2025 Artist of Color Cohort

The Arts Partnership established the Artist of Color Cohort to offer emerging artists mentoring and resources to build their artistic careers.

The pilot program, launched in January 2025, has unfolded over the course of six months, with monthly, in-person meetings, one-on-one mentorship from three established artists and a range of speakers to address topics such as marketing for artists. Cohort participants receive $1,000 stipends and professional marketing materials to further their careers.

A second cohort will launch in July 2025 and a third in January 2026.

Emerging artists of color interested in learning more about participating are encouraged to contact The Arts Partnership.

Funded by Xcel Energy Foundation and donations from individuals who support local art in our community.

Meet our 2025 participants

Sewit Eskinder

Sewit Eskinder is a multi-disciplinary artist living and working in Fargo, North Dakota. Sewit grew up singing and eventually pursued a degree at North Dakota State University, studying classical voice and music education; but, in her final semester at NDSU, she unexpectedly discovered poetry. From there, her love of writing poetry blossomed, and now she finds herself learning more about the beauty of words through singing, reading, writing, and storytelling. Sewit’s latest project is a book of poetry that weaves her emotive and reflective words into nostalgia-filled narratives.

LexX Francis

LexX Francis (they/them) has lived for a little over a quarter of century at varying degrees of Blk/Indigenous, Queer, Trans, and Fat. Growing up between Kansas City, MO and Fargo, ND has given them nothing if not perspective. They have found it difficult in the world to find leaders that look/feel like them at all, so they strive to become the leader they always wished they could look up to. At 26 years old, they have worked through non-profits, worker/owner co-ops, theatre projects and most importantly poetry to enlighten, engage, and inspire the community that surrounds them. With a local 2025 MLK Human Rights Award fresh on their feet, they hope to continue to be an integral motivator to the communities they call their own and to anyone who has ever been told to choose less than their full selves.

Videos by Be Told video marketing; photos by Jared Eischen

Whitney Johnson

Whitney Johnson is a self-taught artist from the Pine Ridge reservation in South Dakota, now based inMoorhead, Minnesota. Her work spans multiple media, including watercolor, acrylic, mixed media, and beadwork/quillwork. Drawing from her upbringing on the reservation and her Lakota heritage, Whitney brings a contemporary lens to traditional concepts, such as Kapemni (sacred harmony/balance). Whitney’s work is a celebration of her culture, a reflection of her life’s journey, and a tribute to the wonder of the natural world that inspires her art. With every piece, she invites viewers to see the beauty in all of life’s experiences, offering a blend of tradition and innovation that speaks to both personal and collective narratives.