Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the 250th Anniversary topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commission explores 250th-anniversary outreach, story-walks, exhibits and grant partners
Summary
Staff and commissioners discussed preliminary ideas for Bismarck's 250th-anniversary activities including a story-walk, a Chautauqua living-history event, trading-card style educational materials, a short history series and partnerships with the Bismarck Historical Society and Baga; staff will check grant eligibility and coordinate partners.
Under "other business," city staff updated the commission on initial discussions about Bismarck's 250th-anniversary programming and potential funding through the North Dakota 250 community initiatives grant.
Lauren said staff and commissioners met with members of the Bismarck Historical Society and city administration to begin planning; possible components discussed included a story-walk that reuses material from the Bismarck timeline, a Chautauqua living-history event, educational cards or "trading cards" to hand out at events, and a short history series potentially produced with Dakota Media Access. Lauren said staff would check the state grant for eligible expense categories before moving forward.
Commissioners also discussed a potential partnership with the local cultural organization Baga; one commissioner said they had set up a meeting with Jen Webb from Baga to explore an exhibit of photographs or artwork tied to the anniversary and advised that partner organizations could apply for smaller grants with the commission providing letters of support. A separate suggestion asked whether the commission should send letters congratulating property owners who have achieved National Register status; commissioners responded positively to the outreach idea.
Staff will continue outreach and report back to the commission on partner plans and grant eligibility for the January review cycle.
