Applicant Portal

The South Dakota Arts Council (SDAC) helps make quality arts accessible throughout the state by providing grants to South Dakota nonprofit organizations and artists. These grants are funded by the National Endowment for the Arts and the State of South Dakota.

Applications open January 1, 2026. Resources for applicants will be posted soon!

Grant Application Cycle

  • Funding Period: July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027
  • Application Deadline: March 1, 2026, at 11:59 pm Central
  • Draft Review Deadline: February 10, 2026, at 11:59 pm Central.
    SDAC review your application and provide feedback.
  • Apply Online (open January 1, 2026): https://sdac.gosmart.org

Grants Open Jan 1

Choose your applicant type (artist or organization), then choose your path.
  • ARTSISTS: Artist Opportunities (one application; choose Career Development, Collaboration, or Fellowship), or Project Grant (separate application)
  • ORGANIZATIONS: choose Project Support or General Support

Artists
The South Dakota Arts Council’s Artist Grants support artists at all career stages who show strong artistic merit and excellence.
Artists may submit only one application per cycle. Select the option that best matches your current work:

  • Career Development – build or advance your career ($2,000)
  • Collaboration – work with one or more artists ($6,000)
  • Fellowship – support established artists with a strong record ($5,000)
  • Project – creating or presenting specific arts programs, events, or activities that expand public access to the arts ($2,000)

Who Can Apply

  • You must live in South Dakota now and have lived here for at least one year.
  • You must be at least 18 years old.
  • You cannot be enrolled as a full-time student.
  • You must apply as an individual artist, not as an organization or group.
  • You must submit examples of artwork you created yourself.

Funding Rules

  • An artist and an organization can’t both request funding for the same project.

Organizations
Organizations submit one application and choose one path:

  • General Organizational Support (GOS) – Provides operating funds to help nonprofit arts and cultural organizations in South Dakota sustain day-to-day operations, build organizational capacity, and expand access to the arts. Funds must be used to advance the organization’s mission and provide public benefit through the arts.
  • Project Grant – Supports nonprofit organizations in creating or presenting specific arts programs, events, or activities that expand public access to the arts in South Dakota.

Who Can Apply

  • South Dakota-based nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status and in good standing.
  • Units of state or local government.
  • Federally recognized tribal governments.

Funding Rules

  • An artist and an organization can’t both request funding for the same project.
  • Fiscal Agents for regranting to organizations without 501(c)(3) status are not eligible.