We strengthen creative culture through collaboration.

A SOLID PARTNERSHIP

Established in 1966 and funded by the State Legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts, the South Dakota Arts Council (SDAC) is a state agency serving South Dakotans and their communities through the arts. Recognizing the importance of creativity in the lives of all South Dakotans, the Council makes quality arts accessible throughout the state by providing grants, services and information to artists, arts organizations, schools and the public. The Council is the advisory board to the SDAC staff within the Department of Tourism. Council members are appointed by the Governor. www.artscouncil.sd.gov

Accessibility Resources

Webinars:
Accessibility in the Arts – Walk Through the South Dakota Arts Council’s Accessibility Checklist
Accessibility in the Arts – Arts Access Panel Discussion: The Importance of Arts for Everyone
Accessibility in the Arts – A Primer for Organizations and Venues

SD Arts Impact Map

The arts profoundly impact all South Dakotans! There’s an arts advocate in everyone who understands the importance of cultural connections and power of creativity in transforming our society. The first thing to know about advocating for the arts is that the place to start is right in your own neighborhood. We hope this interactive map will provide timely and significant information related to the arts in your county and across South Dakota.

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Advocacy and Awareness

Arts South Dakota and the South Dakota Arts Council continue to co- sponsor a public awareness campaign emphasizing the value of the arts to individuals, communities and our state. The Executive Director of Arts South Dakota is a registered lobbyist with the Secretary of State and informs Legislators and Executive branch officials on arts issues.

Arts Alive

In partnership with South Dakota Magazine & the South Dakota Arts Council, organizational members and individual donors of Arts South Dakota are kept informed of opportunities and issues through our magazine, ARTS ALIVE, which includes information on artists, local arts organizations, and the South Dakota Arts Council. Members also receive weekly updates and alerts on education, advocacy issues, events and programs through our weekly arts events emails sent every Monday afternoon.

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Things to Do

Travel SD: From prehistoric dinosaurs, to the Native Americans that first called this land home, through the settlers that came from across the globe to make a better life, South Dakota is extraordinarily rich in history and culture. See the 60-foot-tall faces on Mount Rushmore National Memorial. Behold the world’s largest in-progress mountain carving at Crazy Horse Memorial. Follow the trail of Lewis & Clark, find museums of every size and focus, and experience the Wild West of legends.

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Arts Directory

This directory is updated as information is provided by the participating organizations.

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Arts Ed Advocacy Cohort

Arts South Dakota is collaborating with leadership from South Dakota’s arts educator associations to establish a new advocacy cohort.

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Arts Education Programs

Education is not complete without the arts. Arts South Dakota believes all children in our state should have the opportunity to experience and participate in art forms that enhance life-long learning by expanding curiosity, creativity, team-building skills and self-worth. Partnering with the South Dakota Arts Council (SDAC), we work to raise the standards and extend the reach of arts in education through schools and organizations across our state by offering programming such as Arts Education Institute, ArtsCorr, POETRY Out loud, and general advocacy and awareness.

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Community Arts Councils

The many vibrant Community Arts Councils across South Dakota are a critical network supporting the arts in every corner of the state. Below, you will find a number of resources, updates, and events specifically for the Community Arts Councils. Please feel free to contact Community Development Director Andrew Reinartz with any questions or thoughts.

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Webinars

Arts South Dakota provides an ongoing series of learning and professional development webinars for both artists and arts organizations. Now, more than ever, coming together to learn from the vast shared knowledge within our state’s creative communities is vital to supporting the arts.

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Arts Alive

Arts Alive is a collaborative publication of Arts South Dakota and the South Dakota Arts Council (SDAC). SDAC receives funding through a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts and from the State of South Dakota through a portion of the tourism promotion tax. The South Dakota Arts Council is a state agency within the Department of Tourism.

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ADDITIONAL PARTNERS & RESOURCES

Americans for the Arts

Bush Foundation

Arts Midwest

Arts Action Fund

National Endowment for the Arts

South Dakota Humanities Council

South Dakota Department of Tourism

National Assembly of State Arts Agencies

First Peoples Fund

Springboard for the Arts

Interest for Others

Community Issue Exhibition Toolkit

Rural Prosperity Through The Arts & Creative Sector

The newly released Arts & Economic Prosperity 6 (AEP6) is an economic and social impact study of the nation’s nonprofit arts and culture industry. Building on its 30-year legacy as the largest and most inclusive study of its kind, AEP6 provides detailed findings on 373 regions from across all 50 states and Puerto Rico—ranging in population from 4,000 to 4 million—and representing rural, suburban, and large urban communities.

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Art affects us all.

Arts SD informs Legislators, Executive branch officials and the South Dakota Congressional delegation on arts issues.

Arts Advocacy Day →

Education is not complete without the arts.

Arts SD believes all children in our state have the opportunity to experience and participate in art.

Art Education →