The Art of Giving: A Legacy of Action, Heart, and Community Impact

Some organizations make a difference. A rare few change the landscape of a community. The Art of Giving (TAG) has done both and Grand Forks is profoundly better for it.

TAG began with a simple idea: bring people together through art, generosity, and shared purpose.

What has grown from that spark is nothing short of extraordinary. Over the years, TAG has raised more than $575,000 for local charities, supported countless artists, and built a culture where creativity fuels compassion. Their annual event has become one of the most anticipated celebrations of artistic talent and local giving. TAG is a place where artists thrive, nonprofits are strengthened, and neighbors come together to lift one another up.

TAG’s story isn’t just about fundraising totals or successful events. It’s about the kind of people who refuse to sit on the sidelines. While some talk about what a community should be, TAG steps forward and builds it. They are doers. Problem solvers. Vision shapers. The kind of people who see a need and move toward it with energy, optimism, and action.

Behind TAG is a remarkable group of luminaries who make it all happen. TAG’s curator, Jason Restemayer, shapes the artistic vision that defines the event. A dedicated team of Katie and Bryan Bergner, Jessie Thorson, Adam Kemp, Alexa Swanston, Callie Wagner, and Sally Miskavige, pour their time, creativity, and heart into every detail. Together, this group embodies the spirit of action that has become TAG’s signature.

That spirit is now helping shape one of the most exciting projects in Grand Forks: the Grand Forks Children’s Museum. From the earliest conversations about the museum, TAG recognized the power of art to spark imagination, curiosity, and joy. Their support has helped ensure that art isn’t just an accessory to the museum. Art is woven into the museum’s identity.

Thanks to TAG’s generosity and vision:

• The museum will feature vibrant murals that welcome families with color and creativity.

• Suspended art installations will float overhead, turning ceilings into canvases of wonder.

• Outdoor sculptures will transform the grounds into a place where play and beauty meet.

• Resident artists and rotating exhibits will bring fresh inspiration year round.

TAG’s curator, Jason Restemayer, along with the Public Arts Commission and the museum’s art committee, has helped shape a thoughtful, cohesive vision for how art will live throughout the museum’s space. Their work ensures that every piece, whether bold, whimsical, or quietly meaningful, contributes to a museum experience that feels alive, intentional, and uniquely Grand Forks.

As TAG prepares for their upcoming event, the community’s excitement is unmistakable. Because TAG isn’t just raising money. They’re raising the bar for what community leadership looks like.

They’re proving that art can be a catalyst.

That generosity can be contagious.

That a small group of committed people can change the future for thousands of children who will one day walk through the doors of the Grand Forks Children’s Museum.

What an amazing legacy. What a tremendous impact. Grand Forks is fortunate to have a group like TAG, and all of us are fortunate to witness what happens when creativity, compassion, and community come together to build something beautiful.

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