Meet the keynote speakers at the virtual State Arts

During her tenure at the NEA, Mary Anne Carter has pushed to make the National Endowment for the Arts more accessible to the American people, including an expansion of Creative Forces, an arts therapy program for U.S. service members and veterans recovering from post-traumatic stress, Courtesy of National Endowment for the Arts traumatic brain injury, and Mary Anne Carter other psychological health conditions, and bolstering many of the National Endowment’s initiatives, including Shakespeare in American Communities, NEA Big Read, Poetry Out Loud and the Jazz Masters and National Heritage Fellowships.

Carter brings a unique perspective to the Arts Endowment. Prior to her appointment, she was engaged in public policy analysis, issue tracking and corporate and campaign communications through her work as a public affairs consultant. During her time at the Arts Endowment, she has demonstrated that lessons learned in her prior professional life are effective tools for directing the work of an agency dependent upon the support and confidence of Congress.

Torrie Allen took the helm of Arts Midwest last fall after more than 30 years of experience in the performing arts, broadcast media and arts administration. He brings extensive

Mary Anne Carter

courtesy National Endowment for the Arts

Torrie Allen

development, marketing and leadership experience to the regional arts organization and a commitment to using creativity and imagination in arts administration.

In his Arts Midwest leadership role, Allen oversees flagship programs for the National Endowment for the Arts throughout the United States and its territories including Shakespeare in American Communities and the NEA Big Read, which together reach 120 communities annually. He also oversees key national professional development opportunities for arts administrators including ArtsLab, Creating Connection and the Arts Midwest Conference, one of the premiere booking conferences in the United States.

Lori Pourier

Lori Pourier has been involved in the arts, social justice and community development fields for nearly three decades and has led First Peoples Fund since 1999. Her early work began at First Nations Development Institute and the International Indigenous Women’s Network. Dedicated to a vision of strengthening Native communities through art and culture for much of her life, Pourier focuses her efforts on reconnecting Native communities to their cultural assets and bringing new philanthropic resources to Native artists and culture bearers directly. Lori Pourier Pourier currently serves as a board member of the Jerome Foundation, in addition to being a Core Partner with Arts in a Changing America. She also serves as one of the leaders for the Intercultural Leadership Institute, an active collaboration between First Peoples Fund, Alternate ROOTS, the PA’I Foundation and the National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures.

Lori L. Jacobwith

Lori L. Jacobwith is an internationally recognized master storyteller and fundraising culture change expert with more than 35 years of experience helping nonprofit organizations raise more than $350 million.

She has delivered over 10,000 coaching and training sessions for nonprofit organizations. Her proven strategies and tools teach staff and board members to share their stories powerfully and effectively to encourage donors to give more.

An opportunity to learn and grow

The virtual State Arts Conference is a place to learn and share new concepts to impact South Dakota’s cultural community. A variety of practical sessions will be offered during the conference, with opportunities to acquire new skills to impact the arts in communities throughout the state. A complete listing is available at www.ArtsSouthDakota.org.

“The workshops were chosen to provide inspiration to artists, arts advocates, community arts volunteers and our statewide arts organizations,” Kosel said. “There’s truly something for everyone, and it’s all information that our statewide arts community can use to chart a pathway to even greater success.”

Registration is easy

Registration for the fully online experience taking place Thursday, October 29 - Saturday, October 31 isavailable NOW at ArtsSouthDakota.org. Get all the details and sign up today!