South Dakota Community Foundation (SDCF) recently awarded a $18,500 South Dakota Fund grant to Friends of the Goss. Funding will be used to assist in expansion in the “The Passport to the Arts” program.
“"Passport to the Arts" is a program at the Goss Opera House that introduces students to new arts experiences at no cost to their families,” said Jamie Mack, Executive Director, The Goss Opera House. “In a world where arts access is often limited by economic barriers, this program allows all students to experience the joy and inspiration the arts provide. Thanks to the South Dakota Community Foundation, we can secure an entire year of arts experiences for children in our community, nurturing the next generation of artists, thinkers, and leaders. Without this grant, our ability to offer these experiences would be greatly diminished. Thank you to the Foundation Board of Directors, grantmaking committee, and staff for this opportunity.”
The mission of the Goss Opera House is to create experiences to strengthen and inspire the community. With each stamp in their passport students are able to explore different worlds of creativity, such as theater, music, dance, and painting at the Goss Opera House. Through community support and youth involvement the “Passport to the Arts” program has seen considerable growth and increased interest. Through the support and interest, the Friends of Goss have set a goal to reach even more students and expand the program.
“Friends of the Goss has created a wonderful program that allows children to experience art in many ways. We are proud to partner with them on this program," says Ginger Niemann, SDCF Senior Program Officer.
SDCF is a public non-profit organization established in 1987. SDCF, with offices in Pierre, Rapid City, Sioux Falls and Aberdeen administers 1,200 funds benefiting hundreds of charitable organizations annually. The Foundation distributed nearly $31 million in grants in 2023 which made a tremendous difference in communities statewide. This would not have been possible without the generosity of our donors. If you have a specific cause you would like to support or would prefer to give for the general good of our state, please visit https://sdcommunityfoundation.org/giving to learn more or call 1-800-888-1842.