Tracker Pixel for Entry

​Support your local artist: the Arts Partnership and FMVA

Culture | August 9th, 2017

Two organizations are hard at work for area artists and art lovers to spur creativity, showcase work, and promote artistic endeavors. The Arts Partnership provides funding, networking, and marketing opportunities for artists and arts organizations. The FMVA focuses on providing its member artists with opportunities to share their work and network.

Dayna del Val, Director of the Arts Partnership (TAP) since 2010, says: “We do four clear things at TAP: we communicate; we provide networking opportunities for artists; we participate in advocacy – both formally and informally -- and we give out grant dollars to artist and arts organizations.”

Dayna continues, “In some ways we’re sort of a one-stop shop. We also help organizations through consulting. For example, we will consult with an arts organization on how to use social media to their advantage.”

TAP currently has three full-time employees and some interns and part-time accounting help. Their offices are located in the Robert D Johnson Recreation Center on 2nd Avenue South in Fargo.

TAP is funded through foundation support, corporate and individual support. The North Dakota Council on the Arts is one of the major foundations that funds TAP. They also distribute grant money to arts organizations, and that is funds from the cities that support TAP. It has been in existence since 1970.

Chelsey Engelhard, Communications Coordinator for TAP, says she focuses on “amplifying what artists and the arts community as a whole are doing.” TAP does that “in many ways,” according to Chelsey, including their “Connecting the Dots” newsletter, a partnership with the Fargo Forum where there is a story every Monday written by someone at TAP profiling an artist or event; and a weekly radio show on KFGO. Additionally, Dayna does a column once a month in the Fargo Forum. Dayna adds, “We do very little art producing of our own – we are here to promote and cultivate the arts in our community.”

Chelsey is particularly excited about the upcoming August 10th event, in its fifth year, Chalk Fest, held again at the Red River Zoo brought over 5,000 to the zoo last year to make art. Chelsey describes ChalkFest as “the largest art-making event in the Fargo-Moorhead-West Fargo area. We invite the public to come and draw – chalk is provided. It is much fun -- you can draw whatever you want.”

The event also features six local artists who create chalk art in the zoo entrance. New this year to the event will be some live performances including the FM Golden Notes.

Tania Blanich, Grants and Programs Coordinator for TAP, says Chalk Fest is “a fun opportunity to bring different kinds of arts in people of all ages, all abilities, and backgrounds together.”

Chalk Fest’s signature sponsor is Gate City Bank and it is also supported by Xcel Energy, Creative Plains and Arctic Audio.

In addition to Chalk Fest, a major effort of TAP is their Community Supported Art (CSA) which offers “shares” to participants and three events to meet with nine different artists and receive art made by these artists.

TAP also supports a yearly Artist in Residence program. This year they are hosting Chelsie Liberati from the Savannah College of Art and Design.

Another effort Dayna is particularly excited about is their arts incubator space, APT: “It has been a dynamic partnership with the Kilbourne Group to test the desire and need for an arts incubator. It is a place where artists can intersect and collide with the community. We are almost at 100 percent rented capacity. It really has exceeded what we expected and it is satisfying to see it come to fruition.” Dayna wants to highlight that there are also classes and events, including a planned music festival in September.

TAP’s big annual event is the State of the Arts in June. Dayna says, “It is our effort to try to connect the arts specifically to business and to remind them that what we are doing is of value to them in many ways – for hiring, engagement with the community, and creating culture. It is also to celebrate the success of the arts in the past year.”

The Fargo Moorhead Visual Artists is an organization currently led by President, Troy Pederson. According to Troy, its mission is to “support, educate and provide opportunities for local artists.” The FMVA works with venues to provide increased opportunities for artists who are members to display their work. Hosting five events a year, all member artists can take part in those events and take advantage of FMVA advertising their shows.

Troy’s job, outside of the FMVA, is as an owner of a vintage magazine store – selling these magazines largely online. He is moving is store to 211 NP Avenue in Fargo and will be also delving into the secondary art sales market. His new location will have both art for resale and vintage magazines. Troy is a native of Wahpeton and moved to Fargo 30 years ago.

The FMVA puts on five events a year. Troy says, “We hope to promote it largely so we get a buzz and a lot of people showing up. We help promote whatever our artists are doing in any way we can.”

To join the FMVA, the cost is $15 for students and $30 for others. Troy asserts, “It’s extremely reasonable for what you get. For $15 to $30 you have the opportunity to show your work at five different venues and events, plus we give you all of our marketing.” You can join the FMVA by attending one of their events and signing up or by visiting their web site.

The yearly events are The Small Show, The Big Show, The Constraint, The Studio Crawl, and the Art Sale at the Moorhead Center Mall.

The most current Small Show was held at Essentia Hospital in the Atrium area – the Small Show is constricted by space as to how many artists can participate.

The FMVA Big Show is usually held at the Hjemkomst Center and most recently had 80 participants which is a little over half of the FMVA members. Troy says that attending the Big Show is a “super opportunity to see a lot of artists in one venue.”

The Constraint is a show where the participating artists are given a constraint by theme or topic and also are constrained by the venue. This year’s theme was “Time Warp” at The Comstock House. The artists were told that they had to come up with art that the Comstock family would want to buy and there were also size and weight constraints because, Troy explains, “We had to use the existing nails.” Troy asserts, “It was great seeing new art up on the wall at the Comstock House.” You can still see the Constraint Show through September 11th.

An Art Educator Show is done annually and will be held at the Art Partnership’s APT art incubator space.

The Studio Crawl is always the first weekend in October and brings an opportunity to tour the area on a nice fall weekend and get exposed to artists working in their own studios. 

Recently in:

By Winona LaDukewinona@winonaladuke.comIt’s been eight years since the Water Protectors were cleared off the banks of the Cannonball and Missouri Rivers. It was a bitter ending to a battle to protect the water; and for most of us…

By Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.com Rodeo is a family tradition for sisters Kate and Tera Flitton. The duo performs under the moniker Stellar Trick Riding Cowgirls. The Utah natives will be performing along with bareback riders,…

On view through March 31215 N. 3rd St, Grand ForksThe Equal Rights Association (ERA NOW), Arts for Vets, and the Women’s Fund have joined forces in hosting an art exhibition in celebration of International Women’s Day. The 2025…

By Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.com I feel like reading a newspaper is the equivalent of listening to music on vinyl. Not only is it analog, it’s an experience. I might be a little biased, but there's something about the rustling…

By Ed Raymondfargogadfly@gmail.comLennon: “Imagine no possessions, I wonder if you can!”On January 8, 2025, Timothy W. Rybeck of “The Atlantic" magazine published “How Hitler Dismantled a Democracy in 53 Days” with the…

By Rick Gionrickgion@gmail.com Holiday wine shopping shouldn’t have to be complicated. But unfortunately it can cause unneeded anxiety due to an overabundance of choices. Don’t fret my friends, we once again have you covered…

By Rick Gionrickgion@gmail.com The below zero temperatures endured this recent January and February were a motivator to find something fun and interesting to do to lift the spirits. (Insert blue, teeth-chattering emoji here.) To…

Mooncats and Pert Near Sandstone play Empire TheatreBy Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.comThe MoonCats describe themselves as “Americonscious Campfire Folk.” They have a clear acoustic folk sound with a sense of whimsy — think…

By Greg Carlsongregcarlson1@gmail.comBong Joon-ho’s highly anticipated follow-up to the game-changing Oscar-winner “Parasite” was set to arrive in theaters last year, but the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike pushed the date. Was the…

By Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.comTelling Queer History is an LGBTQIA+ organization that utilizes oral storytelling and community building to educate, honor and collect oral histories. To honor its final year in operation, the …

By John Showalterjohn.d.showalter@gmail.comHigh Plains Reader had the opportunity to interview two mysterious new game show hosts named Milt and Bradley Barker about an upcoming event they will be putting on at Brewhalla. What…

By Annie Prafckeannieprafcke@gmail.com AUSTIN, Texas – As a Chinese-American, connecting to my culture through food is essential, and no dish brings me back to my mother’s kitchen quite like hotdish. Yes, you heard me right –…

By Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.comNew Jamestown Brewery Serves up Local FlavorThere’s something delicious brewing out here on the prairie and it just so happens to be the newest brewery west of the Red River and east of the…

By Josette Ciceronunapologeticallyanxiousme@gmail.com What does it mean to truly live in a community —or should I say, among community? It’s a question I have been wrestling with since I moved to Fargo-Moorhead in February 2022.…

By Faye Seidlerfayeseidler@gmail.com Somewhere lost in the cultural scuffle of what it means to be transgender is that it is an absolute joy to experience the world in such a way. When you take away the societal prejudice and…

By Gilbert Kuipersgilbertkuipers@outlook.com I live in North Dakota District 24 and have been challenging the district Republicans about their understanding of climate science for years. There has been no serious response to my…