Rapid City Arts Council announces New Executive Director, Travis Dewes

RAPID CITY – The Rapid City Arts Council (RCAC) is ecstatic to announce that Travis Dewes has been named the new Executive Director of the Rapid City Arts Council, effective immediately. An arts and museum professional in the Black Hills, Dewes is dedicated to cultural engagement and community enrichment through the arts.s

“We are so incredibly excited for Travis to lead this next era of the Rapid City Arts Council! His passion for the arts is palpable in every conversation that we’ve had with him. Travis truly understands the power of the arts in our community and the importance of cultivating an atmosphere where all generations can enjoy art; he sees the value of building meaningful connections, being accountable in executing our plans and strategies, and providing the kind of environment for our incredible staff to thrive and grow.” Says Anjelica Sasse, RCAC Board President, “Travis will certainly be a non-profit leader to watch in our community. Art is transformational and for everyone – having the right leader at the right time can strengthen our impact in communicating that message.”

Most recently, Dewes held the position of Cultural Programs Manager at The Indian Museum of North America at Crazy Horse Memorial, where he worked with hundreds of Indigenous artists and culture bearers from throughout North America to educate the thousands of visitors at the Memorial annually. Over 100 Indigenous artists were hosted at the Memorial each year during his time within 7 different educational programs that included residencies, workshops, daily and special performances, and the annual Native Americans’ Day celebration.

During his time at the Memorial, Dewes also held the position of Interim Museum Director in which he led staff through milestone strategic initiatives that included projects in large-scale program development/ expansion, facility improvements, collections management, development, and donor relations. An outspoken advocate for the arts, Dewes was a go-to media contact regarding arts and culture for the Memorial and has done numerous media interviews promoting events, programs, and the Mission-driven activities centered around Indigenous heritage.

Prior to Crazy Horse Memorial, Dewes worked with Tim Giago at Native Sun News Today in Rapid City, where he held positions that included Staff Writer, Sports Editor, and Columnist. He began to develop strong relationships with Native peoples throughout his time at Native Sun News and, as a non-Native person, started building a strong personal foundation in cultural and historical awareness.

Dewes has been a Board member of the Museum Alliance of Rapid City (MARC or the Journey Museum) since 2019 and has held the position of Governance Chair since 2023. He was recently re-elected as one of four MARC Board members to continue within the new organizational structure post Journey Museum and Black Hills Historical Society merger in 2025 but will step down from the MARC Board to focus completely on the Rapid City Arts Council.

Born and raised in Rapid City, Dewes attended South Dakota State University and received a B.A. in History. He also holds a Professional Certificate in Sustainable Tourism Destination Management from George Washington University.

Stepping out of the Interim Executive Director position, Marty Two Bulls Jr. is looking forward to creating more art, explaining, “It’s been an honor to serve as the Interim Executive Director for the RCAC during our transition of leadership. My decision to pitch in temporarily was rooted in my commitment to RCAC’s mission. I deeply believe in the power of art and its many benefits to our community. Although I’m glad I could help, I’m greatly looking forward to getting back into the studio.”

Stepping into the Executive Director role at the Rapid City Arts Council, Dewes is excited to work with diverse community stakeholders to continue realizing the power of the arts in Rapid City and help build meaningful connections between all community members.

As Executive Director, Dewes will lead the organization’s ongoing efforts to support local artists, engage community members through inclusive programming, and steward the mission of the Rapid City Arts Council and the Dahl Arts Center.

For more about everyone on the RCAC staff and board, visit rapidcityartscouncil.org/ourteam. To set up an interview with Travis Dewes, please contact RCAC Marketing Director Maggie Lepa-Wince at maggie.wince@thedahl.org.

The post Rapid City Arts Council announces New Executive Director, Travis Dewes first appeared on Native Sun News Today.

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