By Jim Speirs, Executive Director, Arts South Dakota
The future of South Dakota’s creative environment, cultural education opportunities and professional arts careers is shaped by decisions made in Pierre and Washington, DC. On November 5, your vote for candidates who care about the arts will be one of the most important advocacy steps you can take.
That is why each of us needs to get out and vote! The arts in South Dakota help make us who we are as a people. We encourage everyone who cares about creativity and the arts to be active citizens. Together we can forge strong and supportive arts policy in South Dakota and in the nation’s capital—if we vote for the people who care about our cultural heritage AND future.
In September, Arts South Dakota sent a survey to all candidates for state legislature, governor and the U.S. House of Representatives in an effort to understand their positions on arts related issues. Our purpose was to provide information that you can access through our website, artssouthdakota.org. The candidate survey tab on our site gives you the opportunity to read the responses of South Dakotans running for office. We hope you will find this information useful as one factor in casting your vote for arts-aware candidates next month.
A healthy arts ecosystem must have the support of its political leaders. By asking the position of each candidate on arts related issues, we’re making it clear that one way a candidate can earn your vote is to support the arts in South Dakota.
YOUR vote is an essential element in building a stronger creative community in your hometown and all across our state. By casting your vote along with your neighbors you make a bold statement to candidates and elected officials about the importance of the arts in South Dakota.
To learn more about candidate views and arts advocacy, visit us at the Arts South Dakota website, www.artssouthdakota.org and Vote smART! on November 5.
