FARGO, N.D. (Valley News Live) – Native artists, especially those in more rural areas of the White Earth Reservation, face challenges many other artists wouldn’t even consider.

The Gizhiigin Arts Incubator in Mahnomen works with those Native artists, working to bridge that gap.

And now they’ll have some help in doing so.

Artspace is a nonprofit real estate developer that focuses on creating areas for the arts.

They have a program called “Pathways: A Native Space Initiative.”

This year, Gizhiigin is taking part.

They plan to utilize the real estate expertise to set down permanent roots in the area. A building they would own and operate as an artist collective. A beautifully refurbished and revitalized home base for native artists that would function as both a storefront and an art gallery.

Not one of the members of Gizhiigin appears the least bit daunted by the potential scope of the task.

As visual artist Kent Estey put it:

“This group we’re working with — we’re not afraid to dream big.”

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