BROOKINGS — SDPB is one of 10 organizations that have been awarded a grant as part of the Creative Midwest Media Cohort, a new year-long program facilitated through Arts Midwest’s Creativity News Desk. The 10 organizations receive a portion of a $150,000 total grant. This initiative amplifies stories of arts, culture, and creativity in South Dakota and across the Midwest.

SDPB aims to expand arts coverage of their premier daily local news and culture program “In the Moment with Lori Walsh.” SDPB plans to do this with impactful social media storytelling and in-depth conversations with artists. In this process, SDPB seeks to diversify the Arts features to reflect the full range of artists and art in South Dakota, with a focus on BIPOC and rural artists, and diverse art-forms.

“Arts interviews and stories are essential to the fabric of ‘In the Moment.’ Our team is thrilled to work with the cohort, expanding our coverage, deepening our creative conversations, and elevating South Dakota artists for a broader Midwestern audience,” Walsh, the host and senior producer of "In the Moment," said.

The Creative Midwest Media Cohort supports organizations in producing media projects that cover stories of Midwestern creativity in the nine-state region of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin, or the 42 Native Nations that share this geography. The inaugural participants, selected as part of an invite-only application process, will each receive a $15,000 grant and networking opportunities through the program.

Cohort organizations are creating diverse projects such as podcasts, multimedia series, social media videos, print publications, and a writers’ residency program. These initiatives will prominently feature and engage Native artists, creatives of color, the LGBTQ+ community, and individuals in the rural Midwest.

“Arts Midwest is excited to support these outstanding media professionals and amplify the significant work they are doing to inform and inspire communities,” said Torrie Allen, president & CEO of Arts Midwest. “We envision this new initiative building a connected network of media-makers across the Midwest, while sharing stories of how creativity manifests in our lives.”