PLACEMAKING IN REGION 2 – NORTH DAKOTA

North Dakota has eight distinct regions. north central North Dakota’s Region 2 is comprised of Bottineau, Burke, McHenry, Mountrail, Pierce, Renville, and Ward Counties. Regional and local leaders from business, arts, education and community were recruited to formulate a roadmap for the development of one site to be the artistic, historical, and cultural representation for the seven counties. These Stakeholders have met online since January 2022 to plan the third Arts Across the Prairie project.

Arts Across the Prairie is the first of its kind, statewide Creative Placemaking program, developed by North Dakota Council on the Arts (NDCA). This grew out of a presentation on art as a catalyst for community change at the 2019 Governor’s Main Street Initiative in Bismarck. The statewide participants discussed the need for artistic and cultural enrichment and access to art within their rural communities. North Dakotans expressed a concerted desire for greater cross-community collaboration and to enhance the vitality of art throughout the state.

Arts Across the Prairie will create eight large-scale art installations – one in each geographic region in the state – that reflect the unique history, landscape, and cultural heritage as defined by Stakeholder Groups in these regions. All eight artworks will be placed in decidedly rural locations. (Rural = no buildings, no people!) The art installations should reference and represent the natural setting, as well as the cultural and economic history of the region as determined by each of the Stakeholder Groups.

NDCA is working with Lillian and Coleman Taube Museum of Art to facilitate the Region 2 project.

The vision is for a permanent large-scale art installation, and the finalist’s proposals should reflect your affection for and attention to place. Rural communities/residents will be living with the artwork for a long time, perhaps generations. The finalist selection for this project will also require the ability to teach and share with others as we train future North Dakota artists in the outdoor installation process.

Please see commission document for full project information and application instructions.