Arts South Dakota

10/14/2026

Monthly column from director Jimmy Speirs.

"Since 1993, Americans have marked October as the month to celebrate the impact, value and legacy of arts and humanities across the nation. The month-long celebration raises awareness for the arts and encourages people to participate, engage and advocate for our shared cultural heritage."

By Jim Speirs, Executive Director, Arts South Dakota Since 1993, Americans have marked October as the month to celebrate the impact, value and legacy of arts and humanities across the nation. The month-long celebration raises awareness for the arts and encourages people to participate, engage and ad...

10/14/2026

ART TEACHERS! STUDENT ARTISTS!

🔥This competition is OPEN. 🔥

🎨 NOV. 6, 2026: Deadline to submit online (new, easier form!)
🎨 NOV. 20, 2026: Notification of artworks selected
🎨 NOV. 30, 2026: Deadline for shipping to our Pierre office

Selected artworks will be displayed in the Capitol Building in Pierre from January through October 2027. This statewide competition and exhibit for K-12 young artists is a collaboration between the Governor and the South Dakota Arts Council.

👉 See the link in the bio for more information!

10/13/2026

10/12/2026

TONIGHT!

Tomorrow night we gather for our October Artist Speaker Series: Tax Savvy for Small Business, featuring David Higgins, Tax Specialist for the IRS. Come a little early for some great live music from local blues guitarist, Jesse Christen!

Doors open at 6. Please use the Phillips Ave entrance on the west side of the Levitt.
A reminder that the livestream will begin at 7 sharp on The Watering Can page, and Youtube channel!

ABOUT JESSE: Jesse Christen is blues-based guitar player from Sioux Falls, SD. Armed with only a guitar, amp and a cord he's taking the guitar to new territories. His sound, “Bluesion”, a funny take on musical label Fusion, is featured on his latest album Don’t Forget to Tip the Band.
“I wanted to sound like a classic blues band playing different styles of music,” he says. “There’s a zydeco song, some progressive songs, blues songs with jazz inspired chord changes and other fun stuff. It’s exactly the musical statement I wanted to make.”

10/12/2026

Arts South Dakota celebrates
𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐀𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐬' 𝐃𝐚𝐲 - 𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟐, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔

10:00AM: Native Americans' Day Program
Guest Speakers
Singers
Presentation of the annual Crazy Horse Memorial® Educator of the Year Award
11:00AM: Free Buffalo Stew for everyone in attendance*
11:00AM-3:00PM: Craft workshops conducted by Indigenous artists
All Cultural Programming, including all programs on Native Americans' Day, are included with admission to the Memorial.

*Free buffalo stew lunch is available to all visitors courtesy of Laughing Water Restaurant at Crazy Horse Memorial and Custer State Park.

In 1990, the South Dakota Legislature established the Native Americans' Day holiday at the urging of Gov. George S. Mickelson which propelled South Dakota to be the first state to recognize the holiday. Gov. Mickelson declared 1990 as a "Year of Reconciliation" and called for the first Native Americans' Day observance to be held at Crazy Horse Memorial®, where the likeness of the Lakota leader is being carved to honor the Native Americans. (Click here to see the 1990 state statute)

At the first holiday gathering, Gov. Mickelson told more than 1,200 people, "We can’t turn back the clock. We can only turn to the future together. What we can do as leaders, both Native American and white, is teach others that we can change attitudes.

Throughout the years, the Memorial has continued celebrating Native Americans' Day in the same fashion as the first dedication and has grown the event to feature many iconic aspects.

10/09/2026

We're excited to share the new ArtsEd Alliance SD page! 👍Give them a follow!

The alliance is led by South Dakota Fine Art Educators' Organizations to provide a unified voice to advance experiences in arts education for all South Dakota students through professional collaboration, advocacy, and resource development.

South Dakota Music Education Association, South Dakota String Teachers Association, SD College Art Association, South Dakota Bandmasters Association, South Dakota ACDA, Speech Communication Association of South Dakota, Sioux Falls School District Fine Arts, USD Department of Music, SDAEA South Dakota Art Education Association, Mobridge-Pollock School District 62-6 Theatre and One Act Director

10/08/2026

10/05/2026

October 2026 is National Arts and Humanities Month! 🎉

October 2026 is National Arts and Humanities Month! 🎉

Through October 31 and beyond, we’re asking you to Add Your Voice — and there are four ways to do it:

📣 Contact Congress — Kennedy Center, NEA & NEH, IMLS, arts education, and arts & economic data
🗳️ Get Out The Vote — visit ArtsVote.org to activate your community and make your voice count this election season.
🎥 Share Your Story — post with and to show why the arts matter to you.
🤝 Gather with Advocates — host or join a National Arts & Humanities Month event in your community.

Our toolkit has everything you need — social templates, legislative asks, key stats, and ready-to-use content. Download it and start making your voice heard.

Access the Toolkit → https://bit.ly/4i33NuG

Photo: Letitia Fernandez Ivins, The Music Center (Los Angeles, CA)