Chairman Jane Chu to Visit Sioux Falls & Freeman, South Dakota

Washington, DC—NEA Chairman Jane Chu will visit Sioux Falls, South Dakota, September 21 and 22, 2014, and Freeman, South Dakota, on September 23. Chairman Chu will begin her trip with a visit to the Northern Plains Indian Art Market on Sunday, September 21. On Monday, the 22nd, she will learn more about the Meldrum Park mural in the Whittier neighborhood of Sioux Falls, which was supported by an NEA Our Town grant to the Sioux Falls Arts Council. She will then tour the Washington Pavilion of Arts and Sciences and learn more about the pavilion's partners. At 1:30pm she will give a speech in the Washington Pavilion's Belbas Theater about her goals as Chairman of the NEA. This event is open to the public. Following this speech, Chairman Chu will have limited availability for media interviews. Please contact NEA Public Affairs at 202-682-5570 to request an interview. Chairman Chu will conclude the afternoon with a tour Sioux Falls' sculpture walk. The morning of the 23rd, Chairman Chu will travel to Freeman, South Dakota, to learn more about the plans for the Freeman Arts Earth Center, a community center which will bring cultural and economic vitality to the city of Freeman, and is supported by an NEA Our Town grant to the city of Freeman. Press are welcome to attend the following stops. Please RSVP to NEA Public Affairs at 202-682-5570. Sunday, September 21, 2014 1:00pm: Tour of Northern Plains Indian Art Market. Participants:

• Jane Chu, Chairman, National Endowment for the Arts
• Peter Strong, Vice President of Operations and Programs, First Peoples Fund

Location: Ramkota Hotel Exhibit Hall 3200 W Maple Street, Sioux Falls, SD 57107

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Monday, September 22, 2014 8:00-9:00am: Discussion about Meldrum Park mural project. Participants:

• Jane Chu, Chairman, National Endowment for the Arts
• Mayor Mike Huether
• Dave Loewenstein, muralist for Meldrum Park mural
• Mike Cooper, Director of Planning and Building Services
• Jerry Fogg, Recipient of 2014 Mayor’s Award for Individual Excellence in the Arts
• Sioux Falls Arts Council staff
• Sioux Falls Cultural Plan Steering Committee

Location: Commissioner Room, 1^st Floor, Sioux Falls City Hall, 224 W. Ninth St., Sioux Falls, SD 57117

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9:30-11:00am: Tour of Washington Pavilion of Arts & Sciences  Participants:

• Michele Wellman, Pavilion Public Relations Director
• Erica Lacey, Pavilion Kirby Science Discovery Center Director
• Sheila Agee, Interim Pavilion Visual Arts Center Director
• Kara Dirkson, Incoming Pavilion Visual Arts Center Director
• Larry Toll, Co-President, Washington Pavilion of Arts & Sciences
• Sara Crosby, Founder of Dakota Academy of the Performing Arts
• Andrew Reinartz,  President of Dakota Sky Piano Festival
• Rob Joyce,  Executive Director of Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues

Location: 301 S Main Ave, Sioux Falls, SD 57104

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1:30-2:15pm: Speech by NEA Chairman Jane Chu. This event is open to the public. Location: Washington Pavilion of Arts and Sciences, Belbas Theater, 301 S Main Ave, Sioux Falls, SD 57104

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2:15-3:00pm: Media Availability--Contact NEA Public Affairs at 202-682-5570 to schedule an interview with Chairman Chu. Location: Washington Pavilion of Arts and Sciences, 301 S Main Ave, Sioux Falls, SD 57104

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3:30-4:00pm: Tour of Sculpture Walk Participants:

• Jane Chu, Chairman, National Endowment for the Arts
• Jim Clark, Director, SculptureWalk Sioux Falls
• Larry Toll, Co-President, Washington Pavilion

Location: The tour will begin at 3:30 at 334 S. Phillips, Sioux Falls, SD 57104

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Tuesday, September 23, 2014 9:30-11:00am: Meeting to discuss Freeman Arts Earth Center. Participants:

• Jane Chu, Chairman, National Endowment for the Arts
• Mayor Sam Sorensen
• John Koch, Project coordinator
• Stakeholder Representatives

Location: Visitor's Center, Prairie Arboretum, Freeman Academy campus, 748 S. Main, Freeman, SD 57029

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