 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

ND 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 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

After 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

Produced 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

In 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

After 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

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

ND 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

The 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

In 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

After 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

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

In 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

After 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."

Around 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

In 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 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

Project 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)

Discover 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