Marathon Kicks Off Big Read

Reading and Reflection - Cash Crimmins reads “The Glorious Cause” by Robert Middlekauff at the NEA Big Read event in the BSC library on Tuesday Sept. 29.

Bismarck State College hosted its first National Endowment for the Arts Big Read and reading marathon event on Tuesday, Sept. 29 in the BSC Library. BSC received a grant from the organization and is the only college in the state to receive it

this year.

The NEA Big Read is an United States government organization that presents an annual list of novels, poetry collections, short stories, memoirs, and essays focused around a central theme or idea. The 2026-2027 grant, American250, was centered around the 250 year anniversary signing of the Declaration of Independence which influenced BSC’s focus on the grant.

“We wanted to focus our efforts on Indigenous people, culture, and history as it is a major part of our region and the land we currently inhabit today,” Kim Weismann, the Dean of Arts, Humanities, and Sciences, replied in an email response.

Participants of the reading marathon chose selections from the 24 books on the 2026 NEA Big Read list. Of the 24 books, “An American Sunrise” was picked as BSC’s NEA Big Read book. BSC President Brian Kalk read an excerpt from the book at the end of the event.

“When BSC decided we wanted to focus on Indigenous culture, we looked at the books on the NEA Big Read list and this is the one that best fit what we were looking for,” Weismann said.

It was announced at the conclusion of the reading marathon that BSC received a $20,000 NEA Big Read grant that will go to promoting literacy and building community partnerships. This is the first time BSC has been awarded this grant.

Applying for the grant was a team effort, and it is unknown whether BSC will be able to receive it once more.

“These grants are very competitive. Programming with them takes a lot of hours,” Weismann said. “Right now, I am always up for reapplying for the grant, but there is no guarantee we will receive it again.”

Weismann said she worked with Maureen Murchie, Marlene Anderson, and Sara Vollmer, and the BSC grant team worked on the application.

The reading marathon kicked off the start of multiple events through the months of October, November, and December. With the BSC initiative focused on Indigenous culture and history, some events have been created around that.

There will be an art showcase in Ganon Gallery Nov. 16 to Dec. 11, featuring artworks from United Tribes Technical College students.

BSC is working with athletics to include a drum circle at athletic events and a talk from Indigenous author, Heid. E. Erdrich.

BSC and two different Department of Correction and Rehabilitation facilities will be showing the documentary “Waterbuster” with a panel of speakers to follow.

There will be a variety of book events based on “An American Sunrise”. Book reads are being planned at BSC and several partner programs including OLLI on Nov. 5 and one at Bismarck Veterans Memorial Public Library.

Many event dates are still being finalized.

The grant’s reward comes with a goal.

“The NEA Big Read grant is to encourage and promote meaningful conversations, share community connections, and share perspectives within our region,” Weismann said.