Community Foundation Awards Over $100,000 in Grants from the Iseminger Endowment for the Arts

Emberly Lietz, Development Director at the Community Foundation, presents Kathleen Coudle-King, Empire Theatre Company Artistic Director, and Debra Pflughoeft-Hassett, Empire Arts Center Executive Director, with a check for their upcoming performance of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

The Community Foundation of Grand Forks, East Grand Forks & Region is proud to announce the recipients of its 2025 Iseminger Endowment for the Arts grants. This year, ten regional arts organizations were awarded a total of $102,710, supporting a wide range of innovative projects designed to enrich the cultural fabric of our communities and create meaningful arts experiences for residents of all ages.

Established through the generous vision of local philanthropists, the Iseminger Endowment for the Arts is dedicated to fostering artistic expression and ensuring access to high-quality arts programming throughout Grand Forks, East Grand Forks, and the surrounding region. Learn more about the fund at gofoundation.org/iseminger-grants.

“The arts are fundamental to the vitality of our community - inspiring creativity, fostering connection, and providing invaluable opportunities for development, particularly for our youth,” said Becca Baumbach, President and CEO of the Community Foundation. “We are honored to support these exceptional organizations whose commitment to artistic excellence and community engagement makes a lasting impact.”

2025 Iseminger Endowment for the Arts Grant Recipients:

• North Dakota Shakespeare Festival – As You Like It (2025), Macbeth (2026), & Camp Will Week
  Free Shakespeare in the Park productions of As You Like It and Macbeth will return to downtown Grand Forks, along with the youth-focused “Camp Will Week.” A new Community Performance Series will bring Shakespeare to audiences facing barriers to attendance.
• Public Arts Commission – ArtFest 2026
  Funding will support the 25th annual ArtFest at University Park, enhancing hands-on activities and launching a curated art gallery. More than 20,000 attendees are expected to participate in this milestone celebration of visual arts.
• Greater Grand Forks Symphony Orchestra – December 2025 (Winter) Concert & May 2026 OIANT (Spring) Concert
  This grant supports two concerts: a traditional holiday performance featuring a local student soloist, and a spring event with OIANT, a visiting group from Argentina performing with native and nontraditional instruments in collaboration with local schools.
• Northern Valley Youth Orchestras – Season 15
  Support for NVYO’s 15th season includes summer camp, fall and winter concerts, and chamber music programming—providing symphonic training and performance opportunities for more than 150 young musicians aged 11–21.
• North Dakota Ballet Company – Let’s Get Crackin’
  This project brings The Nutcracker Extravaganza Holiday Ballet to the Empire Arts Center in December 2025, featuring dancers ages 3 to adult. Additional outreach includes school performances, nursing home visits, and sensory-friendly adaptive dance classes.
• North Dakota Museum of Art – Music Residencies: Imani Winds and Camerata Nordica
  Two internationally renowned ensembles—I­­mani Winds and Camerata Nordica—will lead concerts, children’s programming, classroom visits, and masterclasses during weeklong residencies in Grand Forks.
• Grand Forks Downtown Development Association – Downtown Interactive Mural
  A vibrant, community-driven interactive mural will be installed on the north side of downtown Grand Forks, activating public space, increasing foot traffic, and contributing to the city's creative economy.
• LISTEN, INC – Performing for Change: Celebrating Abilities on Stage
  An inclusive annual theater production will empower individuals with and without disabilities to share their talents on stage, fostering creativity, confidence, and community inclusion.
• Grand Cities Children’s Choir – Blowin’ in the Wind
  Funding will support two free major concerts in the Choir’s 24th season and bring nationally renowned choral composer Dr. Jacob Narverud to Grand Forks for educational workshops with youth and community singers.
• Empire Arts Center – We Are the Music Makers
  The Empire Theatre Company will stage Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in October 2025, casting performers aged 7 to 70 in a multigenerational musical that blends education, mentorship, and community entertainment.

These funded initiatives reflect the depth of artistic talent, collaboration, and vision within the region. The Community Foundation is honored to champion the work of these organizations and the transformative power of the arts in the Red River Valley.