The Welcome Wall: Where Every Mark Matters

At the Grand Forks Children’s Museum’s Full STEAM Ahead, there’s a wall that doesn’t just welcome you, it invites you to leave your mark.

The Welcome Wall, curated by Adam Kemp and his daughter Hanna, is more than a splash of color…it’s a canvas of community. Hanna, a vibrant young artist whose lived experience brings depth to the Welcome Wall, infuses the space with joy and authenticity, reminding us that creativity takes many forms and has no boundaries. Together, she and Adam have transformed a simple wall into a living, breathing mosaic of imagination.

Here, kids are encouraged to do the very thing they’re often told not to do at home: draw on the walls. Whether it’s a rainbow rocket, a scribbled note to a friend, or a dinosaur with a tutu, every doodle/message/drawing is celebrated. The Welcome Wall is a place where rules bend in favor of self-expression, and where every child’s voice is visible in crayons, markers, or paint.

This joyful and visible rebellion is uplifted by the presence of Development Homes, Inc., whose team members help staff and support the wall and welcome visitors to Full STEAM Ahead. Their presence not only enriches the museum’s culture of inclusion but also models what it means to create spaces where everyone belongs, contributes and is valued. 

Photo by Rod Long on Unsplash

The wall is a microcosm of the museum’s mission: to celebrate curiosity, creativity, and community. The Welcome Wall is a place where children learn that their ideas matter, that their scribbles have value, and that art isn’t about perfection, it’s about participation.

So, when you visit Full STEAM Ahead, grab a marker and leave a message. Draw a dragon or a unicorn. Sign your name. At the Welcome Wall, every mark is a memory…and every memory is a masterpiece.

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