Katherine Kilbourne Burgum
CENTER FOR CREATIVITY
f you're new to Fargo, there's something you should know: It wasn't always like this. We take for granted the bustling city center that Downtown has become—filled with trendy restaurants, farmers markets and charming buildings—but not all that long ago, the landscape was quite different. Marisa Jackels is the lead storyteller at Tellwell, a social-media agency in Fargo. BY Marisa Jackels PHOTOS COURTESY OF Plains Art Museum
In partnership with our friends at Tellwell and Kilbourne Group, we'll be telling the story of Downtown's transformation in a series focused on the pivotal projects and historic renovations that paved the way for what the area has now become.
Glance through the tall windows of the brick building at 717 1st Ave. N, and you might see kids sculpting hamburgers out of clay. Or adults painting with watercolor. Or, if it’s after-school hours, one of the artists-inresidence creating a new masterpiece. This is the Katherine Kilbourne Burgum Center for Creativity, a community studio space designed for learning, discussion and display of creative work. Thousands of students of all ages create art within these walls every year, but it wasn’t always this way. The vision for the center began at the intersection of two needs in the community with one common goal: creating a space for hands-on art.
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AUGUST 2017 | FARGOINC.COM
The first need was from Fargo Public Schools, which, at the time, had a thriving program called Creative Arts Studio. The intention of the program was to give elementary students a more robust, hands-on art experience through working with professional artists, and it was a huge success—so much so that they were outgrowing their basement space and needed somewhere to grow. At the same time, the Plains Art Museum in Downtown Fargo was also facing challenges with their campaign to expand. Their original dream was to own all of the property surrounding the museum, with each portion serving a different purpose, including affordable housing for local artists. However, it soon became clear that, with the resources