BRUSHING UP Calling All Artists
CAMPBELL COUNTY REACHES OUT
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ampbell County has 1,377 people, spread across 774 square miles of grasslands, cornfields and the small towns of Herreid, Pollock and Mound City. Lying in the northwest corner of East River country, it is bordered by North Dakota and the Missouri River. As director of the county’s Economic Development and Tourism Office, Andrew VanKuren wondered how he might find ways to unite the scattered families and communities. He found inspiration last summer at an Energize Conference in Milbank when Nick Blaske of Sisseton spoke of how an arts council brought his community together. “I thought ‘Why can’t we do that?’” he says. “We have a lot of talented people here.” Before the year had ended, VanKuren and his board of directors started an arts council and members began to meet in city halls, community centers and private homes. The group started a Facebook page and is making plans for a website. It also reached out to “musicians, painters, actors, actresses, craftspeople, bakers, photographers, poets, writers, designers and any others” to join the new network of creative locals. The council has already accomplished several projects with the school, including a A Memorial Day theater production of selfie wall drawing contest. In “Home Sweet Home” April, members held a vendor was one of the show at the Pollock School. Campbell County Art Plans are also being made for an Council’s first events. arts space. On May 30, the council presented a Memorial Day theater production, “Home Sweet Home,” at the Herreid High School gymnasium. “The arts cover such a wide spectrum in Campbell County, yet it has never been addressed and organized in the rural district,” VanKuren says. “We think it will continue to grow.” The Campbell County Arts Council joins a robust network of 35 community arts councils across South Dakota. Follow their Facebook page for updates.
24 • South Dakota Arts Alive
