ST. PAUL, Minn. - The Bush Foundation has announced the first recipients of its Dakota Creative Connections grants.

Ten visual artists from South Dakota and North Dakota will share $50,000 for projects focused on helping them develop new ideas and directions in their creative lives. The 10 artists also will participate in three retreats over the next year to help create professional development programs geared toward the needs of artists in these two states.

The 2008 Dakota Creative Connections recipients are Diana Marie Behl, Brookings, S.D.; Sara Christensen Blair, Aberdeen, S.D.; Karen Lynn Davidson, Minot; Kim William Fink, Grand Forks; Sister Nancy Gunderson, OSB, Bismarck; Alfred Jason Lindell, Park River; Linda Nelson, Sioux Falls, S.D.; Sherry Lee Short, Fargo; Sarah Regan Snavely, Bowman; and Mary Wipf, Deadwood, S.D.