Iseminger Endowment for the Arts Grant Program

Iseminger Endowment for the Arts Grant Program is sponsored by Community Foundation | Grand Forks, East Grand Forks and Region. The Iseminger Endowment for the Arts provides support for arts across the region, seeking to offer exposure and access to artistic and cultural experiences that foster artistic growth and creativity for all ages.

$112,000 in Iseminger Endowment grants headed to arts programs - Grand Forks Herald | Grand Forks, East Grand Forks news, weather & sports Vote now for 2026 Best of the Best An organization or individual has paid for the creation of this work but did not approve or review it.

$112,000 in Iseminger Endowment grants headed to arts programs Grants from the Iseminger Endowment for the Arts, distributed by the Community Foundation of Grand Forks, East Grand Forks and Region, will support music, theater, dance and arts education. In this archival photo, Kara Hartten conducts members of the NVYO Philharmonic Orchestra during a rehearsal in preparation for a concert earlier this year in Grand Forks.

The NVYO, along with eight other arts organizations, has received funding from the Iseminger Endowment for the Arts for the 2026-27 season. Contributed Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.

GRAND FORKS — The Community Foundation of Grand Forks, East Grand Forks and Region has announced an investment of $112,172 in regional arts programs, provided through the Iseminger Endowment for the Arts grants. Awarded to nine organizations, the grants will fund projects in music, theater, dance and arts education that will serve thousands of residents across the region, according to Becca Baumbach, the foundation’s president and CEO.

The Iseminger Endowment for the Arts was established to strengthen and expand access to arts and cultural experiences throughout Grand Forks, East Grand Forks and the surrounding region, Baumbach said. The annual grant program supports projects that demonstrate artistic quality, community engagement and educational impact, with an emphasis on musical performance, she said.

“The arts help define the character of a community,” Baumbach said. “These organizations are creating opportunities for people of all ages to participate in and experience the arts in meaningful ways, whether that’s on stage, in classrooms, in galleries or out in the community. We’re grateful to the Iseminger family for creating an endowment that makes these opportunities possible year after year.

” The Iseminger Endowment for the Arts was established in 2017 by Gordon and Trudy Iseminger, Grand Forks, to provide support for the arts across the region. Funds are used to provide exposure and access to artistic and cultural experiences that generate artistic growth and creativity for all ages. Several funded projects emphasize the importance of youth engagement and arts education, Baumbach said.

For example, the Northern Valley Youth Orchestras season will provide symphonic training, mentoring, coaching and concert opportunities for 150 young musicians. The Grand Cities Children’s Choir will launch a new percussion education initiative, along with two free public concerts in its upcoming season.

The LISTEN Center’s “Voices of Inclusion” program, in partnership with UND, will build an inclusive community choir that uses music to foster connection and belonging. The North Dakota Museum of Art chamber music season will feature internationally recognized musicians who will participate in concerts, school visits, workshops and community presentations during multi-day residencies.

The Empire Arts Center’s production of “The Wizard of Oz” will bring together seasoned adult actors and youth performers ages 10 and older in an intergenerational theatrical experience designed to create both entertainment and learning opportunities.

The grant recipients are: East Grand Forks Public Schools: Funds will be used for the purchase of new sound equipment at Central Middle School, providing upgraded sound and production equipment to enhance students’ musical and theatrical performances.

Empire Arts Center: Funds are going to “There’s No Place Like Home: An Intergenerational Musical” in downtown Grand Forks, bringing community members of all ages together through a full-scale production of “The Wizard of Oz. ” Frost Fire Summer Theatre: The grant will support this year’s season at the theater in the Pembina Gorge that combines professional-quality productions with expanded access and community participation.

Grand Cities Children’s Choir: Funds will go to the “Your Voice is Your Superpower” program, expanding youth music education opportunities through a new percussion program and free public performances during the 2026-27 season.

Grand Cities Chorales: Grant money will be used for “Requiem Conticorum: An Interdisciplinary Choral and Saxophone Collaboration,” a collaborative performance pairing choral music with guest saxophone artists, accompanied by education programming and master classes.

LISTEN, Inc.: Funds will support “Voice of Inclusion,” an inclusive community choir program developed in partnership with UND that brings together individuals with and without disabilities through music. North Dakota Ballet Company: Funds will support “Celebrating Artistry, Community and Connections,” supporting the company’s Holiday Extravaganza production featuring dancers ranging from preschool-age to adults.

North Dakota Museum of Art: The grant will be used for the 2026-27 Chamber Music Season, presenting a series of chamber music residencies featuring recognized musicians along with concerts, workshops and school outreach activities; and Northern Valley Youth Orchestras: Funding will go toward its 16th season, providing symphonic training, rehearsals, concerts, mentoring and outreach opportunities for young musicians from across the region.

“These projects reflect the depth and diversity of the arts in our region,” Baumbach said. “They create opportunities for learning, creativity, collaboration and connection that strengthen our communities and enrich our quality of life. ” The Community Foundation, a nonprofit organization, works in partnership with individuals, families, businesses, nonprofits and trusted advisers.

Its staff manages charitable funds and provides grants to qualified nonprofit organizations, public entities and other charitable causes. Since 1998, the foundation has distributed $16 million in grants to create stronger, more vibrant communities across the middle and upper Red River Valley region.

Heritage Days to feature traditional music celebrating wide range of cultures Discovering North Dakota, Minnesota outdoors with an RV Minnesota proposes alternative three-duck limit option Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Pamela Knudson is a features and arts/entertainment writer for the Grand Forks Herald.

She has worked for the Herald since 2011 and has covered a wide variety of topics, including the latest performances in the region and health topics. Pamela can be reached at pknudson@gfherald. com or (701) 780-1107.

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