By Jim Speirs, Executive Director, Arts South Dakota
The greening of fields and backyards marks the blossoming season of the arts across South Dakota. Our state has a proud heritage of rural communities with small populations and enormous enthusiasm for the color, excitement and vitality of creative experiences. With over thirty active community arts councils and a history of local participation in summertime arts events, our communities are gearing up for a season of cultural experiences as local citizens host festivals, plein air painting weekends, music on Main Street and so much more throughout the warm weather months.
The arts are the center our communities, and it only takes one or two motivated neighbors to get the ball rolling. The energized actions of a handful of eager volunteers can get the whole town involved in something new that will bring visitors and arts enthusiasts into the community. One recent South Dakota example is in Gregory, where a newly activated local arts council has already kicked off plans for a community theater and a realization that the sky’s the limit when it comes to creative possibilities.
Arts South Dakota is a partner for all communities, bringing people together to exchange ideas, recommend programs and connect to resources. This year’s successful State Arts Conference in Rapid City was an illustration of the person-to-person, collective energy that drives the creative impulse throughout our state. That energy was focused at the conference and then spread to every corner of South Dakota by excited participants.
Anyone can be the person who plants the seed to get the arts growing in your town. A single art show, a street dance, a weekend heritage festival or concert can be the beginning of a new tradition, a community arts council and a renewed sense of connection. The arts are blooming in South Dakota communities—be part of it in your town!
For more information about community arts councils and summer arts activities near you, visit ArtsSouthDakota.org.
