ART + DESIGN
“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).
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