Faulkton receives SD Arts Council Grants
July 22, 2017
More than 230 South Dakota artists, arts organizations, schools, and art projects and programs will receive $1,364,000 in grants from the South Dakota Arts Council for fiscal year 2018, Tourism Sec. James D. Hagan announced recently.
The Faulkton Area Arts Council and Snake Creek Development Corporation/FaulktonArea Arts Council were included on the list of grants:
- Faulkton Area Arts Council: $1,800 + travel. AISC grant supports three weeks of artist residencies in the community.
- Snake Creek Development Corporation/Faulkton Area Arts Council: $5,000. Project grant supports opportunity to host world-renowned artist Guido van Helten, who will create a large mural on three sides of the North Central Farmers Elevator to capture the history and culture of the rural community.
Arts Council funds are provided by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts and by the State of South Dakota from a portion of the state’s tourism promotion tax. Arts Council grants help generate $17 million each year in local matching funds and spending.
“These grant funds demonstrate sound public investments in our communities and schools across the state and highlight the value of our state arts agency and the importance of the arts in our state,” said Sec. Hagen. “The arts make South Dakota great, creating unique cultural identities for communities, dynamic tourism destinations for visitors, educational programs for adults and children, healing programs for military veterans and their families, and improvement in areas as diverse as transportation, housing and infrastructure.
The grant awards are divided into three general categories: artist grants, organization grants and special activity grants.
Grants awarded to artists total $230,000 and include five artist fellowships, nine artist career development grants, four traditional arts apprenticeship grants, two artist collaboration grants, two artist project grants, and 27 touring arts grants.
These grants contribute to the artists’ professional development and reward their commitment to live and work in the state. Touring Arts grants also provide South Dakotans the opportunity to attend quality performances and exhibitions.
Grant awards to 78 organizations total $696,000. Additionally, $164,000 has been awarded to finance 220 weeks of artist residencies in schools and community settings.
The grants encourage organizations to develop and sustain important arts projects in their communities and often provide employment opportunities for artists.
Grants awarded for special activities total $274,000. Those grants fund activities in education, public awareness, traditional arts, technical assistance, professional development, excursions, and Dance on Tour, Poetry Out Loud, and Art for State Buildings programs.
The South Dakota Arts Council is an agency in the South Dakota Department of Tourism. The Council’s mission is to provide grants and services to artists, arts organizations and schools across the state. For more information about SDAC programs, visit www.artscouncil.sd.gov. The Department is led by Sec. James D. Hagan.