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, [...]

By Jim Speirs, Executive Director, Arts South Dakota Arts South Dakota supports public art of all varieties. Our organization often features the multitude of great public art projects happening across South Dakota in our magazine, Arts Alive. And in a creative place like our state, there always seems to be an important new piece of [...]

By Jim Speirs, Executive Director, Arts South Dakota While the educational experience has changed in South Dakota—with virtual learning, staggered schedules and a variety of measures to cope with the pandemic—every community understands how vital it is to keep kids learning. The arts have played a vital role for all of us throughout 2020, and [...]

By Jim Speirs, Executive Director, Arts South Dakota As a musician, I’m aware of the unique way that music draws people together. As we play, musicians look out on audiences that are diverse—all ages, races, genders—and yet all moving to the beat of the same tune. The arts do that—bring us together around a single [...]