Who We Are

We continue to build an arts community where local creativity is shared, explored, and celebrated.
Dakota West Arts Council is a 501 [c] [3] non-profit charitable organization that has been working for over thirty-five years in public/private partnership with the City of Bismarck, the Bismarck Parks and Recreation District, local artists, arts organizations, corporate partners, government entities, and local organizations to support and promote cultural opportunities for all. Additionally, our programs and services are supported by the North Dakota Council on the Arts, private foundations, corporate donors, our volunteer board of directors, and individuals committed to cultural development in the city.

Since its inception, the council’s Grant Program has been our flagship service offering. Thousands of dollars have been re-granted to arts organizations throughout the Bismarck area to support cultural projects in all disciplines. We typically issue 20-30 grants each year.

Over the past few years,  the council’s role has been growing from primarily a granting organization to an organization that promotes and markets arts and culture as a catalyst for economic development and personal enrichment, thereby creating a community that values a life-long appreciation and engagement in the arts.

Creating a community that values a life-long appreciation
and engagement in the arts.

We love new projects!
Let's get started.
 It takes a village to impact the culture. As we continue to build an arts community where local creativity is shared, explored, and celebrated, Dakota West Arts Council is enabled by a responsive group of supporters that see the value in investing in our creative capital. Every sponsor–from government to corporations to individuals–is an important link in the chain for our ongoing work.

The City of Bismarck’s 2012 Strategic Plan identifies the following
goals and objectives that are relative to arts and culture:
  • the need to develop community arts, culture and recreational opportunities to become a preferred workplace,
  • the need to incorporate arts and culture in Downtown Bismarck in order to have a vibrant, lively and attractive heart of the community, and
  • a desire to be the arts and cultural capital of North Dakota.
The Arts Council’s Strategic Roadmap and Goals are an extension of the City’s Strategic Plan and identify ways to attain the goals and objectives set by the City.
EVENTS:  For daily updates, friend us at Dakota West Arts Council on Facebook.

Our board and staff

Interested in serving on this board?
David Wald, President, [Securian Financial Advisors]
Shawn Oban,  Vice President, [Principal, Roosevelt School and Fine Arts Coordinator, Bismarck Public Schools]
Brenna Daugherty Gerhardt, Secretary,[Executive Director, North Dakota Humanities]
Yvonne Kubis, Treasurer [Yvonne Kubis, CPA]
James McMahon, Past President [Director of Choral Activities, Bismarck Public Schools]
Brandon P. Roehrich, [Benefits Analyst, MDU Resources Group, Inc.]
Lydia Richez-Bowman [Artist, Owner, Art Gallerie on Main]
Kim Hoffman Jondahl [Director, Communications, Marketing and Education, State Historical Society of ND]
Mary Erickson Rennich [Artist]
Eileen Walsh [Executive Director]