Valley City Hosts Global Sketchbook Project at VCSU Through January
Valley City State University is displaying The Sketchbook Project at the Larry J. Robinson Center for the Arts from Dec. 1 through Jan. 16, giving local residents hands on access to thousands of intimate artist books. The exhibit connects the community to an international collection of roughly 28,000 sketchbooks, offering cultural value for students, residents, and nearby businesses during the winter months.
Valley City State University opened The Sketchbook Project at its Center for the Arts Gallery on Dec. 1, and the exhibit runs through Jan. 16 at the Larry J. Robinson Center for the Arts. The collection is available for public viewing Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and by appointment. Visitors are encouraged to hold the books and flip through pages to experience the tactile qualities of five by seven inch, paper bound sketchbooks.
The Sketchbook Project began in 2006 in Atlanta as a grassroots effort to connect artists and communities. Its founders launched the project to encourage intimate creative exchange, and in 2009 the archive moved to a permanent home at the Brooklyn Art Library in New York City. Since then the collection has expanded into a global phenomenon consisting of roughly 28,000 sketchbooks created by thousands of artists from nearly 100 countries. Contributions range from diary like entries and love letters to graphic novels and densely detailed artworks, making the collection diverse in both form and content.
For Stutsman County the exhibit offers cultural programming in a season when outdoor attractions are limited. Hands on engagement with original artwork can extend visitor dwell time at the arts center and increase incidental spending at nearby cafes, restaurants and shops. The presence of an internationally sourced collection also enhances VCSU student recruitment and curriculum opportunities for art and humanities classes, offering primary source material for study and community workshops.
Longer term, hosting major traveling exhibits aligns with broader trends in cultural tourism and the creative economy, where small cities leverage unique programming to attract regional visitors. Local officials and arts administrators may consider maintaining extended hours and offering targeted outreach to schools and tourism partners to maximize economic and educational returns. The Sketchbook Project provides Stutsman County residents an uncommon chance to engage directly with global artistic voices while supporting the local economy and campus cultural life.
