By Jim Speirs, Executive Director, Arts South Dakota

We’re celebrating this year as we pass a major milestone—ten years of advocating for, connecting and strengthening the arts in South Dakota. Founded in 2016, Arts South Dakota was created to be a unified voice for artists, arts organizations, educators and creative businesses statewide. Over the past decade, thousands of artists, volunteers, community organizers, supporters and cultural influencers who have helped Arts South Dakota underscore the fact that the arts are essential for our communities, our economy and our state’s quality of life. 

We’ve worked hard during the past decade to advocate for sustained public funding and arts-friendly policy at the state and national levels of government. Arts South Dakota has provided professional development, networking and vital resources to help support artists and arts organizations throughout the state. Students and teachers alike have benefitted from the work of our organization to elevate the impact of arts education for K-12 students. For ten years, Arts South Dakota has been at the table in conversations that have strengthened our partnership with the tourism industry, the educational community and the economic development sector. 

The upcoming South Dakota Arts Conference, scheduled for April 24 and 25 in Rapid City, will help us celebrate our first decade of service to the arts. In addition, this year will offer multiple events and opportunities for us to tell the success stories of the past ten years, plan exciting new programs and possibilities and provide occasions for South Dakotans to engage with and support the arts in every corner of our state.

We’re celebrating the first decade of Arts South Dakota, the cultural and creative ecosystem that has made our work possible, and the residents and visitors who have participated in South Dakota’s kaleidoscope of arts opportunities. We’ve got so much to celebrate!

For more information about Arts South Dakota, our anniversary and a calendar of upcoming arts events, check out www.ArtsSouthDakota.org.