Outstanding Support of the Arts by an Organization – Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues Society

The Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues Society (SFJ&B) has been a leader within the arts and culture movement in the state of South Dakota for over a decade. Their mission is to increase the awareness of jazz and blues music in the Sioux Falls community and region through musical events and education. A strong musical aesthetic, sense of purpose and direction, and unerring professionalism guides the development of SFJ&B programming, and has developed a major cultural resource in South Dakota.

The Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues Festival, JazzFest, marked its 20^th anniversary in 2010, and is among the few remaining free jazz and blues festivals in the United States. JazzFest is one of the largest arts events in the state, attracting an average of audience of 79,000 people annually. Families and friends gather to picnic in the park and hear the best live jazz and blues. Almost one third of them travel more than 100 miles. Well known headlining artists come from around the country, and South Dakota musicians are also an important part of the multi-day summer festival.

The annual Concert Series brings jazz and blues artists to the Sioux Falls community all year. The theater style concerts feature world class musicians, presenting live music of many genres, including Ragtime, Gospel, Big Band, contemporary jazz, Latin and others. The concerts provide experiences and opportunities rarely found in this region in a comfortable and accessible setting.

Educational Outreach Programs are an important focus for the SFJ&B organization, and produce an important and impressive impact for students and educators around the state. There are currently seven educational programs on its menu of offerings:

Workshops and Master Classes feature Concert Series artists, and are presented for school audiences and for the public; The All City Jazz Ensemble Program is a partnership program of the Society and the Sioux Falls Public School District. More than 500 middle and high school students have had new opportunities to learn the art of jazz improvisation, performing in a big band setting; Scholarships for Young Musicians -- two middle school and one high school All City Jazz Ensemble participants receive scholarships annually for private lessons and higher education; The Jazz Diversity Project features a touring jazz band of South Dakota musicians performing for students across the state each year - over 22,000 students from 67 communities - melding jazz history and American history together in an interactive presentation.; JazzQuest is an interactive educational “kid friendly” zone at JazzFest. JazzQuest provides hands-on art and music projects and creative activities, and is free to the thousands of children and parents who visit this feature of JazzFest each year; Jazz 101’s for adults are presented several times a year by local musicians or music educators, and deepen the understanding of jazz and blues; and the first JazzFest Jazz Camp will take place July 12-16, 2011 on the Augustana College campus.