Candidates Survey on the Arts & Government 2018: All Candidates

NAME OFFICE SEEKING PARTY DISTRICT Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q4 - additional Q5 Q6 Q7 Additional comments comments State Senator Democrat 1 Instrumental, Vocal Music, Theater, Very Aware Yes Actually, the State's Very important, Ah...you guys are Public funding for Theater, Literary Arts portion ought to be especially in a the experts there. I the arts at the funded by general sparsely populated just like what I see national and state tax dollars, not the area where arts you doing. level is important to "user fee" exposure maintain. identification that opportunities can comes with its otherwise be so current funding limited. source. Funding a basic level of arts access is a responsibility of state government. Cory Allen State Senator Democratic 3 Vocal, Visual, Music, Theater, Very Aware Yes Arts are an South Dakota The arts are vital to Heidelberger Theater, Literary Arts Visual Arts, Dance, indispensable inspires great art the general welfare. Theater, Film/Media, component of an (e.g., Linda The arts deserve Literary Arts adequate public Hasselstrom's public funding. education. poetry, the rodeo movie "The Rider"). We need to welcome and support creative minds to our state. AL Novstrup State Senator Republican 3 None Theater, Visual Arts, Very Aware Yes Success for each Weekend festivals I believe in a Dance, Theater student depends such as Arts in the balanced approach upon that student Park and Storybook to funding. My having a passion. Land Festival number one priority Many times art is contribute to the is taking care of that passion. For quality of life. those who are example, my unable to take care daughter, Linda of themselves, such was passionate as Aspire clients about Johnny and nursing home Cavell dance. residents. Dance helped form Education funding Linda's character. (K-16) and Today Linda is a economic dance teacher. development are important to me. Arts funding is a part of education and economic development. State Senator Republican 5 None Music, Theater, Moderately Aware Yes Very Important. Write Generally Keep up good work Theater, Literary Arts checks to Black hills supportive, but playhouse, lead would need to know opera house , specifics. I think we harmony and other individuals should activities step up Laura Swier State Senator Democrat 9 Instrumental, Vocal, Music, Theater, Very Aware Yes I believe that having I believe that the arts Art can turn thinking I support public Kotelman Visual, Theater, Visual Arts, Theater, a thriving arts are essential for into doing, it utilizes funding for arts at Photography, Literary Arts, community is healthy, vibrant our senses to the state and local Literary Arts, Culinary Arts integral to a strong communities as they challenge the way level, especially in Culinary Arts tourism economy. open other doors of we see and think. I state funded communication and see art as an integral construction/ collaboration. part of vibrant renovation projects. communities. Where there are projects underway, the questions of; how can this project reflect the community and what can be integrated into the project to express the uniqueness of this place, need to be asked. Rachel Willson State Senator Democrat 10 Instrumental Music Moderately Aware Yes I was in band from This is something Often times, when 6th grade through where I would look funded privately, college. I saw first- to experts in the arts education can hand the impact it field to see what is be left out because made on people's most needed. I'd it is not viewed as lives. Access to especially like to crucial or opportunities like look to smaller something that has band and other arts communities and a direct effect on is crucial for the tribal communities our economic growth of children, throughout the development. especially those state. Encouraging Because of this, who are less that development public funding is privileged. would require extremely important someone in our to ensure access to state government the arts. who is committed to pushing for funding and attention to the arts, and I would like to be that person. Kevin Elsing State Senator Democratic 11 Instrumental, Vocal Music, Theater, Moderately Aware Yes The arts are The arts contribute At every level, public As a former Visual Arts, Theater, absolutely directly to local and funding for the arts professional Photography, Film/ necessary to a state economies contributes to social musician and the Media, Other quality education. through and economic father of two We need to employment, health. talented high- adequately fund our tourism, and by schoolers, I've schools, including bringing experienced arts education. It communities firsthand the positive should not be together. A strong impact of limited only to arts and culture participating in the children whose scene attracts performing and families can "afford" newcomers, fuels visual arts. Thanks it. The arts provide innovation, and for your dedication opportunities for helps keep people in to growing the arts self-expression and their new home by in South Dakota! self-discipline that strengthening the are especially sense of community important for at-risk and quality of life. children. The state Shifting to an arts needs to commit to economy has developing pre-K rescued depressed and after-school communities when opportunities for all other industrial children, a great trends have passed. place to involve arts- South Dakota oriented programs. communities can Since arts and position themselves design are so as rural artistic interwoven with havens with the help STEM subjects, we of statewide should extend our initiatives. scope to STEAM initiatives.

1 NAME OFFICE SEEKING PARTY DISTRICT Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q4 - additional Q5 Q6 Q7 Additional comments comments Stace Nelson State Senator Republican 19 Film/Media, Literary Culinary Arts Moderately Aware No The USA is $21 I believe it ranks the free-market is I do not support it. Arts Trillion in debt, and after reading, the way to go. Government should South Dakotans are writing, and math. example: Freeman only do that for the taxed enough Chislic festival people that they already. cannot do for themselves. Private funding. Ardon Wek State Senator Democrat 19 Vocal, Dance Music, Theater, Slightly Aware Yes The arts are an There is a great deal The public should Visual Arts, Dance, important and of potential for help fund the arts. A Theater underappreciated cultural society is aspect of educating development in remembered by it's South Dakota's South Dakota. art. It is society's children. Exposure Communities across duty to ensure art is to art stimulates the state are looking cultivated and minds. The arts play for ways to attract enjoyed. a role in students cultural events and self awareness that to create venues no other subject can that will help them match. The arts are enjoy culture. personal. They encourage self Development can be expression, build encouraged by self confidence, and exposing students teach valuable social to the arts at a skills. young age. This will instill a love for the arts in many of them.

Assisting communities with traveling art exhibits of all forms will also help to develop cultural appreciation. Ryan Ryder State Senator Democrat 33 Theater, Other Music, Film/Media Slightly Aware Yes Very Important. Strong potential. Fully support. Thank you for all of Should be tied to the the work that you education funding do! discussions. Jeff Partridge State Senator Republican 34 Other Other Very Aware Yes Thank you for the Thank you for the Thank you for the Note: Candidate letter; I am not a letter; I am not a letter; I am not a sent a personal Survey responder; Survey responder; Survey responder; email and did not However, my voting However, my voting However, my voting respond to the record and my time record and my time record and my time survey questions. on the Allied Arts on the Allied Arts on the Allied Arts His remarks in Council here in Council here in Council here in support of the arts Rapid City should Rapid City should Rapid City should are included. suffice to say I am suffice to say I am suffice to say I am supportive. supportive. supportive. Thank you for the letter; I am not a Survey responder; However, my voting record and my time on the Allied Arts Council here in Rapid City should suffice to say I am supportive. Zach Van Wyk State Senator Dem 34 Instrumental, Visual, Music, Theater, Moderately Aware Maybe Extremely. I would like to see It is a travesty that Culinary Arts Visual Arts, Theater, more public work art programs Culinary Arts spaces, like Art Ally continue to get cut in Rapid City, from public schools. available to other We must help communities. preserve these electives. Pat Cromwell State Senator Democrat 35 Instrumental, Theater, Visual Arts, Very Aware Yes The arts are It is vitally important Photography, Dance, Theater, extremely important The potential is at national, state Culinary Arts Photography, Film/ for children and in there. All people and local levels. It is Media their education. As a would benefit but celebration, social worker in the smallest expression, therapy child protective communities would and feeds the core services, I found that likely experience the of what we are and something as simple biggest impact. what we aspire to as crayons and There is a general be. It exercises the paper not only help sense of being mind and makes us soothe young invisible to the better people. children in distress, bigger world and it helped them worse yet, a sense communicate with of being viewed as me what their fears simple minded. were or events took Simple things like a place. It made me a day long festival better social worker with a traveling and advocate for the theater group kids. The act of providing day-end being able to entertainment could express through any boost a community medium stirs the with a spark and creative spirit and feed the local sparks new insights, creative spirit. exercises the mind and open the doors to a bigger world. We need more of that and especially in these days.

2 NAME OFFICE SEEKING PARTY DISTRICT Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q4 - additional Q5 Q6 Q7 Additional comments comments Teresa Ann State Senator Democrat District # 6 Instrumental, Vocal, Music, Theater, Very Aware Yes Cultural heritage Creative Art Support for cultural Governmental I am a strong Robbins Dance Visual Arts, Dance, plays a significant education enhances heritage centers with support may provide supporter of the Arts Theater, role in SD tourism as the educational schedules of the foundation for as a significant Photography, Film/ an integral experience of all performance and artistic expression foundation of self Media component of our students as it exhibitions to and has expression and the Native American engages students in promote multi- responsibility to sharing and population and our a creative manner to cultural sharing support the cultural preservation of vital heritage as a prairie express and might be an heritage that was cultural heritage. state and westward encourage the opportunity for and remains the The Arts provide expansion and development of their diverse populations foundation of our enjoyment and development of our identify and their to share their South Dakotan enhanced sharing of agricultural personal capacity to heritage as they population. personal expression community. express their transition into the Historical relevance and diversity in the identity. American culture and preservation of perception of reality. South Dakota has a without fear of loss our heritage seems The Arts offer rich diverse of their individual to afford the numerous population with a cultural heritage. strongest rationale opportunities to significant Native for financial support reach across cultural American population of the mission of the barriers and to touch with rich cultural South Dakota Arts the hearts and souls expression of Council. of those who are distinct heritage with witness to the music,dance and art freedom of their expression. expression. Increasing immigrant culture offers additional opportunities for South Dakota to encourage sharing of cultural expression and distinctions present with this diversity that affords enhanced educational opportunities. Craig Kennedy State Senator Democrat District 18 Instrumental, Other Music, Visual Arts, Very Aware Yes Arts education is We need to Public funding is Photography, Film/ essential, for all the recognize and essential. Private Media reasons listed. honor all the funding is obviously cultures that make important, but may up South Dakota. not reach all areas We need to and programs that encourage and should be support cultural encouraged, expression particularly in our throughout the schools. state, and use tourism dollars to highlight the various cultural opportunities. Dan Miller State Senator Democrat District 20 Vocal, Dance, Music, Theater, Very Aware Yes I am the Associate Extremely important! The arts are a I think it is I am a native South Theater, Film/Media, Visual Arts, Dance, Professor of Theatre universally cultural imperative and Dakotan, born in Literary Arts Theater, Film/Media, and the Director of phenomenon that needs to be Aberdeen, SD. My Literary Arts Theatre at Dakota exists in every increased at a much, father worked many Wesleyan University, society around the much higher level! jobs to support his where I have proudly world. The arts family and as a been teaching and teaches us how to result I too have directing plays and express ourselves acquired that strong musicals since 2006. more effectively. It work ethic. I have an extensive develops our ability background in the to communicate our I have been married arts. CV available if thoughts, ideas, to an amazing desired. creativity, woman, Melissa, for imagination and 26 years. She is a feelings to others, high school English improving our and Theatre teacher relationships and and a veracious improving the reader and lover of environment around books. We have two us. It helps us incredible children. understand how our Our daughter is minds and the working on her minds of others terminal MFA degree work. It helps us to at the New York Film see how the world in Academy in Los which we live affect Angeles and our son who we are and who is an IT specialist we will become.The and an officer with arts are a great way the SD Army to learn. National Guard. He is also married to a ArtsSouthDakota.org teacher, Jenna, and they have three Arts South Dakota, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, enriches the lives of South Dakotans and beautiful children, their visitors, by advancing the arts through service, education and advocacy. our precious grandchildren. Candidate responses are listed in order of District. I received my undergraduate BFA degree and my terminal MFA degree from the University of South Dakota in Vermillion.

I am the Associate Professor of Theatre and the Director of Theatre at Dakota Wesleyan University, where I have proudly been teaching and directing plays and musicals since 2006, with a background in the arts that goes back even further than 2006.

I am an an incredibly big supporter and advocate for the arts!!! Kristine Ina Winter State Senator Democratic Party District 30 Instrumental, Visual, Music, Visual Arts, Moderately Aware Yes Essential. Supporting local Support of the arts Thank you for your Theater, Photography, Film/ venues for local is a good work in supporting Photography Media, Literary Arts, artists. expenditure of and advocating for Culinary Arts public funds. art in South Dakota.

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