Nonprofit organizations:
Apply by May 1 for up to $5,000
for your community
for America250 Arts Grant from the
South Dakota Arts Council!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wed., April 1, 2026
CONTACT: Katlyn Svendsen, Global Public Relations & Content Services Senior Director, Travel South Dakota

America 250 grants put arts at center of community celebrations

PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota organizations are invited to apply for the America 250 Community Arts Grant, supporting local projects that celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States in 2026. This milestone is an opportunity to reflect on the stories, people, and places that shape the shared American experience.

The South Dakota Arts Council is offering grants of $5,000 for arts, cultural, and educational activities that engage communities across the state. Eligible applicants include 501c3 nonprofit organizations, state or local governments, and tribal governments based in South Dakota.

Project specifics
The South Dakota Arts Council is looking for projects that clearly connect to America’s 250th anniversary, are open and accessible to the public, and engage a defined audience or community. The application opens April 1, and the deadline is May 1.

Strong applications will:

  • Show a clear connection to American history, culture, or civic life;
  • Engage the public through events, participation, or shared experiences;
  • Be realistic and achievable within the grant timeframe and $5,000 budget; and
  • Clearly explain what will happen and how people will experience the project.

Projects must:

  • Take place between May 18-September 30, 2026;
  • Be open and accessible to the public; and
  • Clearly connect to America’s 250th anniversary.

The application is simple and designed to take only a short time to complete. Apply here:https://forms.office.com/g/S9479Lcz3v . The deadline is May 1.

An office of the South Dakota Department of Tourism, the South Dakota Arts Council’s mission is to provide grants and services to artists, arts organizations, and schools across the state, with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts and the State of South Dakota. The South Dakota Department of Tourism is comprised of Travel South Dakota and the South Dakota Arts Council. The Department is led by Secretary James D. Hagen.