Arts Alive conference to light up the Black Hills
By Pat Boyd, Executive Director, South Dakotans for the Arts

It’s not too late to make plans to attend the Arts Alive 2004 South Dakota Arts Conference scheduled for October 1-3 in Spearfish at the Holiday Inn Convention Center. In fact, if you are an artist, a community arts council board member or an advocate for the arts in South Dakota, you really should be in Spearfish the first weekend in October.

We will be sharing a wealth of information and hands-on, real-world solutions to the challenges faced by artists and arts activists in our state. But more importantly, each person participating in the conference will have the opportunity to impact the future of arts programs in South Dakota. We want people to learn, to network and to communicate their priorities.

South Dakota Secretary of Tourism and State Development Jim Hagen will be the keynote speaker at the Opening Session of the conference Friday, October 1 at 1:30. Registration and conference check-in will be from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. that day. Call SoDA at 605-722-1467 for registration information or log on to www.sdarts.org for details.

In addition to participatory workshop tracks in the areas of creative environment, community development, cultural tourism and communications, artist showcases featuring performers and artists from the South Dakota Arts Council touring arts roster are slated throughout the weekend. Specialized technical assistance will also be available from experts in a variety of fields under the category “The Doctor Is IN,” providing information on insurance, business plans and websites, among other topics.

Although we’ll be learning from each other, we still plan to have fun. Art break rooms where hands-on, enjoyable arts activities are being practiced will enliven the days, and night owl jam sessions after 10 p.m. will invite musical innovation and fascinating conversation.

Randy Cohen, Vice President of Research and Information at Americans for the Arts, a national organization advancing the arts in America, will give the keynote address on Saturday. Friday night’s arts showcase includes a motor coach gallery tour and exciting musical performances. Saturday night is a theater showcase, with some of South Dakota’s best known actors performing for conference-goers.

If you are not already registered, call SoDA or check out the schedule at www.sdarts.org . We look forward to seeing you in Spearfish in October!

The South Dakota Arts Alive website is a joint effort of the South Dakota Arts Council and South Dakotans for the Arts. The organizations work together for the benefit of the arts in South Dakota.

South Dakotans for the Arts, SD Alliance for Arts Education and SD Community Arts Network
405 Glendale Drive, P.O. Box 414, Lead SD 57754 • Telephone: (605) 722-1467 • Fax: (605) 722-1473
Email: soda@rushmore.com  • Website:www.sdarts.org