Grand Forks: State of the Arts, or Are the Arts Understated?

I hear it so often: there is nothing to do. I hear it so often, in fact, that I have begun to tune it out. The blog starts a bit preachy, but gets into the guts of my point towards the end. Read on... read on.

The bottom line is, there is tons going on, specifically in the arts and cultural scene in Grand Forks. For instance, tonight, in Grand Forks there are about 10 different things going on - and it's a slow night. Project 24 is playing live music at the Blue Moose, there are tons of visual art exhibits going on. Starting tomorrow, you can catch the final weekend of the hilarious "Don't Dress for Dinner" at the Fire Hall or Marcoux Corner at the Empire Arts Center. If you are looking for things to do each day, visit culturepulse.org.

culturepulse is an effort on behalf of the local community to celebrate the "doings" (to borrow an invented word from my youth) in Grand Forks. Though it is specific to the arts community, there are 60 organizations that add events to the calendar, happening at over 65 local and regional venues.

Nothing like using a personal blog to toot ones horn, but I think to often in North Dakota, we denigrate our value as artists. It's perhaps a hobby, or a few friends jamming out... but in reality it is art - and most, from what I've seen, is impressive.

It's time for the artists to take back the community - to make sure we are seen and heard. And people are looking for things to do. People are looking to be entertained! That is what culturepulse aims to do - tell people what's going on... provide a cure for "there's nothing to do".
Many don't know this, but Grand Forks has more arts and culture per capita than any other area in the nation! Don't believe me? I've got the national research to back it up... it's an amazing statistic.

Want to hear another one? Recently we conducted a survey of area (metro, rural and students) folks, and discovered that more adults are likely to attend live performances of music, dance or theatre than sporting events! In the land of the Ralph and our very successful college teams, that is a shocking assumption! But it's true. The problem: most adults do not know what is going on. Again... we announce culturepulse!

One of the coolest features of culturepulse is it's ability to allow users to review shows and events. It can be used as a sounding board, as can this myspace, for what people want to see. We live in a conservative city, and our art seems to be awfully traditional - but that is changing. This summer, Crimson Creek is producing Sweeney Todd and Cabaret at the Empire Arts Center... and if you haven't heard of them, they are two of the most out there shows ever to grace broadway.

Sweeney Todd is a dark thriller (yet musical theatre) exploring love, revenge, and meat pies made out of humans! Probably Sondheims best work, macabre but darkly humorous with a viscerally powerful score that has found a home both on Broadway and in opera houses. The entire show is seriously a ride - the first time I saw it, I was horrified and insanely happy, all at the same time. I laughed, I was stunned, and overcome with moments of "oh no they didn't!" This adult show is a must see for any theatrical lover. The moral of the story? (Well, one of many) is that "everyone goes down well with beer!"

This will be the last opportunity for locals to enjoy the talents of Darin Kerr, in the lead roll as The Sweeney, before he heads to NY to launch his acting career. Others who will entertain include the incomparable Anne Christopherson as Lovett, Josh Law and Anthony, Louise Pinkerton as the Begger Woman, Royce Blackburn as Judge Turpin and Mike Strommenger as Toby.

Cabaret, though much better known, is still a distant cousin of the conservative shows that typically play on our stages. The musical is set in Berlin in 1929 through 1930 during the run-up to the coming to power of the Nazis under Adolf Hitler.Crimson Creek Collegiate Players brings this daring, entertaining and poignant piece to the Empire Arts Center in August. Cast includes Allison Brooks (Sally) Casey Paradies (Emcee) Megan Gredetsky (Fraulein Schneider) Adam Ferguson (Herr Schulz) Kim Watts(Fraulein Kost) and Mitchell Skajewski (Ernst Ludwig).

All in all, we've got tons coming up in our local arts scene - from live mic evenings to full on shows. We boast a master chorale and a symphony orchestra. We've got a contemporary museum and several galleries. We have a pre-professional theatre and community theatre. We have a pre-professional dance company. We are lucky and fortunate.

Use us - use culturepulse to advertise your organizations and your events. Use culturepulse to play your weekends. You can bookmark favorite events. You can find free events. You can invite friends... and then review the show afterwards to let others know what you thought.

Attend the tale... and attend a show.

Peace :: Ben :: Team CulturePulse