Arts Council names executive director
Nov. 8, 2019
Kellen Boice has been named executive director of the Sioux Falls Arts Council.
She most recently spent six years as executive director of the Sioux Falls Design Center and has more than 15 years of experience working in the arts sector. Boice has a bachelor’s degree in advertising from the Art Institute of Phoenix.
“I look forward to serving as a champion for the arts across the Sioux Empire,” Boice said in a statement.
“I am a passionate advocate of the arts, and I’m diving in headfirst to engage with our stakeholders and enhance resource development in support of our mission. The arts have always played such a significant role in my world, and they help our community thrive. In many ways, the arts make Sioux Falls the best place to live, work and play, and I am so honored to play my part.”
The Sioux Falls Arts Council serves as the gateway to arts and culture for residents and visitors in southeast South Dakota, serving the entire community through promotion and coordination of the arts.
“We’re excited to have someone with Kellen’s enthusiasm and experience in this position, and we’re looking forward to having her take the organization to the next level,” board president Alex Hagen said.
“We are excited by her passion to strengthen the Sioux Falls Arts Council as the collective voice of the arts in Sioux Falls.”
The Arts Council office is in the Crane Centre at 326 E. Eighth St. The organization was founded in 1969 and underwent a shift in 2017 to reflect the community’s need for an agency that represents the arts and culture sector rather than one that creates additional programming.
It is driven by the belief that a vibrant and collaborative arts scene is integral for a high quality of life and workforce development in Sioux Falls.
In a collective statement, the board said: “We are excited about this lively time in the Sioux Falls arts community. The arts play an integral role in economic development and creating positive change throughout Sioux Falls. This time of transition with Kellen’s leadership will lead to a creative period of growth invigorated by the new energy and ideas Kellen will bring.”
