By Jim Speirs, Executive Director, Arts South Dakota
South Dakotans—and all Americans, according to nationwide surveys—believe that the arts are important to our culture and our everyday life. We also believe that the federal government should keep promises made to people and organizations in our state. Both of those principles are being threatened right now—and it’s vital that we speak out in support of our ideals.
The recent federal budget proposed by the Trump administration calls for the elimination of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and other essential cultural departments and programs that have expanded the arts throughout our nation. Rural states like South Dakota have relied on NEA grants to bring creative programs to communities, schools and Native Nations, serving children and adults. The elimination of NEA would weaken and threaten the very existence of arts programming in every corner of our state.
In fact, current actions by the federal government have cancelled NEA grants already made to South Dakota—breaking promises made a year ago and defunding programs that already have hired artists, secured venues and spent money on promotion and marketing. From the nationally-acclaimed South Dakota Symphony Orchestra to the well-established and proven Cheyenne River Youth Project, money already granted to make creative and cultural impacts in South Dakota has been revoked—promises made and broken to South Dakotans of every demographic.
South Dakota’s elected representatives in the Senate and the House have universally and publicly supported the arts and the mission of NEA in the past. But they now need to hear voices of South Dakotans urging them to stand up in support of the NEA to protect cultural programming in our state. If you have ever considered reaching out to our Congressional delegation in support of the arts, now is the time to act. Only by hearing from people like you can Senators Rounds and Thune and Representative Johnson stand firm for what we all believe in—a federal government that keeps its promises.
Please visit www.ArtsSouthDakota.org for links the Congressional delegation and to learn more ways to advocate for the arts in South Dakota. Your voice makes a difference for our state!
