TAG: Envisioning the Art That Will Shape STEAM Learning

The Grand Forks Children’s Museum is still taking shape, but one part of its future is already clear: art will be everywhere. Thanks to The Art of Giving (TAG), the museum’s STEAM based learning experience will open with a vibrant, imaginative, deeply intentional and joyful “A” at its core.

TAG’s commitment to the museum is part of a long tradition of giving. As an

independent organization with its own mission and history of impact, TAG has provided more than $575,000 to charities across Grand Forks. In its early years, TAG helped fund a NICU unit at Altru, and as their signature event grew, they continued directing support to areas of deep community need. Just as importantly, TAG has created significant opportunities for regional artists by raising visibility, showcasing talent, and giving a voice to creators whose work shapes the cultural identity of the region. Their signature events have become a platform where artists are celebrated, discovered, and uplifted, reinforcing TAG’s belief that art strengthens communities and deserves to be seen.

While the museum still has construction funding to secure, TAG’s role has never been to build the structure itself. Their purpose is to enrich what will happen inside those walls…the creativity, the experiences, and the hands on learning that will help shape children’s lives. For the last several years, TAG has chosen to invest in art at the Grand Forks Children’s Museum because they believe the “A” in STEAM is essential to how children explore, imagine, and discover.

Through its annual events and generous community support, TAG has raised more than $290,000 to curate regional artwork for the museum that will be ready the moment the museum opens. This funding is shaping the museum’s artistic identity by helping create how the space will look, feel, and welcome children into a world of creativity.

Art will shape the museum visually and emotionally. TAG’s vision includes murals that anchor major exhibit zones, suspended installations that add movement and color overhead, sculptural pieces that greet families as they enter, and rotating art throughout the museum. These works will not simply decorate the museum; they will guide how children move through the space, set the emotional tone of each area, and help define the museum’s personality. Art will be woven into the architecture, the exhibits, and the full, holistic experience of discovery. Children will experience a museum that feels creative, expressive, and alive.

TAG’s curator, Jason Restemayer, along with the Public Arts Commission and the museum’s art committee, has shaped a thoughtful, cohesive vision for how art will come alive throughout the museum. Their planning ensures that every artistic element contributes to a learning experience that feels intentional, imaginative, and uniquely Grand Forks. This team is designing art that doesn’t just decorate the building, but helps define how children move, explore, and discover.

TAG’s successful event in 2026 will support hands-on programming that will bring artists directly into children’s lives. Regional artists will lead workshops, demonstrations, and creative sessions. Artist in residence programs will show kids how ideas become art. Musical performances and live demonstrations will add sound, motion, and energy to the museum’s STEAM environment. Separately, outreach efforts will extend art access to children who might not otherwise the opportunity to participate.

In our future museum space, the TAG Art Gallery will open solely because of TAG’s generosity. The TAG Art Gallery will celebrate the creative voices that shape our community. Separately, TAG may help manage The Kid Art Gallery to give young creators a place to display their work as well as experience a real art opening, a moment where their creativity is truly honored and shared.

This vision reflects TAG’s understanding of the importance of art in STEAM. Art is not an accessory to science, technology, engineering, and math. Art is the discipline that helps children visualize ideas, express discoveries, and approach challenges with imagination. Art strengthens spatial reasoning, deepens curiosity, and makes learning feel personal. It helps children see patterns, tell stories, and explore emotions. These artistic skills support every other STEAM discipline.

By investing early, before the museum opens, TAG is ensuring that art will be a living, breathing part of every child’s experience. Their generosity is building programs, shaping spaces, and creating opportunities that will inspire thousands of children for years to come. In doing so, TAG is giving the museum its creative heartbeat, while giving children a place where imagination feels possible, encouraged, and alive.

Katie Mayer, Executive Director, Grand Forks Children's Museum