PIERRE, SD (9-16-26) — In celebration of National Arts in Education Week, Sept. 13-19, 2026, Governor Larry Rhoden and the South Dakota Arts Council announce the opening of the Governor’s Student Art Competition.
“Arts are an important part of a well-rounded education,” said Governor Larry Rhoden. “They give students a chance to develop their talents, think creatively, and build confidence. This competition is a great way to recognize the hard work and talent of South Dakota’s next generation of artists.”
All South Dakota students in kindergarten through 12th grade – public, private, homeschool, etc. – are invited to participate in this program. Selected student work from each age division will be exhibited in the state Capitol Building in Pierre from January through September 2027.
The submission deadline is Nov. 6. The divisions are organized as grades K-2, grades 3-5, grades 6-8, and grades 9-12.
All artwork must be submitted electronically through an online student submission form, including uploading a high-resolution jpeg image of the artwork for consideration. Guidelines and full submission instructions are available on the Governor’s Student Art Competition webpage beginning Sept. 16. Accommodations will be made for any student who encounters barriers to this submission process. Please reach out to Patrick.baker@state.sd.us or call 605-773-5507 for assistance.
The South Dakota Arts Council encourages teachers and parents to help students work on their submissions early so they have plenty of time to prepare their artwork and artist statements.
An office of the South Dakota Department of Tourism, the South Dakota Arts Council’s mission is to provide grants and services to artists, arts organizations, and schools across the state, with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts and the State of South Dakota. The South Dakota Department of Tourism is comprised of Travel South Dakota and the South Dakota Arts Council. The Department is led by Secretary James D. Hagen.
— From the South Dakota Department of Tourism
