NDCA reports art's $151.8 million impact on ND economy, public art installation artist chosen for Region Four

Dec. 16—BISMARCK, N.D. — As the North Dakota Council on the Arts celebrates findings that show the multi-million-dollar impact of art and culture events on the state, it's also looking forward to breaking ground on the first-ever creative placemaking program in the country.

Kim Konikow, the NDCA's executive director, said the state of the arts in North Dakota looks good.

"The impact can't be denied," she said. "Our groups are growing and going strong."

The NDCA recently released the results of a study conducted in collaboration with Americans for the Arts that shows the nonprofit arts and culture industry in the state generated $151.8 million in economic activity in 2022. This study, the Arts and Economic Prosperity 6, dives into data including the impact of arts on employment, income and tax revenue.

The results show total event-related spending by arts and culture audiences totaled $81 million, state tax revenue was $4.4 million, jobs supported were 3,335, total attendance to in-person events 2.5 million and the average amount paid per person per event was $32.50. The study also found that 27% of people who went to arts and culture events weren't local, showing the possibility for arts to attract tourists and other out-of-state visitors.

Konikow said the data was surprising and encouraging for the importance of art in North Dakota and its future.

"If you ask me, I think that that's a great sign that we're here to stay," she said. "That we're really thinking about growing. ... I don't mean necessarily in size, but more in scope."

There's hope the study will encourage a push forward in providing more art opportunities for state residents. Konikow said there's people who view the NDCA as a grant-maker, but through creating more programs, the council has the ability to move beyond that.

Another way the NDCA is moving away from that image is through its own foray into creating art.

"Arts Across the Prairie: Placemaking in Rural North Dakota" is a public art program with the goal of creating eight large-scale public works for each of the eight regions in North Dakota. The NDCA is working alongside the North Dakota Department of Transportation and North Dakota Tourism/Commerce on this project, as well as stakeholders from each region on the vision, location and artist for every piece.

Konikow said the pieces will showcase the cultural heritage and distinctiveness of each region, and will be placed in a rural area with no buildings or people. Some regions have already selected an artist and design, while others are just getting started.

Region Four, made up of Pembina, Walsh, Nelson and Grand Forks counties, has dubbed its project "Endless Sky-Dynamic Layers."

The selected location chosen

for its art piece is the Dahlen Esker, a ridge between the towns of Dahlen and Fordville visible from State Highway 32. The NDCA request for proposal guidelines explains the spot was chosen for its representation of "the endless sky and dynamic layers of the region — Indigenous culture, roaming buffalo, our glacier landscape of steep hills and valleys, open prairie with endless sky and stars."

Stakeholders from Region Four have chosen an artist after receiving more than 35 applications. James Peterson submitted concept art of his planned installation, which he explained as "tall aluminum pipes arranged in layers that create multiple winding pathways to move through while compelling viewers to gaze up towards the endless sky," a press release announcing his confirmation said.

Peterson is originally from Michigan, and currently lives in Los Angeles. He has had his art exhibited at places such as the Coachella Art & Music Festival, Meow Wolf Vegas, Burning Man and the Grand Rapids Art Museum. He also operates his own design and fabrication house by the name of Art & Contraptions.

Melinda Padilla Lynch, the new program manager for Arts Across the Prairie, said she's excited for the installations and their future as must-see places in the state for visitors and residents alike.

"I hope I'm one day a really old lady driving by, taking my kids to look at every one of those projects and say that I had some portion of the assistance with it because I really do believe that it's a long lasting generation legacy piece that we get to leave to each community," she said.