New Live & Local series to bring local performers to Washington Pavilion stage

This paid piece is sponsored by Washington Pavilion Management Inc.

 There’s a growing number of talented performers in Sioux Falls – and now many of them are going to get a chance to show their skills on a Washington Pavilion stage.

The new Live & Local performance series is designed to highlight the diverse range of talent in the Sioux Falls area, said Bob Wendland, assistant director of performances and events at the Washington Pavilion.

“With the 25th anniversary of our Broadway Performance Series, we thought it was the right spark to launch something like this and acknowledge that while we bring Broadway-caliber performances to Sioux Falls, we have some incredible talent in our backyard.”

So far, those who have applied for the Live & Local Series have confirmed that this area is filled with unique artistic ability.

“It’s super exciting what we’ve seen from applicants so far,” Wendland said. “There’s really good variety, with performance art, comedy, music of all kinds, dance groups, theater and improv groups. I’m really excited by the potential and diversity we’ll be able to offer in our first year.”

The new series is a “fantastic” addition for the Washington Pavilion and builds on other performance opportunities statewide, said Jim Speirs, executive director of Arts South Dakota.

“It’s so important for South Dakotans, especially young artists, to see they can make art here and live here. They can build a career in this town,” he said. “Talk about retaining talent and generating workforce opportunity. We believe artists in South Dakota are the best in the business. Let’s do our best to keep them here at home, creating a better place to live for all of us.”

In the past decade, Sioux Falls has become more of an appealing place for the artistic community, Wendland added.

“It’s a desirable place to stick around because we as a community decided to invest in many ways in our downtown scene,” he said. “We’ve got all these young people graduating from high school or college who are wildly talented and really ambitious and want to perform and share their talents. Ten or 20 years ago, there weren’t opportunities to do that. You had to go somewhere else and pack your bags. And now that caliber of talent is sticking around to invest in our community.”

Live & Local is accepting applications from performers of all ages until June 5. Find information and the application here.

All performances will take place at 7:30 p.m. on the third Thursday of the month from September through May at the Washington Pavilion’s Belbas Theater or Schulte Room.

“My hope in programming a roster of nine months is to include a variety of points of view and types of entertainment,” Wendland said. “We want to reflect not only the arts community but also the Sioux Falls community.”

While the arts is in South Dakota’s DNA, Speirs said, “Sioux Falls in particular continues to foster an amazing performing arts scene. The hope is being a professional musician does not mean you must move to Minneapolis or Chicago or Bozeman (Montana) to make a living. We believe in a South Dakota where artists and creative leaders feel empowered and championed, advancing a flourishing arts ecosystem that fosters vibrant communities.”

A panel of Pavilion leaders will review all applications and select artists to perform. Some months might feature one artist or group, while others could have a variety of performers.

Importantly, performers will be compensated for their work.

“One of the most exciting things for me personally is this new opportunity for local artists to be compensated for their work right here at home,” Wendland said.

“A lot of our artists have to settle for putting out a hat and hoping people drop some dollars in it, or comedians have to go to venues outside of Sioux Falls, so it’s exciting to know this will be another avenue for artists for hopefully years to come.”

Speirs agreed.

“One important step in achieving such a vision is to pay artists a living wage. We can have a town full of amazing facilities and first-class venues, but if musicians cannot make a living, the vision of a vibrant arts ecosystem will never be achieved,” he said. “That’s the next step for Sioux Falls, and the Washington Pavilion should be leading that charge. We have a ways to go before artists can securely move to Sioux Falls and make a living creating, but we’re on the right path, and I know we can get there, especially if places like the Pavilion lead the way.”

Hopefully, others will see the shows and be inspired to hire the artists as well, Wendland said.

“Exposing some of our local talent to the folks who want to be supporting the arts in our community is an important role the Pavilion can play,” he said. “Hopefully, we have some financial backers in the audience becoming new fans of local performers. That could go a long way and be an opportunity in and of itself.”