South Dakota Senate 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 Susan Wismer 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. Lee Schoenbeck 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. " su$ce to say I am su$ce to say I am su$ce 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 su$ce 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.