The Northern Galleries mission is to enhance the beauty, educational opportunities and cultural climate of NSU and northeast South Dakota through the presentation of professional art exhibitions.

The Northern galleries operate mostly between September and May. The President's Gallery and the Student Center Gallery operate throughout the summer. 

Though individual gallery hours may vary, generally they are open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Northern galleries are free and open to the public.

Student interaction with artwork and artists, through the exhibitions presented in the Northern galleries, is a core element in the curricular programming of the art department. This involves critical analysis writing, small group discussion, and interactive dialogue. Many of the artists also come to campus and work with the students for a week through artist collaborations and technical workshops.

JFAC Art Gallery

Located off the vestibule in the Johnson Fine Arts Center, the JFAC Gallery has been designed from the ground up for the exhibition of nationally or internationally recognized contemporary artists.

The 1,000-square-foot gallery also is an exhibition space for student artworks and pieces from the permanent collection, as well as a reception area.

Student Center Art Gallery

The Student Center Art Gallery is a dedicated venue to display student artwork. Located on the second floor of the NSU Student Center, the gallery has a multifunctional louge area in front of seven display showcates.

  • 24' length north to south
  • 98.5' length east to west
  • 43.75 running feet of useable wall space
  • 8' height of showcases
  • 6' width of showcases
  • 15" depth of showcases

President's Gallery

This display area usually features semester-long exhibits of guest-artist works or pieces from our permanent collection. The President's Gallery is located on the second floor of Spafford Hall. 

  • 137' floor length north to south
  • 10.75' floor length east to west
  • 134' running feed of useable wall space
  • 11.25' height of ceiling
  • 8.75' height of useable wall space