Newswise — BROOKINGS, S.D. – The SoDak Animation Festival, organized by the South Dakota State University Visual Arts Department, received a $10,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. The annual animation festival was one of 162 recipients from nearly 400 applicants nationwide.
SDSU received word of the award six months after submitting application for an NEA “Challenge America Fast-Track” grant. The goal of Fast-Track is to enable underserved communities to reinforce their talent in the arts.
In addition to the Visual Arts Department, the SoDak Animation Festival is sponsored by Daktronics Inc. and the South Dakota Film Office.
“This is a very exciting opportunity to be able to expand the annual festival which has already grown significantly over the past three years,” said Cable Hardin, assistant professor of animation in the SDSU Department of Visual Arts and the event’s founder, director and co-organizer.
The internationally-recognized fall festival continues to grow for students, faculty and community members to experience the depth of animation as an art form, said Hardin. The event includes screenings, guest appearances by animation gurus and awards presentations. Students participate in workshops and can have their portfolios reviewed by professionals.
The NEA grant will help fund visiting animators and artists for this year’s festival scheduled for Oct. 17-20 in Brookings. Past renowned animation speakers have featured David Chai, Bill Plympton, PES and Patrick Smith.
More information on the animation festival can be found at www.sodakanimation.com or from Hardin at [email protected].
The National Endowment for the Arts was established by Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government. To date, the NEA has awarded more than $4 billion to support artistic excellence, creativity, and innovation for the benefit of individuals and communities. The NEA extends its work through partnerships with state arts agencies, local leaders, other federal agencies, and the philanthropic sector. To join the discussion on how art works, visit the NEA at www.arts.gov.
About South Dakota State University
Founded in 1881, South Dakota State University is the state’s Morrill Act land-grant institution as well as its largest, most comprehensive school of higher education. SDSU confers degrees from eight different colleges representing more than 175 majors, minors and specializations. The institution also offers 29 master’s degree programs, 12 Ph.D. and two professional programs.
The work of the university is carried out on a residential campus in Brookings, at sites in Sioux Falls, Pierre and Rapid City, and through Cooperative Extension offices and Agricultural Experiment Station research sites across the state.
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