Time to stop sniveling and make some art
By Pat Boyd, Executive Director, South Dakotans for the Arts
 

Some phrases wear thin and then wear out their welcome, even as euphemisms.  I move we abolish one such phrase from every discussion henceforth:  “These are challenging times for the arts”.  Do we have a Second? All in favor say Aye. Thank you. We feel better already.

The work of art goes on. It has never been simple or easy, and it never will be.  We are marathoners in the pursuit of happiness, running on through rough terrain and weather, because we love it.  We thrive on pushing past our limits. When we do, we push civilization along too.  It needs a push right now. Let’s get on with it.  No sniveling.

Michael Kaiser conveyed the message when he visited South Dakota in May. Mr. Kaiser is the president of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington DC. South Dakotans for the Arts is a state affiliate of the Kennedy Center Alliance for Arts Education Network, and we were delighted to host his visit—one stop in his 50-state Arts in Crisis tour -- at the Cultural Heritage Center in Pierre.  

About 45 of us had the pleasure of his company for the morning gathering. We met and mingled for about an hour, then sat in rapt attention while the charming and most affable Mr. Kaiser let us have it. He admonished that we have become frightened and are reacting poorly to the economic crisis around us. We are cutting our own throats by obligingly cutting our own programs. We have stopped planning, we are narrowing our vision, and we are losing our audience. We are educating yet another generation who may never know the transcendent power of arts that are alive.

South Dakotans can take no pride or comfort in being part of a national malaise. Fortunately, Mr. Kaiser left us with some strong remedies to consider. Make art, make wonderful art, and make it accessible to everyone, every age, and in every circumstance. Make art come to life in America. There is no safety in continuing to present only what has been safe in the past. We need to look forward, to envision something over the horizon, and make a plan to get there. He left us with the certainty that we know how to do it, that we have all been thinking about it, and that it is time to get back to the work of art.

A big welcome to new members of the South Dakotans for the Arts Board of Directors – Ann Marie Davis, Sioux Falls; Susan Hanson, Vermillion; Sen. Pam Merchant, Brookings; Rep. Fred Romkema, Spearfish; and Robert Weyrich, Pierre.  A very big thank you  to Sen. Tom Dempster, Dr. James Johnson, Joellen Lindner, Tamara Pier, and Rep. Tim Rounds, who have each served two full terms on the board and are moving on to their other good works. Continuing our strong tradition of leadership, Kathleen West, Yankton, has assumed the SoDA board presidency, Kristin Donnan Standard is now president-elect, and we are not letting go of past president Shawn Lyons.

I extend a note of personal appreciation to all members of South Dakotans for the Arts, new and renewed, for your support and participation.  Many of you have increased your level of financial support, and many more have increased your level of commitment to the arts and arts education in our schools and communities, keeping the arts alive in South Dakota. See you on the Missouri in September!

We also thank the Kennedy Center, the South Dakota Historical Society, South Dakota Public Broadcasting and Paul Guggenheimer , and the South Dakota Arts Council for their assistance and support of Mr. Kaiser’s South Dakota visit.