BSC to kick off NEA Big Read activities with community reading celebration

Bismarck State College (BSC) invites the community to read, share and celebrate as the college officially kicks off its first NEA Big Read on Tuesday, Sept. 29, at the BSC Library.

The free event begins at 2:15 p.m. with an hour-long reading marathon featuring selections from the 24 books on this year's NEA Big Read list. Students, faculty, staff, friends and community members are invited to participate in the marathon or come listen and enjoy the readings.

At 3:15 p.m., BSC will host the NEA Big Read schedule unveiling and book share, where attendees can learn what's ahead during the NEA Big Read, celebrate with community partners, share books and get a first look at the upcoming schedule of events.

BSC's NEA Big Read centers on "An American Sunrise: Poems" by Joy Harjo, a member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and the first Native American to serve as U.S. poet laureate. Approximately 400 free copies of the book will be distributed through the initiative, which will feature book discussions, art, film, speakers and cultural experiences throughout the academic year.

NEA Big Read Kickoff
Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026
2:15 p.m. - Reading Marathon
3:15 p.m. - Schedule Announcement & Book Share
BSC Library, inside Skogen Hall, 1400 Schafer St., Bismarck

This event is free and open to the public.

Recently, BSC, through the BSC Foundation, was awarded a $20,000 National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Big Read grant to lead a community-wide reading initiative focused on Indigenous culture, history and experiences. BSC is one of 71 organizations nationwide selected for a 2026-27 NEA Big Read grant and the only North Dakota recipient this cycle. The NEA Big Read is a program of the NEA in partnership with Arts Midwest.

Led by BSC's Humanities, Arts & Sciences division, the initiative includes partnerships with the Bismarck Veterans Memorial Public Library, Bismarck Public Schools, Mandan Public Schools, Bowbells Public School, North Dakota Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College, Sitting Bull College, BSC's Osher Lifelong Learning Institute and the BSC Library.

Additional details about NEA Big Read events, including dates, times and opportunities to participate, will continue to be announced throughout the fall.