ArtsLab

Proposals due March 6

ArtsLab is a professional development opportunity for staff and board members of small to mid-sized arts organizations.

The South Dakota Arts Council is currently inviting organizations who wish to participate in this capacity building and board development program to submit proposals for the next round of ArtsLab. Please contact Rebecca Cruse with questions or to see if you qualify for participation in this exciting program.
Email to Rebecca.cruse@state.sd.us
Phone: 605.773.3301

Promotional Flyer
For further information please visit https://artslab.artsmidwest.org/programs/peer-learning-communities/ND-SD-IA

South Dakota applications due March 6

Eligibility criteria

  • Organization is nonprofit 501(c)(3) tax-exempt with arts and culture as primary mission;
  • Organization is located in and serves South Dakota;
  • Organization has actively provided arts programming for three or more consecutive years;
  • Has qualifying expenses of between $20,000 and $400,000 per year (averaged over last two completed fiscal years); (exceptions may apply to this limit, speak with your State Arts Council contact)
  • Has at least one paid, professional, administrative staff person in a contract or salaried position (could be full or part time, preferred, while there may be exceptions to this criterion)
  • Has a team committed to full participation in the program, including two 2.5 day retreats, several virtual workshops, and homework in-between sessions (could include administrative or artistic staff, board members, very active volunteers, etc.);
  • Has not participated in ArtsLab previously (unless there has been a significant change leadership).

Please contact Rebecca Cruse with questions or to see if you qualify for participation in this exciting program.
Email to Rebecca.cruse@state.sd.us
Phone: 605.773.3301

Selection criteria

These four criteria will be considered:
Artistic Purpose: Clear mission; vibrancy of artistic vision, revealing significant artistic potential; a strong trajectory for the artistic work and for sustaining relationships with artists. Organizations which show evidence of taking risks and embracing challenges artistically as well as organizationally.

Cultural Agility: Clearly understands their service area, artists and audiences served and changing reach over time. Able to articulate how audiences have shown support for their work.

Engagement in Community: Evidence of impact on community vitality and community support for arts and culture. Evidence of respect for access to the arts and creating opportunities for engagement in arts and cultural activities.

Readiness to Engage: Assessment of the appropriateness for the organization to engage in a leadership and strategic development program at this time in its organizational life; assurance that all members of the organization’s board/staff leadership team will participate in a consistent and substantive way in ArtsLab. Demonstrated ability to translate new ideas into action and achieve significant organizational change.

Application PDF - Please complete, save or print the document for your files and return via the submit button.

ArtsLab Alumni: We are seeking five past participants of ArtsLab to continue the peer learning process. If you would like to participate, please complete the application and return to rebecca.cruse@state.sd.us with “ArtsLab alumni” in the subject line.

Alumni Application PDF - Please complete, save or print the document for your files and return via the submit.