The structure of the school year will soon make way for the slower days of summer, leaving us all with a bit more time to cultivate meaningful connections with our neighbors through the arts.

In the Red River Valley region, our local artists and cultural organizations are offering many beautiful and artful ways to enjoy summer. Some of our major arts organizations are having a rest before events amp up in the fall, but for others, summer provides the perfect season to go out and explore local art and performances.

The

Big Art Exhibition at West Acres

is a perfect example. Curated by the Fargo-Moorhead Visual Artists (FMVA), it’s a free and public installation of work by dozens of local artists at the mall. It’s a great pit stop near the Macy’s department store entrance.

Another visual arts organization offering great summer programming is the

Plains Art Museum

, where they’ve curated educational and community-connecting classes for kids, adults and families.

Gooseberry Park Players, which provides an educational, multi-generational and fee-free summer theater experience for youth age 11 through graduating high school seniors, kicks off a fresh season of programming and performances. They’ll be performing “Shrek: The Musical” in July. Check out

gooseberryparkplayers.org

for more info.

Also joining the summer theater are both Trollwood and Stage West.

Trollwood

is producing ‘ABBA” and “Mamma Mia,” and

Stage West

in West Fargo is offering a plethora of kids’ summer programming as well as a production of “Newsies.”

There are numerous opportunities to take advantage of listening to great music in informal, outdoor settings. And there are many other opportunities to experience and participate in the arts as well, so we encourage you to

check out our website

for a list of events and information about the many interesting, artful organizations across the community.

Several local arts organizations are celebrating milestone anniversaries this year, including Fargo Theatre, which is kicking off 100 years in 2026. In addition, Kicks Band of Fargo Moorhead and Gallery 4 artist co-op both turn 50 and The Arts Partnership turns 55.

The benefits of local arts programming isn’t just based on the seasons, either. There is real and very compelling evidence that proves arts nourishes communities in a way that nothing else can.

Research conducted by Americans for the Arts shows that engaging in creative activities, even for just 30 minutes daily, can lower anxiety and depression levels while increasing quality of life and satisfaction in everyday experiences.

What else can arts immersion do?

Americans for the Arts research also shows that participation in the arts reduces social exclusion and isolation.

When The Arts Partnership is are able to support community-based art programming, we are making it easier for community members to access meaningful creative experiences that enhance their sense of belonging.

These findings underscore the integral role of the arts in promoting mental health, enhancing emotional well-being and fostering social connections.

I believe that’s one of the greatest gifts our local arts community offers: ways to mark time with meaning.

Whether it’s picking up the harp for the first time in years (as I recently did), pausing in front of some artwork inside the airport on your way out of town, or attending a local theater performance that moves you, these moments provide connection, both on a personal level and a community level.

You don’t have to “get” art or classical music or relish quilting to enjoy the arts. Just be curious, let the emotions of a good performance wash over you like sunlight on your face. Be surprised by the worlds you discover.

Let summer begin with meaningful engagement. Your local arts community is ready with calendars bursting with events and opportunities to create memories right here at home. After all, it’s wonderful to bloom where you are planted.

This article is part of a content partnership with The Arts Partnership, a nonprofit organization cultivating the arts in Fargo, Moorhead and West Fargo. For more information, visit

theartspartnership.net.