So much to do in Grand Forks!

I’ve been an arts and culture person since the beginning of time, yet there’s something in the air as the Superbowl nears that makes me want to buy a tub of face paint. Teams that were never rivals decide they have grudges against each other, friends pick their top contenders and begin making bets, and tiny bite size menu’s are in the works. Can you smell it? Bubbling BBQs, brand new jerseys straight of the rack, and sheer excitement of waiting for the next best commercial.

Superbowl Sunday will take the nation by storm this weekend as CBS airs the battle between the Green Bay Packers and the Pittsburgh Steelers. While some watching the game may think they aren’t a member of the ‘artsy-fartsy’ movement, they may want to think again. According to a recent Nielsen survey, more people tune in to watch the ads than to see the game itself. Respondents of the survey show that 51% enjoyed the ads more than the action on the field!

Much like the hardworking athletes that play on the field there are several hardworking artists that have been through the ringer and made it to the big advertising show. Commercial advertisements and the creative minds behind them have turned the Superbowl into a cultural phenomenon. As we normally use commercial breaks as a time to run to the restroom or heat up the chip dip, now we find ourselves yelling, “Are the commercials on yet?!..Don’t let me miss them!”

When companies are paying between $2.5 – $2.8 million for just 30-seconds of our time, I don’t want to miss that either. Choosing the correct message to send to your audience and only having 30 seconds to do so takes using your left brain, right brain, and every ounce of creativity you’ve got. North Dakota has some of the best advertising agencies that showcase the work of videographers, photographers, graphic designers, copywriters and all the unsung hero’s of art world. The Superbowl is a time for their creative work to shine and be appreciated by all.

Here is a little sample of what’s to come for this Sunday from the masterminds behind Volkswagen advertising:

Don’t forget to read this Dakota Student article written by Emily Burkland in regards to the National Endowment for the Arts funding and to send a letter to your congress.