Futurebuilders In Support Of The Trollwood Performing Arts School

Trollwood Performing Arts School (also referred to as 'Trollwood') is a unique youth development organization committed to providing the highest quality of arts learning experiences, exceptional community entertainment, and activities that promote and celebrate cultural diversity. Trollwood began in 1978 as a summer class of Fargo Public Schools, offered in cooperation with the Fargo Park District. Located outside the traditional school environment, Trollwood's scope and quality of services quickly evolved beyond those found in a typical public-school arts program.
In 1998, community leaders formed FutureBuilders, a 20-member, non-profit organization whose mission is to support the vitality of Trollwood. Since that time, FutureBuilders has taken the responsibility to seek funds to support the breadth and depth of Trollwood's activities, annually providing more than one-half of Trollwood's operating revenue. Today, Trollwood serves more than 600 girls and boys ages 6-18 through arts programs/services and 20,000 audience members through community productions.

Trollwood's mission: 'to inspire those we serve through the arts to realize their full potential and be a positive influence in the global community,' drives the diverse and varied programs students and audiences experience each year. These programs develop artistic knowledge and skills, but more importantly build fundamental life skills including self-esteem, self-confidence, communication and collaboration skills, citizenship and character.

Current programs include beginning through advanced levels in dance, theater, technical theater, vocal music, stringed music, video arts, and creative writing. Performance opportunities include the Sun Celebration, a community open house showcasing students' works from June Session classes; the Mainstage Musical; Second Stage, a non-musical production dealing with complex societal issues, chamber music recitals, and more.

Awards received from local, state and national agencies include Trollwood's selection by the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities as a 2002 national Coming Up Taller Award and the 2003 North Dakota Governor's Award for the Arts. More recently in 2007, Trollwood received the Lake Agassiz Arts Council/KVLY TV Educational Arts Advocate Award for educational arts programs, and in 2008, FutureBuilders/Trollwood received the ChamberChoice Finalist Award from the Fargo-Moorhead Chamber of Commerce as an outstanding not-for-profit business. These awards further compliment Trollwood's official designation as a United Nation's International Peace Messenger.