Arts South Dakota Artist Relief Fund helps fill the gap

Emergency Relief Fund provides gap funding for artists

The Arts South Dakota Artist Emergency Relief Fund was created to provide short-term, immediate financial support for individual artists, culture bearers and T creative workers within South Dakota who have been impacted by the Coronavirus-COVID-19 health crisis. The creative community has been particularly vulnerable throughout the current crisis.

The creative community has been particularly vulnerable throughout the current crisis. Their work relies on public gatherings and communal spaces, and they often lack employee protections like paid leave or healthcare. The CARES Act has provided important support, but it has gone largely to organizations, and other relief for individuals is taking months to be distributed. This crisis has hit South Dakota creatives hard.

“Through the past few months, artists have been there for us—performing virtually to keep us entertained and educating us through workshops and webinars,” said Arts South Dakota director Jim Speirs. “Now it’s time for us to help them and we couldn’t be more excited to provide this support to our most treasured creators.”

To address these stopgap funding needs, the Relief Fund provided rapid response grants of $500 to South Dakota resident individual artists. In the two weeks applications were open, 165 artists, ages 19 to 75, from over 60 communities across South Dakota applied for the funds. 60% of applicants are from rural communities and over 25% are citizens of one of our state’s nine Native Nations. All of the applicants have compelling stories and sincerely need help.

“This funding would help keep my head up,” one applicant said. “It would give me a chance to bounce back from all this uncertainty we are facing. Even if you decide not to give me funding, I am so thankful for this—artists need support, we need people like you in our corner! Thank you!”

Funding for the Arts South Dakota Artist Emergency Relief Fund was provided through the generous support of the Bush Foundation and donors throughout the state, with administration and disbursement by Arts South Dakota. To learn more about the program, visit www.ArtsSouthDakota.org.

Thank you

to our generous donors to the Arts South Dakota Artist Emergency Relief Fund!

Bush Foundation

Lynne & Bill Byrne

Dan & Arlene Kirby

Jane & John Rasmussen

Jeffrey L. Viken

Sioux Falls Arts Council

Fresh Produce

Brian & Kaija Bonde, Mark & Katie Bray, Eileen Briggs, Dick Brown, Janet Brown, Susan Burgard, Mike & Judy Connor, Frank Denton, Tony Diem, Rodney Garnet,t Chaya & Ryan Bland, Susan Gray, Andrea Harstad, Brigid Hoffman, Dody & Boyd Hopkins, Dr. Craig Howe, Mary Hunhoff, Kristen Jacobsen, Scott & Marianne Johnson, Cheryl Koch, Paula Kurtenbach, Alan & Kari LaFave

Dale Lamphere & Jane Murphy, Brenda Lanphere, Jim & Kara Mathis, John Mogen, Larry Olson, Michael Pangburn, Judith Payne, Kenny & Linnea Putnam, Kay Reinartz, Betsy Rice, John Rychtarik, Jan Speirs, Shelley Stingley, Jennifer Thom, Tom Valentine, Kate & Andy Vandel, Lynn Verschoor, Wadsworth, Thomas & Hayes Investment Group at RBC Wealth Management, Kristine Wollman, Laura Zabel