2026 ARTS LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE

This year’s Arts Leadership Institute will be held before the South Dakota Arts Conference on April 24, 2026, in Rapid City, SD. Come together with arts leaders, trainers, and panelists from across South Dakota to learn more about Arts in Healing SD. You won’t want to miss this opportunity!

COURSE INFORMATION

This one-credit special topics, graduate-level course is built around the Arts in Healing SD Intensive, offered April 24, 2026, as part of the South Dakota Arts Conference. The course provides students and professionals in counseling, art, healthcare, and education with an immersive, interdisciplinary learning experience exploring how creative practices promote health, equity, and community resilience. Students will engage with global leaders, regional practitioners, and community-based facilitators in arts-integrated wellness through lecture, applied workshops, dialogue, and resource sharing. This course emphasizes professional growth through cross-disciplinary collaboration and is designed to complement graduate training with education value for licensed professionals.

ART 592 UE7 30353, 1.0 Credit/15 Continuing Ed. Credits*
Arts in Healing SD Intensive: Professionalization in Arts & Wellness
Tuition $40

EDFN 592 UE7 30354, 1.0 Credit/15 Continuing Ed. Credits*
Arts in Healing SD Intensive: Professionalization in Arts & Wellness
Tuition $40

*Credit is contingent on rules and regulations of licensing or certification board submitted to Pre and post virtual discussions will take place to supplement learning outcomes of the course.

The last day to add or drop these classes (census date) is April 9, 2026.

Registration for the Arts Leadership Institute Pre-Conference & South Dakota Arts Conference will be an additional fee. Registration is open. More information can be found here.

Trainers & Panelists

• Alison Boughn, PhD, Associate Professor, Wayne State College
  ACS, ATR-BC, LIMHP (NE), LMHC (IA), LPC-MH (SD), NCC, QMHP, TF-CBT
• Ariadne (Ari) Albright, MFA, South Dakota Arts Council Creative Aging SD Coordinator
  Creative Care, LLC
• Jessie Park, LPC-MH, QMHP, Sanford Arts at Sanford USD Medical Center Program Coordinator
• Lisa Brunick, ATR, registered art therapist
• Ashley Zimmer Larsen LPC-MH, ATR, NCC, TCTSY-F, mental health therapist, art therapist, trauma-sensitive yoga facilitator, and artist .
• Susan Harder, MS, LPC-MH, ATR, LAC
• Courtney Cihak, BS

WHAT IS THE ARTS LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE?

Amazing arts and culture projects are happening all across South Dakota, but we are spread out and often isolated from our colleagues. With this program, we want to help support those who are doing the critical work of fostering their local creative communities.

The institute will take place regularly, providing deep dives into a changing set of topics of interest to many different types of arts organizations and their staff, volunteers, boards, and more. Equally important, they will provide time to gather with your colleagues to help strengthen the arts ecosystem across the state.

HOTEL RESERVATIONS

Reserve your room today:

A discounted rate associated with the State Arts Conference is available on the nights of April 23rd through April 26th, 2026 at the Hotel Alex Johnson in Rapid City, SD.
To reserve your room:

• Call 605-342-1210 and refer to the group “State Arts Conference” or group code “97N”
• Online-Follow this link for the 2026 State Arts Conference, https://group.curiocollection.com/52hgf0 (you can adjust the arrival/ departure dates between 04/23/2026 and 04/26/2026)
• $129/night + taxes & fees

The cutoff date to book rooms in this block is March 24, 2026.

Full Schedule
Friday, April 24

8:30–9:00 am
Registration & Orientation

9:00–10:15 am
Arts in Health: State of the Field
Presenter: Ariadne Albright, MFA

10:30–11:45 am
Defining Roles: Teaching Artists, Arts in Health Professionals, and Creative Arts Therapists
Presenters: Alison Boughn, PhD. ACS, ATR-BC, LIMHP (NE), LMHC (IA),
LPC-MH (SD), NCC, QMHP, TF-CBT;
Ashley Zimmer Larsen, LPC-MH, ATR, NCC, TCTSY-F; Lisa Brunick, ATR;
Susan Harder, LPC-MH, ATR

12:00–1:00 pm
Lunch: Poster Sessions
Presenters: Carol Rogers, MA; Eliza Blue; Emily Eisenbraun, MS3; Heather Pickering; Kelsey M. Dietrich; Leacey E. Brown, MS; Matthew Simmons, MD, FAAN; Shana Templin; Ariadne Albright, MFA; Rebecca Froehlich

1:00–2:15 pm
Best Practices & Exploration of Art Forms: Visual Arts, Movement, Writing, Music, Performance
Moderators: Courtney Cihak, BA, Jessie Park, LPC-MH, QMHP
Panel: All presenters

2:30–3:45 pm
Hands-On Art Making: Participation and Accessibility for All Populations
Facilitator: Lisa Brunick, ATR

3:45–4:00 pm
Closing Remarks
Presenters: Dr. Alison Boughn with Christopher Bailey, Jameel Arts & Health Lab

4:30–6:00 pm
Art Outside the Gallery: Community Impact at Oyate Health Center Walking Tour
Curators: Peter Strong, Ashley Pourier

The Arts Leadership Institute is made possible by the generous support from: