The arts, the beauty of them, is that art is anything the artist can imagine. Creative pursuits can be stress relievers, fun hobbies, or community builders. Minot and Minot AFB have plenty to offer for art lovers because they contain vibrant and thriving arts and culture scenes.
In downtown Minot for the visual arts, such as drawing, painting and sculpture, the Taube Museum of Art, located in downtown Minot, enriches the lives of all Minot citizens and has been going strong for over 46 years. The museum contains artworks from around the country and showcases guest artists, members’ work, and maintains a permanent collection of artworks. The Taube staff actively involve the public in the production and appreciation of the arts. They offer adult painting classes, children’s educational art classes, and specially tailored art classes to maintain artistic excellence, diversity, and vitality for Minot’s citizens. When asked about the role of art in society, Rachel Alfaro, Executive Director of the Taube Museum, stated, “Art serves multiple purposes. It beautifies a city; it helps socialize people; it helps with the dexterity of the brain and hands; and it helps build emotional skills and development. If you removed all art from your life, some people don’t realize how much you’d be taking away.” Coming up, the Taube is hosting Holiday Pop Your Pet Family Edition on Saturday, December 14, 4:00-5:30 p.m.
For performing arts, such as dance, music, and theatre, Minot has the Mouse River Players, Minot Symphony Orchestra, and the Rinat Mouzafarov Institute of Dance and Ballet Theatre. Mouzafarov, born in Alma-Alta, Soviet Union, is a brilliant ballet dancer and choreographer who owns, manages, and teaches at the Rinat Mouzafarov Institute of Dance and Ballet Theatre. His classical ballet choreography influences many cultures’ dances, such Spanish, Irish, and Norwegian, and he has helped world-class figure skaters and gymnasts in their sport. Mouzarfarov has lived and worked in Minot for 32 years. When asked about how a thriving arts and culture scene most likely contribute to a city, Mouzafarov stated that many people were thankful that he brings more culture to the city of Minot. He helped other artists, such as the Minot Symphony Orchestra’s Music Director, Efrain Amaya, when he reached out to him for direction for the operas. Mouzafarov brought professional ballet to Minot when he opened his studio in 1993. He explained that ballet gives his students self-esteem, better academic focus, concentration, physical strength, and discipline. His students are accepted into ballet intensives all over the United States and Canada. Mouzafarov and his dancers will perform Gloria the Christmas Angel on Saturday, December 21 at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday, December 22 at 2:00 p.m. in Ann Nicole Nelson Hall at Minot State University.
The arts also play a part in the lives of Minot AFB’s citizens. TSgt. Dorian Garland, Unit Training Manager, 5th Civil Engineer Squadron, is an actor with and the vice president of the Mouse River Players, and he founded the Minot Theatre Buffs group on base. The Mouse River Players theater creates opportunities for community members to participate in theatrical experiences and to offer opportunities for youth and adult theatre education through a variety of shows, workshops, and presentations. When asked about how a thriving arts and culture scene most likely contribute to a city, Garland stated, “It helps bring diversity of different thoughts and people together. When you’re on stage, there isn’t black or white, and everyone has a role and purpose to play. Having an art scene shows that people can be expressive and not afraid to be who they are. It can form new ideas and help people stop and think about their lives and the world around them and how it is interpreted.” Mouse River Players will be performing Murder on the Orient Express on January 17-19, and January 24-26, 2025.
The Arts and Crafts Center on Minot AFB brings creative design together by combining art and technology. They offer a wide range of gifts, such as insulated cups or t-shirts, and awards with engraving, embroidery, or framing. They can engrave wood, plastic, metal, leather and more. There are over 16,000 stock graphics available on their embroidery machine or you can add a name, design or logo of your own for your next project. The Arts and Crafts Center also offers Paint and Sip; Resin Charcuterie Board, and t-shirt decorating classes for kids. When asked what a thriving arts and culture scene can contribute to Minot AFB, Faith Roiz Labrada, Recreation Aide at the Arts and Crafts Center said that art can be uplifting since Minot AFB is a remote base. She explained that tt would be very sad not to have some type of arts scene or any sort of outlet that allows people to be creative and artistic since art is a form of self-expression and can be emotional therapy.
For a small city, Minot is more varied in the visual and performing arts than people might think. The city contains an art museum, dance and ballet school, community theater, gift shop and art studio and theater club on Minot AFB. So, although it’s cold outside, go and find an art to enjoy. Arts can improve our moods, make us smile, or just plain make us love life.
