Arts South Dakota has spent a decade aiding and supporting the arts.
The non-partisan, nonprofit service organization has been here to ensure the people and organizations creating and supporting art across the state have the advocacy, connections, and resources they need to thrive.
“We’ve grown from an idea into an organization with real reach,” said executive director Jim Speirs.
They’ve built professional development programs like the Arts Leadership Institute and the Augustana Music Academy, launched grant programs including the Artist Emergency Relief Fund, and have become a trusted partner to the South Dakota Arts Council, the tourism industry, and the education community.
ARTS SOUTH DAKOTA’S MISSION
Advocate:
Inform legislators, executive branch officials, and South Dakota congressional delegation on arts issues.
Educate:
Arts South Dakota believes all children in the state should have the opportunity to experience and participate in art.
Connect:
Initiate, coordinate, and sponsor programs statewide.
Along the way Speirs says they’ve deepened their advocacy work at the legislature, have grown their State Arts Conference, and have built a statewide network of thousands of artists, arts organizations, and supporters “who help carry this work forward” with the nonprofit.
The small, but dedicated staff of four is celebrating 10 years of success by continuing what they do best every month, including sending out their weekly newsletter, posting over 2,000 arts events on their online calendar, hosting webinars and community arts council cohort meetings, and more.
During this milestone year, they have honored where Arts South Dakota has been and where they’re headed.
The 2026 State Arts Conference in downtown Rapid City this past April was a big part of that celebration.
Held April 24-25 with around 150 attendees, Arts in Healing SD explored how the arts support wellness and health across the state. The keynote speaker was Christopher Bailey, who is the co-director of the Jameel Arts and Health Lab and formerly with the WHO Arts and Health program in Geneva, Switzerland. Ariadne Albright was also featured, who is the creative aging SD coordinator for the South Dakota Arts Council, and whose work spans healthcare, academic, community, and correctional settings.
Friday’s preconference through Arts South Dakota’s Arts Leadership Institute offered an intensive look at arts in healing, and Saturday’s full conference brought together artists, administrators, policymakers, and arts lovers for keynotes, workshops, and conversation.
FRONT ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT: MICHAEL PANGBURN, JANE RASMUSSEN, JIM SPEIRS, SHARI KOSEL, SARAH LARSON, & RODNET GARNETT
“Before 2016, our state’s arts community didn’t have one organization pulling people together to advocate, connect, and educate at a statewide level—we set out to fill that gap and give the arts sector a unified voice with policymakers and the public alike.”
JIM SPEIRS
“It was a fantastic gathering—the kind of conference where new partnerships form and our statewide creative community walks away feeling more connected,” said Speirs. “Falling in our 10th anniversary year gave it extra meaning as we celebrated a decade of this work together.”
The State Arts Conference is biennial, with the next one taking place in 2028 on the east side of the state. This event and other Arts South Dakota offerings are decided on and planned by the staff and board of 15 members, which represent 11 communities.
They most recently hosted what they like to call “arts summer camps for grownups.” The Augustana Music Academy ran July 6-9 on the Augustana University campus in Sioux Falls and gave K-12 music educators hands-on professional development.
“This year included a brand-new session on electronic music production led by DJ Enferno, who’s performed for millions of people around the world and toured with Madonna,” said Speirs.
On July 13-16, they hosted the 27th Annual Arts Education Institute in Aberdeen, offering 18 different workshops for teachers and administrators (though being an educator to attend wasn’t required).
FUN FACTS
8,960 team and board miles traveled to and from Pierre each year for arts advocacy.
2,600 opportunities and jobs posted, including jobs, grant opportunities, and calls for more art.
110,000 website page views annually.
30 hours of Zoom webinars and community arts council cohort meetings per year.
35% native citizens and 65% rural citizens receiving the Artist Emergency Relief Fund.
Next up is the Governor’s Awards in the Arts February 17, 2027 in Fort Pierre, which is a lifetime achievement award for South Dakota creatives, artists, supporters, and organizations that truly make the arts happen in communities. Ninety-eight awards have been given out, with five being awarded in 2025.
Throughout the anniversary year they’re also sharing success stories from the first decade, thanking the artists and communities who have been part of the journey, and introducing new opportunities that set the stage for the next 10 years.
“I’m proud of the network we’ve built—the fact that a teacher in Aberdeen, an artist in Rapid City, and a nonprofit board member in Sioux Falls can all point to something Arts South Dakota gave them, whether that’s direct support, a workshop, or just the sense that someone statewide is advocating on their behalf,” said Speirs.
For those who have yet to get involved with and take advantage of Arts South Dakota, Speirs says the easiest first step is to visit the website and sign up for the weekly newsletter, which shares events, grant opportunities, job postings, and arts advocacy alerts happening around the state.
“Stay in tune with arts issues and when we need grassroots arts advocacy,” said Speirs. “From there, people can look into our programs directly—attend an Arts Happy Hour near them, register for the State Arts Conference, nominate someone for a Governor’s Awards in the Arts, and attend Arts Advocacy Day in Pierre.”
“Together, our team works to advance Arts
South Dakota’s commitment to fostering a
vibrant, accessible arts community statewide.”
JIM SPEIRS
Organizations can join as members and individuals can become donors, both of which help the nonprofit form a unified voice for the arts.
Looking into the organization’s future, Speirs says there’s more work to do.
“I’d like to keep growing sustainable, dedicated public funding for the arts in South Dakota, and to make sure every corner of the state—not just our bigger cities—has real access to arts programming and support,” said Speirs.
For now the nonprofit says they’re thankful for the artists, teachers, donors, board members, and communities who made their first decade possible.
Speirs said, “This work only happens because people across South Dakota believe the arts matter, and I’m grateful to get to do it alongside them.”
FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT ARTSSOUTHDAKOTA.ORG+
