City Provides Updates on Public Art Projects and Programs

Published on April 01, 2026

The City of Sioux Falls is launching several new arts initiatives this year, including expanding public art, supporting local artists, and advancing a 10-year arts and culture plan that will guide creative opportunities citywide.

“Public art plays a key role in how people experience our city,” said Maren Engel, arts coordinator for the city. “We are always looking for opportunities and creative ways to bring art into everyday spaces that reflect the energy and talent of the people who live in Sioux Falls.”

Arts and Cultural Plan

In September 2025, the city partnered with Keen Independent to develop a 10-year arts and culture plan. The goal of this community-owned effort is to establish clear priorities, sustainable funding models and inclusive growth strategies that ensure art thrives in Sioux Falls. Community and stakeholder engagement began in October 2025 and included public feedback sessions, interviews, focus groups, a public meeting and a community-wide survey. Data collection and analysis followed, along with the development of a vision and strategic goals to strengthen cultural infrastructure, support creative workforce and organizations and expand arts opportunities outside downtown. The arts and culture plan is currently in the recommendations and action plan development phase, with the final report and presentation expected in May.

For more information on the city’s arts and culture plan, visit siouxfalls.gov/artsandculture.

ArtAbility Exhibit and Artist Reception

ArtAbility is an art exhibit for artists with disabilities sponsored by the city’s Disability Awareness and Accessibility Review Board (DAARB). The event provides an opportunity for artists to showcase their work as a means of self-expression. The board’s goal is to remove barriers for individuals with disabilities while promoting universal accessibility.

The ArtAbility exhibit and artist reception is in its 13th year and is set for April 17 from 5 to 7 p.m. at The Underground by Rehfeld’s in the lower level of the Falls Center building at 431 N. Phillips Ave. The event will feature refreshments and art for sale, while highlighting artwork created by artists with disabilities. A sensory-friendly viewing will be offered earlier that day from 12 to 3 p.m. to accommodate guests with sensory needs.

The exhibit and artist reception are free and open to the public. No registration is required. More information about the 2026 ArtAbility exhibit can be found at siouxfalls.gov/artability.

Sioux Falls Art Educators Exhibition

The Sioux Falls Art Educators Exhibition, now on display at the Washington Pavilion, highlights the creative practices of K-12 art educators from the Sioux Falls School District. Art educators cultivate critical thinking, creative problem-solving, and meaningful self-expression in their students. By showcasing their own work in a museum setting, the exhibition underscores the connection between teaching and artistic practice. For students and the wider community, seeing educators as active artists affirms the value of arts education and emphasizes that creativity is a lifelong pursuit. The exhibition is a partnership among the city’s Arts Commission, the Sioux Falls School District, and the Washington Pavilion.

More information about the Sioux Falls Art Educators Exhibition at washingtonpavilion.org/attraction/teachers-as-artists.

Carver Art Gallery

In 2019, Mayor Paul TenHaken unveiled the Carver Gallery in City Hall, named in honor of South Dakota art pioneer Charlotte Carver. The gallery will expand its mission this spring with the launch of a new annual rotation of local artwork.

Artists who live or primarily work in the Sioux Falls area will be eligible to apply by submitting an application and images of their recent two‑dimensional work. An artist panel will jury the submissions and select participants. During the first six‑month exhibition period, each selected artist will have one featured piece on display.

As part of the program, the public will be invited to visit the Carver Gallery exhibition and vote in a people’s choice competition. The winning artist will receive a solo exhibition in the entire Carver Gallery for approximately six months. The city will also purchase one piece from the winning artist for installation in a public space, growing the municipal art collection. The selected work will be chosen by the artist panel and approved by the Visual Arts Committee.

Applications are open, and details can be found at siouxfalls.gov/carvergallery.

Downtown Storm Drain Art Project

The city and the Visual Arts Committee are accepting submissions for the annual Storm Drain Art Project. Since 2016, the program has allowed local artists to paint murals on stormwater inlets downtown, helping educate the public about water quality and the connection between storm runoff and the Big Sioux River. Artists are encouraged to create simple, clean, and vibrant designs. Submissions are due May 1 by 5 p.m., with guidelines available at siouxfalls.gov/inlet-painting.

Orpheum Theater Mural

A large-scale mural is planned for the Orpheum Theater’s north exterior wall. The artwork will be installed as a digitally printed vinyl wrap to preserve the building’s historic facade while creating a high-impact visual landmark.

The artwork is by South Dakota-born artist Jenae Porter. Last fall, Porter and theater professional Alexondrea Thong Vahn worked with youth involved in local theater programs to help inspire the final piece. Participants took part in movement and theater activities, visual art projects, and shared stories about their involvement at the Orpheum Theater.

Porter is in the final stages of creating a design that celebrates the intersection of visual and performing arts, reflecting the Orpheum’s longstanding role as a creative hub. Beyond adding color and energy to the neighborhood, the installation will also function as a backdrop for performances, concerts, and other public events. The installation is planned for this fall.

Art on the Move

The city’s public transit system, Sioux Area Metro (SAM), which is operated by Via, launched a new program inviting local artists to submit original artwork for display on city buses. Four artists will be selected to have their designs professionally wrapped on SAM buses, turning public transit vehicles into mobile art pieces. Selected artists will receive a $500 cash award and a year of free bus rides. The contest is open to residents 18 and older who live or work in the Sioux Falls area. The submission deadline is April 14, with full details available at siouxareametro.info/sam-art-bus.

SculptureWalk

The 2026 SculptureWalk features installations from 54 artists, including 11 from South Dakota and others from across the United States and Canada. The sculptures will be installed during the first week of May. Each year, the city selects one sculpture as Best in Show for purchase. With support from city funding through the Community Partners Program, SculptureWalk will expand its programming this summer.

To learn more about the art and programming related to SculptureWalk, visit sculpturewalksiouxfalls.com.

Full Court Color: Arena to Asphalt

During the 2026 Summit League Basketball Championships, the city’s Arts Commission launched Full Court Color: Arena to Asphalt, a public art project that took place at the Sioux Falls Convention Center. Throughout championship weekend, artist Les Cotton created an 8-by-8-foot mural in the convention center concourse and invited youth and families to contribute basketball-themed drawings in an interactive design lab. The community-created designs, along with others submitted by youth across the city, will be developed into custom vinyl basketball backboard installations in city parks.

For more information on arts initiatives in the city, visit siouxfalls.gov/artsandculture.