PIERRE — In celebration of National Arts in Education Week, Sept. 9-13, Gov. Kristi Noem and the South Dakota Arts Council announce the opening of the Governor’s Student Art Competition.

All South Dakota students in kindergarten through 12th grade are invited to participate in this competition. Selected student work from each age division will be exhibited in the state Capitol in Pierre from January through September 2025.

The submission deadline is Nov. 4. The divisions are organized as grades K-2, grades 3-5, grades 6-8, and grades 9-12.

All artwork must be submitted electronically as a high-resolution jpeg image, along with the student submission form. Students whose artwork is selected for exhibition will also need to return the authorization release form with a signature from a legal guardian.

Guidelines, submission instructions, and necessary forms are available here beginning Sept. 10. Accommodations will be made for any student who encounters barriers to this submission process. Reach out to Rebecca.Cruse@state.sd.us or call 605-773-5084 for assistance.

Contest officials encourage teachers and parents to help students work on their submissions early so they have plenty of time to prepare their artwork and artist statements.