State of the art.

ADA keeps the arts diverse, equal and inclusive

June 13th, 2025|Blog|

By Jim Speirs, Executive Director, Arts South Dakota In 1990, the nation’s lawmakers recognized that differently-abled members of our population had not previously been guaranteed equal access and that physical barriers were preventing Americans [...]

Keeping promises to the arts in SD

May 14th, 2025|Blog|

By Jim Speirs, Executive Director, Arts South Dakota South Dakotans—and all Americans, according to nationwide surveys—believe that the arts are important to our culture and our everyday life. We also believe that the federal government [...]

South Dakota needs the National Endowment for the Arts

April 16th, 2025|Blog|

By Jim Speirs, Executive Director, Arts South Dakota With South Dakota’s humanities programming—including proven children’s literacy projects—threatened because of the elimination of the federal appropriation for the National Endowment for the Humanities, it’s time to [...]

Arts grants and programs impact every life

March 6th, 2025|Blog|

By Jim Speirs, Executive Director, Arts South Dakota There’s a reason that South Dakota governors and legislators have for decades supported the arts and creative industry in our state. The South Dakota Arts Council, [...]

Public broadcasting is a vital partner

January 9th, 2025|Blog|

By Jim Speirs, Executive Director, Arts South Dakota In a state as large and diverse as South Dakota, no one organization can advance our creative environment singlehandedly. One of Arts South Dakota’s most significant partners [...]

The season for community partnerships

December 4th, 2024|Blog|

By Jim Speirs, Executive Director, Arts South Dakota Look around your community and chances are you’ll discover the arts everywhere this season. Maybe there’s a play at school, or a choral concert celebrating the holidays. [...]

An arts voice for every South Dakotan

November 6th, 2024|Blog|

By Jim Speirs, Executive Director, Arts South Dakota South Dakota is a land of diversity, from our sweeping and soaring geography to our regionalized industries to our proud Native and immigrant forbearers. The arts in [...]

Vote smART for our cultural future

October 8th, 2024|Blog|

By Jim Speirs, Executive Director, Arts South Dakota The future of South Dakota’s creative environment, cultural education opportunities and professional arts careers is shaped by decisions made in Pierre and Washington, DC. On November [...]

Supporting arts education with one voice

September 10th, 2024|Blog|

By Jim Speirs, Executive Director, Arts South Dakota South Dakota is fortunate that arts instructors have always joined together to enhance their skills and advocate for increased support for their disciplines. Arts South Dakota [...]