BISMARCK – Minot Symphony Orchestra has been selected as a recipient of the 2025 North Dakota Governor’s Awards for the Arts, according to the North Dakota Council on the Arts and Governor’s Office. The symphony was selected in the category of nonprofit arts organizations, along with Arts for Vets in Grand Forks.

The awards reception and ceremony will be held on Thursday, Feb. 6, at the North Dakota Heritage Center & State Museum in Bismarck. The event will begin with a social in the Northern Lights Atrium at 5 p.m. The awards ceremony will start at 6:30 p.m. in the Russell Reid Auditorium. The general public is invited. Admission is free but reservations are required by Thursday, Jan. 30.

Gov. Kelly Armstrong also selected the following recipients:

– Arts in Education, Bismarck State College Theatre

– Individual Achievement, Marie Snavely of Bowman

– Individual Cultural Heritage, Denise Joyce Kitson of Bismarck

– Champion for the Arts, Ijjo John Stephen of Grand Forks

– For-Profit Arts Organization, Indigenized Behavioral Healing of Belcourt

“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,” Armstrong said in the release. “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.”

Established in 1977, the North Dakota Governor’s Awards for the Arts is a biennial program presented by the Governor’s Office and North Dakota Council on the Arts to recognize organizations and individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the arts in the state. Recipients are chosen for their efforts to expand arts opportunities to new audiences, create an appreciation for North Dakota’s cultural heritage, make the arts more central to education, and incorporate arts as an integral part of community life. A nominee’s length of service within the state is also a factor.