ADA keeps the arts diverse, equal and inclusive
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
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
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 Leadership Institute shares ideas and strategies
By Jim Speirs, Executive Director, Arts South Dakota Amazing arts and culture projects are happening all across South Dakota but arts organizations and their leaders are spread out and often isolated from colleagues. The Arts [...]
Arts grants and programs impact every life
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, [...]
Governor’s Awards spotlight outstanding service to the arts
By Jim Speirs, Executive Director, Arts South Dakota This month the South Dakota Arts Council and Arts South Dakota announced the biennial Governor’s Awards in the Arts. Each recipient is an inspiring example for [...]
Public broadcasting is a vital partner
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 [...]
2025 Recipients of the South Dakota Governor’s Awards in the Arts Announced
Arts South Dakota and the South Dakota Arts Council will celebrate the 27th biennial Governor's Awards in the Arts on Wednesday, February 12, 2025 at Drifters Bar & Grille, Fort Pierre. Recipients of this year's [...]
The season for community partnerships
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
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
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
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 [...]
