BISMARCK, ND (KXNET) — The recipients of the 2025 North Dakota Governor's Awards for the Arts were announced on Thursday, with Governor Kelly Armstrong selecting seven total recipients for the honors. These awards are a biennial program established in 1977 to recognize people and groups who have made outstanding contributions to the arts in North Dakota. The Governor's Office and North Dakota Council on the Arts (NDCA) choose recipients for their efforts to expand arts opportunities to new audiences, create an appreciation for the state's culture, make the arts a larger part of education, and integrate it into community life. The 2025 recipients are as follows: Arts in Education: Bismarck State College Theatre Individual Achievement: Marie Snavely (Bowman) Individual Cultural Heritage: Denise Joyce Kitson (Bismarck) Champion for the Arts: Ijjo John Stephen (Grand Forks) For-Profit Arts Organization: Indigenized Behavioral Healing (Belcourt) Nonprofit Arts Organizations: Arts for Vets (Grand Forks) Minot Symphony Orchestra Hess Corporation donates $50,000 to graduating seniors in 2025 “Congratulations to these artists and performers for their impressive works and impactful contributions to the arts and cultural heritage of the state of North Dakota,” Gov. Armstrong said. “Their efforts illustrate how the arts can enhance our communities and quality of life, making North Dakota an even more attractive place to live, work, and raise a family.” The awards reception and ceremony honoring this year’s winners will be held on Thursday, February 6, at the North Dakota Heritage Center & State Museum in Bismarck. The event will begin at 5 p.m. with a social in the Northern Lights Atrium. This will be followed by the ceremony itself at 6:30 p.m. in the Russell Reid Auditorium. The general public is invited to attend the celebration. Admission is free but space is limited, so reservations are required by the end of the day on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. To register, go to arts.nd.gov. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Today's Top Stories SIGN UP NOW