By Jim Speirs, Executive Director, Arts South Dakota In every South Dakota community, local business leaders are a driving force for strengthening the arts and helping to grow cultural opportunities. Traditionally, they are among the strongest community boosters—contributing time, talent and funding to activities that help define their hometowns. Business owners and executives understand the [...]
By Jim Speirs, Executive Director, Arts South Dakota The arts in South Dakota are alive this summer—and they are calling you to safely step into a renewed whirl of concerts, plays, performances and parks filled with arts opportunities. All over the state, summer programs are being announced and the activities that mark the arts season [...]
By Jim Speirs, Executive Director, Arts South Dakota The recent federal legislation to stimulate the economy included emergency aid to the National Endowment for the Arts to provide needed support to our national creative industry which has been devastated by the pandemic. The funding will enable states to direct relief allocations to local arts organizations [...]
By Jim Speirs, Executive Director, Arts South Dakota The South Dakota creative community has been one of the most severely impacted sectors of our state’s economy during the past year. Nearly 50% of South Dakota creative workers have been affected by unemployment, and over $205 million in economic losses were reported in creative economy businesses [...]
South Dakota Art Museum Guild Virtual Program: Serving South Dakota’s Statewide Arts Community Patrick Baker, Executive Director of the South Dakota Arts Council, Jim Speirs, Executive Director of Arts South Dakota Feb. 23 Replay Patrick Baker, Executive Director of the South Dakota Arts Council, and Jim Speirs, Executive Director of Arts South Dakota, will talk [...]
By Jim Speirs, Executive Director, Arts South Dakota This month Governor Noem, along with the South Dakota Arts Council and Arts South Dakota, presented the biennial Governor’s Awards in the Arts. You can read about the recipients and their outstanding contributions at www.ArtsSouthDakota.org. Each is an inspiring example for all of us, often demonstrating a [...]
By Jim Speirs, Executive Director, Arts South Dakota In South Dakota, arts advocates include community arts groups, statewide arts organizations and alliances for arts education and artists. As important as these groups of advocates are, real strength for the arts in South Dakota starts with one, single voice. And that voice could be YOURS. Why [...]
By Jim Speirs, Executive Director, Arts South Dakota Many of us feel that there has never been such political strife or widespread social unrest in our lifetimes. We have all been living through a very stressful time. It’s easy to wonder if our torn social fabric is beyond repair. When the National Guard is called [...]
By Jim Speirs, Executive Director, Arts South Dakota This year, the holidays will be different for all of us. Maybe that’s a reason to give more unique gifts—gifts that support and enhance the work of South Dakota artists. There are so many choices, with something very special for each name on your list. It’s easy [...]
By Jim Speirs, Executive Director, Arts South Dakota This year’s election is vitally important to the arts in South Dakota. The pandemic response has dramatically illustrated the significance of self-expression, creative endeavors and the role of artists in our daily lives. At the same time, artists and performers are limited in their ability to earn, [...]
