​Youth musicians rehearsing side-by-side with mentors. Inclusive choir members finding community through song. Young performers stepping onto the stage for the first time. These are just a few of the experiences that will be made possible through 2026 Iseminger Endowment for the Arts Grant Program at the Community Foundation of Grand Forks, East Grand Forks & Region.

This year, the Community Foundation awarded $112,172 across nine regional organizations supporting projects in music, theater, dance, and arts education that will serve thousands of residents across the region.

“The arts help define the character of a community,” said Becca Baumbach, President and CEO of the Community Foundation. “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 to strengthen and expand access to arts and cultural experiences throughout Grand Forks, East Grand Forks, and the surrounding region. The annual grant program supports projects that demonstrate artistic quality, community engagement, and educational impact, with an emphasis on musical performance.

Several funded projects place a strong importance on youth engagement and arts education. Northern Valley Youth Orchestras’ sixteenth season will provide symphonic training, mentoring, coaching, and concert opportunities for more than 150 young musicians, while also expanding outreach performances and student mentoring opportunities. Grand Cities Children’s Choir will launch a new percussion education initiative alongside two free public concerts during the 2026–2027 season.

Other projects focus on creating inclusive and accessible arts experiences. LISTEN, Inc.’s “Voice of Inclusion” program will partner with the University of North Dakota to build an inclusive community choir for individuals with and without disabilities, using music to foster connection and belonging. 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.

Several organizations are also expanding opportunities for audiences to engage directly with professional artists. The North Dakota Museum of Art’s chamber music season will feature internationally recognized musicians participating in concerts, school visits, workshops, and community presentations throughout multi-day residencies. Grand Forks Chorales will pair a major collaborative concert with free educational masterclasses for students and community members.

Additional grants will support Frost Fire Summer Theatre’s revitalized summer season in the Pembina Gorge, upgraded production equipment for East Grand Forks Central Middle School musicals, and North Dakota Ballet Company’s Holiday Extravaganza production featuring performers ranging from preschool-age dancers to adults.

2026 Iseminger Endowment for the Arts Grant recipients include:

• East Grand Forks Public Schools - New Sound Equipment at Central Middle School: Providing upgraded sound and production equipment to enhance student musical and theatrical performances at Central Middle School.
• Empire Arts Center - There’s No Place Like Home: An Intergenerational Musical in the Heart of Downtown Grand Forks: Bringing community members of multiple generations together through a full-scale production of The Wizard of Oz.
• Frost Fire Summer Theatre - Frost Fire Summer Theatre 2026 Season: Supporting a summer theatre season in the Pembina Gorge that combines professional-quality productions with expanded access and community participation.
• Grand Cities Children’s Choir - Your Voice is Your Superpower: Expanding youth music education opportunities through a new percussion program and free public performances during the 2026-2027 season.
• Grand Forks Chorales - Requiem Canticorum: An Interdisciplinary Choral and Saxophone Collaboration: A collaborative performance pairing choral music with guest saxophone artists, accompanied by educational programming and masterclasses.
• LISTEN, Inc. - Voice of Inclusion: An inclusive community choir program developed in partnership with the University of North Dakota that brings together individuals with and without disabilities through music.
• North Dakota Ballet Company - Celebrating Artistry, Community, and Connections: Supporting the company’s Holiday Extravaganza production featuring dancers ranging from preschool-age students to adults.
• North Dakota Museum of Art - 2026–2027 Chamber Music Season: Presenting a series of chamber music residencies featuring internationally recognized musicians alongside concerts, workshops, and school outreach activities.
• Northern Valley Youth Orchestras - Season 16: Providing symphonic training, rehearsals, concerts, mentoring, and outreach opportunities for young musicians from across the region.

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“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.”
 
More information about the Iseminger Endowment for the Arts is available at gofoundation.org/iseminger-grants.

The Community Foundation of Grand Forks, East Grand Forks & Region is thrilled to announce that Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library will officially be available to children across Grand Forks County beginning July 1, marking a major milestone made possible by an outpouring of community support.
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As the Imagination Library’s local affiliate, the Community Foundation has helped lead a grassroots effort to raise $90,000 to launch the program. Once enrolled, children from birth to age five will receive a free, high-quality, age-appropriate book in the mail each month – regardless of family income or background.
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What began as a conversation has become a reality thanks to the collective commitment of Grand Forks County. Since July 2025, the Foundation and a small committee of volunteers have raised nearly $50,000 in donations and grants from more than two dozen local organizations and businesses, including foundational gifts from Scheels, Minnkota Power Cooperative, and the University of North Dakota. An additional $40,000 has been contributed by more than 55 individuals and private foundations who believe deeply in the power of early childhood literacy, led by a generous gift from Grand Forks’ Jim and Corinne Satrom.
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“The past year has shown us something truly special. Families across Grand Forks County are eager for opportunities like this, and the people of our county are equally eager to respond,” said Imagination Library Coordinator Kaylee Cusack, a volunteer with the Community Foundation. “This is, in every sense, the community’s Imagination Library. It’s been built by neighbors, businesses, and organizations all stepping forward to say our children matter.”

Reaching the $90,000 fundraising milestone allows the Community Foundation to begin enrolling children in the program this summer. However, organizers emphasize that sustaining the Imagination Library for years to come will require continued partnership and investment from across the county.
For just $35 of support, a single child can receive 12 books a year, helping to build a home library and foster a lifelong love of reading. With a goal of serving more than 3,000 children at peak enrollment, the program aims to raise approximately $100,000 annually.

“This is one of the most practical and powerful investments we can make in our region’s future,” said Community Foundation President and CEO Becca Baumbach. “When children enter kindergarten ready to learn, it changes the trajectory not only for that child, but for entire classrooms and school systems.”
Cusack added that the long-term benefits extend beyond the classroom. “Readers become leaders. The children who grow up with books in their homes are more likely to become the innovators, entrepreneurs, and public servants who will shape Grand Forks County in the years ahead,” she said. “This program is about planting those seeds now.”

Mark your calendar – online enrollment for Grand Forks County families will open July 1 at imaginationlibrary.com.  A community celebration is planned for Aug. 11 at the Grand Forks Public Library, with additional details to be announced. If you would like to learn more or donate, please visit gofoundation.org/dpil.

About Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
Launched in 1995, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is the world’s leading early childhood book-gifting program. As the flagship initiative of The Dollywood Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the Imagination Library has gifted more than 300 million free books to children across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the Republic of Ireland.

Inspired by her own father’s struggles with literacy, Dolly created the Imagination Library to spark a lifelong love of reading and to inspire all children to Dream More, Learn More, Care More, and Be More. The program’s effectiveness has been extensively studied, with research consistently demonstrating positive impacts on early childhood development, kindergarten readiness, and family reading habits. For more information, please visit imaginationlibrary.com.