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2 North 3rd Street, Suite C, Grand Forks, ND 58203  :  701.772.3710  :  info@novac.org


The North Valley Arts Council's History


LINKS


1986


The North Valley Arts Council begins as a volunteer organization under the name of the Greater Grand Forks Arts and Humanities Association.
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1991


The organization conducts the first city cultural assessment in the state of North Dakota. The assessment identifies the need for a full service local arts/cultural agency.
                             
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1993




2001

To address this need, the council reorganizes under the North Valley Arts Council (NoVAC) and hires an executive director and office manager. At the same time, NoVAC opens a downtown office at the Empire Arts Center.

It is deemed necessary to separate NoVAC from the Empire Arts Center and to develop a new board of directors.
                        
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2002


The official split from the Empire Arts Center occurs in October. NoVAC's board sets a new mission statement and relocates its offices to O'Kelly Hall on the University of North Dakota campus to share office space with the Greater Grand Forks Marketing Services Partnership.

2004

NoVAC receives a two year grant from the Archibald Bush Foundation to achieve organizational stability.

2005

NoVAC receives a three-year grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation to increase services and maintain organizational stability. With this financial support, NoVAC staff create professional development programs, networking opportunities, calendaring services, advocacy events, and information resource services.

2006

NoVAC starts the Annual Arts Awards,  which honor the artists, individuals, organizations & businesses who support arts and culture through volunteerism, financial contributions, and more. 

2008

The North Valley Arts Council assumes responsibility for management of the Grand Cities Art Fest.  Previously, NoVAC was an Art Fest sponsor, managing the Arts in Action program in Town Square.

2010

In the summer of 2010, NoVAC began the Mayor's Choice Artist Program, in partnership with the Grand Forks Mayor's Office, and the Brown Bag Seminar Series for artists. We also ventured into new territory and held Zombie Music Fest in the beginning of October, which offers an arts-themed Halloween event for the whole family. 

NoVAC also added an Emerging Artist Program for high school artists to the Annual Art Auction, a part of the Annual Arts Awards.

2011

In March, North Valley Arts Council graciously accepted the 2011 North Dakota Governor's Award for the Arts.

Now
&
Future

The North Valley Arts council is stronger than ever. In addition to Grand Cities Art Fest, we are in our sixth year of running the Art and Wine Walk with our partners, the Greater Grand Forks Convention and Visitors Bureau. We continue to work with the city of Grand Forks on the Arts Re-grant Program, which helps fund area non-profit arts organizations.  

We are always looking for new and better ways to serve the arts community and Greater Grand Forks as a whole. If you have ideas or would like to get involved, please contact us. If you are an artist or arts organization with questions or needs, please contact us.  Our e-mail is info@novac.org.  Our phone is 701-772-3710.