$500K pledge boosts Southwest Art Gallery and Science Center

DICKINSON — The Fort Abraham Lincoln Foundation has pledged $500,000 over five years to support the Southwest Art Gallery + Science Center (SWAG+SC) in Dickinson. The funding will allow SWAG+SC to expand its art and science programming, improve facilities and increase educational outreach to rural communities in southwestern North Dakota.

According to Dustin Young, SWAG+SC’s executive director, the funds will advance three primary projects.

“The $500,000 pledge from the Fort Abraham Lincoln Foundation will allow us to move forward on three very important aspects of our programming initiatives,” Young said.

One project involves upgrading the art gallery’s lighting and sound systems. Located in Dickinson’s former City Hall, the gallery has been using makeshift equipment. The upgrades will bring professional lighting and audio capabilities.

Young explained that since moving into the space, SWAG+SC has added displays, televisions and projectors. However, “lighting and sound require consulting with professionals to ensure we are utilizing the space in the best ways possible while remaining flexible enough to host numerous different events, not only art exhibitions,” Young said.

Additionally, the foundation’s funding will help launch SWAG+SC’s mobile STEAM Engine initiative, aimed at bringing art and science programs to remote areas. The initiative includes a mobile STEM and art station equipped within a cargo van that will travel to rural communities throughout North Dakota’s Region 8.

Young described the STEAM Engine as “a colorful beacon of creativity as we reach out to bring fun and educational experiences to places that don’t often get them.”

The funding will also support renovations of SWAG+SC’s main floor to create a Learning Center designed for community classes, workshops and events.

“Versatility is important because we want this space to be utilized for a wide range of activities,” Young said, adding that the Learning Center’s layout will include partitions to accommodate recitals, small theatrical performances and community meetings.

The Fort Abraham Lincoln Foundation, established in 1982, focuses on preserving and promoting North Dakota’s cultural heritage. Aaron Barth, the foundation’s executive director, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration’s alignment with both organizations’ missions.

“When we engage in a dialogue with the past, we activate that past and make cultural history and heritage relevant,” Barth said. “Art, and the art of the sciences, remain instrumental in continued development of authenticity and love of place.”

The partnership began after SWAG+SC’s Board of Directors sent letters to local gaming entities seeking potential donors. Barth, who oversees gaming operations at Paragon Bowl/Champs, saw SWAG+SC’s educational mission as a compatible partner for FALF’s objectives.

“It was a serendipitous moment for our two organizations to connect at the right moment in time,” Young said.

Since its founding, SWAG+SC has aimed to engage audiences of all ages through accessible programs that encourage art and science exploration. The collaboration with FALF supports both organizations’ goals of fostering cultural appreciation and historical awareness.

“This collaboration reflects a shared commitment to promoting historical and cultural appreciation along with educational enrichment in North Dakota,” Young said.

He added that SWAG+SC and FALF will work to create educational experiences that represent the “essence, zeitgeist and vernacular that encompasses Western North Dakota and the Northern Plains.”

Dickinson Press file photo

In addition, the STEAM Engine initiative is expected to expand educational opportunities for students and educators in southwestern North Dakota. SWAG+SC has already engaged with community groups in Dunn and Bowman counties to bring art and STEM experiences to local schools and create accessible learning spaces for residents.

Young also noted that the foundation’s pledge arrives amid SWAG+SC’s Capital Campaign, which is raising funds to pay off its building and launch the Science Center portion of the facility. Plans for the Science Center include an interactive water table exhibit that will take 18 months to complete, with an estimated two- to three-year timeline for the entire project.

“The Science Center will take some time to complete as we continue to plan and raise funds,” Young said.

He explained that while major exhibits are in the planning and funding stages, the center will offer temporary interactive science, art and cultural displays for the community.

The Fort Abraham Lincoln Foundation’s support, Young said, “ensures that citizens from all backgrounds and ethnicities have a voice, creating a relevant dialogue between past, present and future citizens of SW North Dakota.”

James B. Miller, Jr. is the Editor of The Dickinson Press in Dickinson, North Dakota. He strives to bring community-driven, professional and hyper-local focused news coverage of southwest North Dakota.