Oglala Lakota Artspace Grand Opening

From listening to the needs of our community, we are now celebrating the official grand opening of the Oglala Lakota Artspace. It is a creative space that celebrates our artists and cultural bearers on and around the Pine Ridge reservation. The space includes built-in studio and production spaces, as well as being a center for year-round programming. On May 20th, we will celebrate its grand opening.

This space also means that Lakota culture bearers and artists can share their knowledge with community, youth and other organizations. A music program and recording studio is also provided for all Lakota artists who want to create music.

“Arts and humanities are critical for all communities to help with stress levels, allowing people to come together to create and learn new techniques like traditional and contemporary quill work, beading, sewing, painting, music, and sculpture,” says Leslie Mesteth (Oglala Lakota), FPF’s Program Manager for the Oglala Lakota Artspace.

The Oglala Lakota Artspace partially originated from a 2013 market study that examines the arts economy as an economic engine for Native communities. An arts space is one of six resources Native artists need to be economically successful, according to our 2019 Investing in the Indigenous Artists Ecology report.

On May 19th, which is known as Native Nonprofit Day, you can make a donation to support the Oglala Lakota Artspace.