About the Brookings Summer Arts Festival
Beautiful Pioneer Park in Brookings, South Dakota is home to South Dakota’s premier juried art festival. Over 200 artists from across the nation, representing 15 disciplines of art, grace Pioneer Park with original skilled and handcrafted works of art. Thirty eight gourmet and ethnic food booths satisfy every appetite. The Edibles and Naturals area has 28 artisans who produce gourmet packaged cottage foods and natural skin products. Historic and antique booths celebrate South Dakota’s heritage. A lively children’s area in the center of the park provides fun, educational activities. In addition to the great works of art, the festival has become known for the entertainers performing on the park's historic Band Shell and on side stages throughout the park.
Our History
The Brookings Summer Arts Festival is a testimony to what a good idea and a lot of hard work can do. Each year a group of local volunteers plan an arts festival that surpasses the year before. Festival patrons are treated to a show that brings a wide assortment of art, food and entertainment to Pioneer Park.
The stage was set in 1972 when a small group of people gathered over a cup of coffee and planned an all-city event. Events took place all over town and kicked off July 15, 1972 with a parade and opening ceremony. Fifteen craft and art booths were at Pioneer Park, while rock, antique, and coin shows were held elsewhere. Bus tours went to the Brookings County Historical Museum in Volga. A 4-H horse show, a grouping of band concerts and evening dances were also enjoyed by those who attended the first Brookings Summer Arts Festival.
Nearly five decades later, the Festival now transforms Pioneer Park into an outdoor art gallery that showcases the wares of the best regional artists and skilled craft vendors. Although we have continued to grow and evolve since our beginnings, the committee still meets over cups of coffee to plan the annual festival and prove what a little hard work from a few dedicated volunteers can achieve.
Our Committee
Coming from all walks of life, the committee members of the Brookings Summer Arts Festival all have one thing in common: the desire to create the finest arts festival in the state of South Dakota. Each year, the thirty to forty members come together to plan and design a weekend of art, food, and entertainment for the nearly seventy-five thousand people who attend the annual event each year.
Officers
Festival Chair | Dave Huebner
Festival Co-Chair | Phil Keller
Secretary | Dan Kemp
Treasurer | Verlie Barg
Board of Directors
Shari Avery
Erin Keller
Trayce Meyer
Bonnie Schulte
Jean Stoebner
Festival Committees
Antiques Booths
Dan Kemp, Chair
Barb Johnson
Michele Kemp
Art Booths
Charlotte Meyer, Chair
Verlie Barg
Sherilyn Bosch
Erin Keller
Michele Kemp
Bonnie Schulte
Jean Stoebner
Jen Weinrich
Awards
Cynthia Strande, Chair
Brittney Canales
Barb Johnson
Jessica Noeldner
Hope Riley
Banner
Shari Avery, Chair
Chamber of Commerce Representative
Bridgit Burghardt
Children's Activities
Cynthia Strande, Chair
Brittney Canales
Jessica Noeldner
Edibles & Naturals
Josilyn Ulvestad, Chair
Bonnie Shulte
Jean Stoebner
Brian Ulvestad
Entertainment
Trayce Meyer, Chair
Charlotte Meyer
Hope Riley
Food Booths
Philip Keller, Chair
Erin Keller
Pat Stapleton
Hospitality
Bonnie Schulte, Chair
Verlie Barg
Sherilyn Bosch
Erin Keller
Dan Kemp
Michele Kemp
Charlotte Meyer
Hope Riley
Jean Stoebner
Jennifer Weinrich
Information Booths
Shari Avery, Chair
Verlie Barg
Sherilyn Bosch
Brittney Canales
Dorothy Harvey
Barb Johnson
Dan Kemp
Michele Kemp
Hope Riley
Bonnie Schulte
Jean Stoebner
Cynthia Strande
Jen Weinrich
Living History
Dave Huebner, Chair
Park Cleanup
Jean Stoebner, Chair
Parking
Dave Huebner, Chair
Park Staking
Philip Keller, Chair
Jen Weinrich
Police Department Representative
Tony Sonnenberg
Port-a-Potty
Ellen Herrboldt, Chair
Program
Charlotte Meyer, Chair
Dan Kemp
Michele Kemp
Bonnie Schulte
Jean Stoebner
Jen Weinrich
Publicity
Shari Avery, Chair
Cynthia Strande
Safety & Security
Keven Perry
Shuttle Bus
Ellen Herrboldt, Chair
Tee Shirt
Brittney Canales, Chair
Cynthia Strande
Web Page
Erin Keller, Chair
Anna Kurtz
Join the committee
The Brookings Summer Arts Festival started with a group of citizens with an idea to put on an art festival and we are now the largest two-day arts festival in South Dakota. It takes a diverse group of volunteers to put the festival together and we could use your help. Members coordinate art and food booths, entertainment, children’s and antiques areas, parking, security, and so much more!
Please contact us at generalinfo@bsaf.com or (605) 692-2787 with any questions and for meeting times.
Awards
The BSAF Awards Committee selects three artists annually to honor. Two receive an Award of Excellence and one the Media Award. At the start of each year’s festival, the committee gathers together to canvas the festival vendors to select these recipients.
The Awards Committee bestows two Award of Excellence ribbons to two artisans who show outstanding skill in his or her chosen media. These awards are based on overall quality of the artist’s work, and not on a particular piece. Criteria to judge work is based on originality, craftsmanship and skillful use of materials. The winners must create all of their work.
The third award and ribbon is the Media Award. The Awards Committee chooses one piece of work from an artist the group feels best represents the spirit of the festival. The committee searches for a piece that is an original or “one-of-a-kind”.
The selected artist will be asked for permission to use the artwork to create the next year’s BSAF logo. The Awards, Publicity, and Tee Shirt Committees create a flat art logo to be used on promotional materials such as tee-shirts, flags and banners. The artwork will also be on posters, programs, and newspaper and TV advertising distributed in a four state area.
2018 Award Winners
Sharon Welch
Media Award Winner
Sharon’s often eclectic paintings usually begin with a heavily textured surface. She then adds bold colors, texture, patterns and movement. Her personal theory is to have fun, remove the fear of failure, experiment and let the child inside of you play! From Pierre, SD, Sharon’s work can viewed at www.sharonwelchart.com
Richard Tucker
Award of Excellence
Richard Tucker started his art career at a young age, carving and whittling his own toys. In college, the Western artist, Charles M. Russel inspired Richard to develop his talent for the sculptures that he does today. Based in Custer, SD for many years, Richard and his wife have moved to Sun City West, AZ.
Jack Brainerd
Award of Excellence
Jack Brainerd passionately crafts violins and violas from North American woods, but often experiments with and utilizes alternate materials. He says that his goal is to help every violin sing it’s most beautiful song! Jack and his wife own and operate Veritable Violins in Boulder, Co. www.veritableviolins.com
Publicity
BSAF advertises in the regional four state area through radio, television, and print mediums.
Advertising agents may contact BSAF at publicity@bsaf.com