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Moorhead recreation specialist says River Arts drew steady crowds but could be more "art focused"
Summary
Steve French, Moorhead recreation events specialist, told the Arts and Culture Commission on Sept. 15 that the River Arts summer series averaged about 200 attendees per show and drew as many as 400 for one date; commissioners and members urged more hands-on art activities, varied food options and stronger promotion for next year.
Steve French, recreation events specialist for the City of Moorhead, told the Moorhead Arts and Culture Commission on Sept. 15 that the River Arts summer series held five events this year and drew “roughly about 200 people per event,” with one night he estimated at closer to 400 attendees.
French said he ran five River Arts nights — two in June, two in July and one in August — at Viking Ship Park, and that programming mixed musical headliners with family activities and discrete art experiences. “We had Kim the clown, bouncy houses, a petting zoo, a graffiti session, paper-making classes and a dream-catcher workshop,” French said. He also noted that beverage vendors (wine and beer) attended all five shows and that the Lions Club provided food.
The commission and members of the public urged staff to shift the series toward more hands-on art engagement and wider food choices. One attendee told the commission, “I appreciate your efforts on that and, in the time of transition, it sounds like it turned out to be a really fun event,” and encouraged using local artist partners to expand participatory activities.
French said he wants to use River Arts as a platform to promote local artists rather than only present summer concerts. He raised questions the commission discussed: introduce a yearly art theme, add more interactive workshops, extend on-site hours (for example, move from a short opener/main act format to a longer 5–9 p.m. window), and recruit additional food vendors rather than rely solely on a single provider.
On marketing, French said the summer used posters, brochures, radio and social media but acknowledged promotion could be stronger. He said city photography from this year will be used to improve visuals for future marketing.
Commissioners and attendees suggested concrete tactics: broaden the vendor mix to be more inclusive of dietary needs, work with local arts organizations and schools for hands-on activities, and consider food trucks and varied beverage options to attract younger families and college students.
French read tentative dates for next year’s River Arts season as provided in his packet: “We have June 10, 20 fourth, July 8, July 22, August 5,” and asked commissioners for input on recruitment and programming partnerships.
The commission thanked French for the report; no formal action or directive was recorded at the meeting.
