The james memorial art center strives to offer art opportunities for local and regional artists as an integral piece of our mission:To share art and culture with the community of Williston, North Dakota while preserving the historic building known as The James Memorial Art Center. 

The James Memorial Art Center places great importance on featuring both up-and-coming artists and experienced local and regional artists for several key reasons that reflect the center's commitment to fostering a dynamic, inclusive, and evolving art community.

1. Support for Emerging Talent: By showcasing up-and-coming artists, the James Memorial Art Center provides a vital platform for new voices in the art world. Emerging artists often struggle to gain visibility and recognition, and the center’s commitment to highlighting their work helps propel their careers. It offers them an opportunity to present their fresh perspectives, experimental techniques, and innovative ideas to a broader audience.

2. Celebrating Artistic Growth and Development: Featuring experienced local and regional artists allows the James Memorial Art Center to celebrate the depth of artistic growth and skill that exists within the community. These seasoned artists often have years of experience that inform their work, and their inclusion provides a rich, multifaceted narrative of the local and regional art scenes. Their work can inspire emerging artists, while also sparking conversations about the evolution of art and culture within the region.

3. Fostering Dialogue and Collaboration: The combination of emerging and established artists creates an environment ripe for dialogue and collaboration. When new and experienced artists interact, it fosters cross-generational conversations about techniques, inspirations, and artistic journeys. This exchange not only enriches the creative process but also strengthens the community’s shared cultural understanding.

4. Promoting Diversity of Artistic Expression: By emphasizing both up-and-coming and experienced artists, the center ensures that a broad range of artistic styles, mediums, and perspectives are represented. This diversity enriches the overall experience for visitors, offering them a wide array of artistic expressions from different points on the artistic journey. Whether through the bold, experimental work of emerging artists or the refined, often more contemplative pieces of seasoned creators, the center encourages an appreciation for art in all its forms.

5. Community Engagement and Cultural Enrichment: Featuring a variety of artists contributes to the cultural vibrancy of the community. Local and regional artists, whether emerging or established, often have deep ties to the area, and their work reflects the nuances, stories, and identity of the region. By engaging with these artists, the James Memorial Art Center helps to preserve and celebrate local culture, while also fostering a sense of pride and connection within the community.

Ultimately, the James Memorial Art Center's dedication to showcasing both emerging and experienced artists underscores its belief in the transformative power of art. By supporting a diverse array of artists, the center enriches the local art scene, stimulates creative expression, and creates a space for growth, discovery, and cultural dialogue.

The Sketchbook Project

The Sketchbook Project is the world’s largest collection of artist sketchbooks. Since its inception in 2006, it has been a beloved part of the art world. Contributions range from love letters and diary entries to graphic novels and intricately detailed masterpieces, all inside the pages of five-by-seven-inch, paper-bound books. The non-profit hosting the project and collection closed in 2022 and the sketchbooks were offered to other museums and institutions to preserve the collection. In 2023, much of the collection, numbering 28,000 books created by thousands of artists representing approximately 100 countries, was gifted to the Taube Museum of Art.

north dakota art gallery association (NDAGA)

Call for Proposals!
2026-27 Touring Season
OPEN NOW THROUGH August 1, 2025

Selection ProcesS

Entries will be reviewed by representatives from NDAGA's member galleries in September at the Annual Artist Review Session. Submissions booked by three or more galleries will be selected for tour. At the end of their tour, artists will receive a $100 honorarium per venue as well as a 70% commission on any sales during the touring exhibition. 

Eligibility

Original works in any medium created are eligible. Preference is given to works created in the past two years with exception for collections curated from institutional collections. No mass-produced forms, factory produced items or reproductions permitted. All prints must be properly signed and numbered in a limited edition.