(Editor's note: This is just one part of a series of stories about local candidates in the upcoming June 2 primary, municipal and school board election. Find more coverage here.)
Simplified: Sioux Falls has an increasing public art presence in part thanks to a new full-time arts coordinator. As we see more public art across town, Sioux Falls Simplified asked City Council candidates how they'd approach decisions related to funding these projects.
Here's what we asked:
The city is in the process of developing an arts and culture master plan, and a recent survey showed most residents support city funding for the arts. How would you, personally, approach decisions about funding public art projects?
Here's what candidates had to say (in reverse alphabetical order, because sometimes you've gotta mix it up):
Sara Pankonin
"That's another one that I haven't looked into it really, like to see exactly where the budget is at," Pankonin said. "But I think, you know, my priorities are police and fire, and then transportation, and then – because the city is still growing – we need some of those green spaces for people to have a place to quietly paint in the future or draw or you know do their art or something that's beautiful for them to make art. I think art would probably be something that I definitely want."
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Brady Kerkman
Kerkman noted that as the city grows, it needs to balance residents' various needs and focus on top priorities, though he didn't specify if art was one of those priorities for him.
"We've always got to be cautious that we're not always giving money to the same resources over and over and over," Kerkman said. "You know, with Smithfield moving, obviously downtown going to grow – I think there's a lot more opportunity for expansion of our arts."
Michael Crane
"Well, I'm not sure," Crane said. "I think that as we're looking at new buildings, new spaces, I think it's appropriate to have funding available for art within those spaces. I think if we have in our open spaces, in the parks, if there's an opportunity, I certainly would look at it and be supportive of it. It really depends on the situation that you're dealing with."
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