JILL SCHRAMM/MDN The side of a grain elevator tower shows a mural image of a woman and child. Artist Guido van Helten completed the mural that wraps around the grain elevator complex last fall.

Silobration 2.0 will be held this summer to celebrate the completion of the Union Silo Public Art Project last fall and the community support that enabled the project to reach fruition.

A local committee brought in world-famous artist Guido van Helten to paint the mural on a former downtown grain elevator. Committee member Tim Baumann updated the community on the project at the Minot City Council meeting Monday, March 16. The project was almost entirely privately-funded.

“We are incredibly grateful to the entirety of the Minot community for their help, patience and financial support as we worked to raise over $350,000 in donations and in-kind gifts to cover project-related expenses,” Baumann said. “We are incredibly proud of our community for stepping forward to do this.”

This support came from hundreds of individual donations and from local businesses, civic organizations and foundations. Minot Area Council of the Arts served as the fiscal agent, allowing the committee to apply for grants and donations and make donations support tax-deductible.

The committee stated the fundraising exceeded the goal, allowing for additional purchases and events. The committee is working with Visit Minot to create interpretive signage to explain the history of the site and the artwork.

An art display also is planned at Minot State University to include a book of photos taken by van Helten during his time in Minot as part of developing his artistic ideas for his painting. The display also will include photos of van Helten at work, taken by a Minot State University photography student.

Silobration 2.0, following up on last August’s celebration and street dance,, is set for Friday, Aug. 28, in Citizens Alley. The event will feature local singer Chloe Raye and her band.

The committee’s work on the Union Silos Public Art Project began in the fall of 2022. Van Helten was invited to choose the Minot project as part of his Monuments project, which will feature gigantic murals in each of the states once completed.