By Jim Speirs, Executive Director, Arts South Dakota
With the Legislative Session in full swing, Arts South Dakota will be in Pierre meeting with state senators and representatives, hosting events and focusing attention on a message everyone on both sides of the aisle can agree on—the arts are vital to South Dakotans.
Along with our partners at the South Dakota Arts Council, we’ll be sharing details about the impact of the arts on our state’s economy and the role creative programs and talented artists play in preserving our heritage and our unique culture. By connecting with legislators and spotlighting the arts opportunities that exist in their own communities, we can portray the dramatic depth and breadth of the arts in South Dakota.
Our advocacy and communication efforts come into focus on Arts Advocacy Day at the Legislature on February 11, when each legislative chamber formally recognizes the state’s arts organizations, and meet and greet events are planned throughout the day. Performances by South Dakota students will highlight this year’s program, including a choral concert by third through fifth graders from Eugene Field Elementary in Sioux Falls, celebrating 25 years as the state’s only A+ arts-focused school. T.F. Riggs and Buchanan Elementary students will also join Sioux Falls in performing for a legislative audience.
The interaction of Arts South Dakota and South Dakota Arts Council staff with legislators during the session is an essential part of maintaining a high profile for the arts and a key component in arts advocacy efforts. An equally important element is your voice in letting your local legislator know about your support for the arts, at local legislative coffee meetings or by emailing or phoning your representatives in Pierre. We know how important cultural activities are to South Dakota communities, and we strongly urge you to help our legislators understand that importance, too.
For more information about arts advocacy, the role of the arts in keeping South Dakota strong and a calendar of upcoming arts events, check out our website at www.ArtsSouthDakota.org.
