Riva Sharples | Editor
With many art-related activities happening in the area over the next several months – including vocal and instrumental contests, art shows, spring productions, concerts, and more — The Republic newspaper is taking this week to focus on the arts and how they enrich the lives of community members.
Experts say that the benefits of engaging in the arts are many. No matter what form of art one practices and enjoys – be it dance, music, theatrical performance, photography, or crafting, to name a few — art is a means of self-expression. It helps a person cope with problems like anxiety and depression. Additionally, it beautifies and entertains the world, while helping to articulate things that words cannot.
There are physical and mental rewards to being involved in the arts.
For adults, engaging in the arts can provide stress relief and encourage mental acuity. The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) notes that those who engage in artistic endeavors (music, theater, crafting, or visual arts) experience fewer health problems and live longer statistically.
For students in grades preschool through high school, meanwhile, participation in the arts comes with equally impressive statistics. Students who participate in music, theater, or visual arts in school get better grades, have higher test scores, and report improved mental health versus those who do not, studies show.
Beyond individual benefits of participating in or viewing the arts, the South Dakota Arts Council says that the arts strengthen the economy, both locally and nationally.
“In South Dakota, arts and culture is a $1.4 billion industry, which amounts to 2% of the state economy,” said Jim Speirs, Executive Director of Arts South Dakota, a nonprofit that promotes the arts. “South Dakota’s nonprofit arts industry alone generated $363 million in economic activity in 2022 — spending by organizations and their audiences—which supported 6,054 jobs and generated $52.0 million in local, state, and federal government revenue.”
Locally, the arts have had a positive impact on our communities. Beresford’s free summer concert series, sponsored by The Beresford Area Arts organization, brings people together in the park each summer for fellowship and enjoyment, as well as for some economic activity with local vendors and craftsmen on hand to sell their wares. In addition, several stores in Beresford – The Shanty Stitchers and Maker’s Market to name two – center on the hand arts and creative crafts.
Additionally, during the summers in Beresford, Alcester and Hudson, farmers markets bring crafters and vendors to the communities, and art abounds there, whether it’s through the culinary arts, visual arts, or musical arts.
Alcester, Beresford, and Hudson are rich in other artistic endeavors through the school system. Both Alcester-Hudson and Beresford just staged one-act plays, and both schools will be producing spring productions at their schools.
When it comes to music, meanwhile, students in Beresford and Alcester-Hudson are busy with activities. Small group vocal contest was held last week and band contest is upcoming, and large group contests will take place in April.
At both schools, most or all students involved in junior high and high school choir participate in these competitions, singing or playing solos, duets, trios, and other small and large group ensembles.
Area residents will have the opportunity to hear music – both instrumental and choral — at both schools during upcoming end-of-the-school-year concerts happening this spring.
Involvement in the arts is great for students, say teachers.
“Music is an essential part of a student’s education because it develops the whole child,” says Beresford vocal music teacher Kristin Schmeling. “It strengthens critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and discipline. In music, students learn how to listen deeply, solve problems in real time, and work together toward a shared goal. Those skills transfer directly into the classroom and into life beyond school.”
At Beresford, all students in the elementary building have general music class with Mr. Voorhis. The 6th grade is all involved in choir, and about 23 in band. In 7th and 8th grade, there are 46 involved in band and 60 involved in choir. In the high school, meanwhile, there are 52 in band, 51 in Concert Choir, and 31 in Chamber Choir.
In Alcester-Hudson, 46 junior high and 38 high school students are involved in choir with band involving including 13 fifth graders, 16 sixth graders, 16 junior high students, and 20 high schoolers.
Alcester-Hudson music students have many opportunities, including concert performances, singing the National Anthem for Stampede Hockey, All-State Choir, Freshmen Festival, Middle School Festival, Vocal Solo/Ensemble Contest, Large Group Contest, and a musical every other year. Band opportunities include a similar list, including some specialized activities like marching and pep band.
Both schools participate in the visual arts with full-time art teachers who work with various ages and offer a variety of classes, from ceramics and drawing to painting and photography.
In Beresford, students just competed in the Arts Wars (visual arts) competition last week during which students create a work of art in a specified time period.
Area residents will have a chance to view this art and other works created by area students in conjunction with area concerts and events happening at the school.
The Alcester-Hudson Multimedia Class, meanwhile, is producing art of another kind: a series of YouTube videos, each with a different theme this spring. The next edition will be entitled “Thursday Afternoon, Not Live” and will contain comedy sketches created by the students in the vein of Saturday Night Live.
In the end, what we must conclude is that the arts are an important part of our lives.
Says Speirs: “The arts unify our communities. 72% of Americans believe ‘The arts provide shared experiences with people of different races, ethnicities, ages, beliefs, and identities.’ 63% agree that the arts help us understand other people in our communities better.”