BISMARCK, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – The North Dakota Council on the Arts (NDCA) is pleased to announce the recent appointment of Searle Swedlund of Valley City, as its Board Chair.

Swedlund has served on NDCA’s Board of Directors since August 2017 and on the Executive Committee since August 2019. Swedlund was appointed by Governor Burgum effective January 15, 2020.

Statement from Searle Swedlund: “The arts are the engine for creative thinking. NDCA is a change-maker whose support of educators, artists and placemaking impacts rural and urban communities throughout the state. I’m excited for the work ahead and to continue the impact of this great organization.”

Statement from Kim Konikow, NDCA Executive Director: “We are thrilled to have Searle take the reins in leading NDCA at this time. His curiosity and strategic mind will serve the organization well as we expand the reach of the arts throughout the state.”

Searle Swedlund is the Executive Director of Jamestown Tourism. In this role, he works with a variety of community agencies to market the community and grow the ways visitors interact with the region. Prior to this, Searle worked at Concordia College for 14 years in a variety of capacities including Alumni Relations. He is active with Habitat for Humanity, the Jamestown Chamber of Commerce, and the Jamestown Arts Center. He is married to Emmy Swedlund and together they have a very active young daughter, Sigrid, and a rescue dog, Freki.

Searle is originally from Velva, ND where his family still resides. “Having worked closely with the Jamestown Arts Center, I have witnessed how the arts cultivate creative thought processes and build community,” says Swedlund.

NDCA gives sincere thanks to David “WhiteThunder” Trottier for his time and outstanding efforts during his 30 years of service on NDCA’s Board of Directors, 22 of those years as Chairman of the Board. His resignation was effective on January 15, 2020.

The NDCA’s board consists of nine members – one from each of the state’s regions, and one member-at-large, each of whom is appointed by the governor for a five-year term.

Additional information on each of the board members, as well as the regions they represent, is available on the NDCA’s web site at http://www.nd.gov/arts/about-us/board-of-directors.