Who We Are
Established in 1968, our mission is to champion the power of art to bring all kinds of people together, making art more accessible, more integral and more inspiring for the communities we serve. We envision a world where art touches everyone– the universal language that builds bridges and opens hearts and minds – rallying our communities around the possibilities art creates. Interested in joining us on this mission? Check out our open positions!
Rapid City Arts Council Staff
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NOAH GEIGER
Curator & Gallery Director Noah has a deep-rooted passion for the arts and its significance in our community. He is an artist who grew up immersed within the arts in Rapid City. He was involved at the Dahl in his formative years and went on to study sculpture at the Kansas City Art Institute. Noah worked in several artist-run spaces and art galleries in Kansas City, including the H&R Block Artspace and Haw Contemporary. There he became well versed in gallery work, curation, and installation. He continues to sculpt and is inspired by architecture, fabrication, art history, and community arts engagement. |
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MELISSA NELSON
Education Director Melissa Nelson grew up in Rapid City, but only recently moved back home. She has her Bachelor of Arts with a major in Comprehensive Art from Chadron State College along with a minor in Marketing and a Master's in Education. She also received a teaching certificate in K-12 Art from Arizona State University. She has 4 years of management experience and several years of experience in teaching art. Melissa's main goal is to bring art education to elementary students and to encourage the youth to find their future in art and how it can open creative career opportunities. She looks forward to meeting with the educational leaders in the community to build programs that fit our communities plans and needs. She believes we all play an essential part in supporting the arts in education. |
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MAGGIE LEPA-WINCE
Marketing Director Maggie has called Rapid City home all her life. It's where she first fell in love with art. She spent a brief time in Oklahoma for college, where she graduated with a Media Design and Strategy degree from Oklahoma Wesleyan University. Maggie now employs her talents as the Marketing Director at the Rapid City Arts Council. Her passion is storytelling and ensuring the Black Hills community knows all the incredible opportunities to enjoy art right here in our community. Maggie enjoys life by reading good books, gardening in her backyard, being outdoors, and surrounding herself with friends and family. Maggie and her wife have two cats named Pepper and Tofu, a puppy named Belly, and a leopard gecko named Lenny. |
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JEANNIE LARSON
Assistant Curator & Volunteer Coordinator Jeannie is the Assistant Curator and Volunteer Coordinator for the Rapid City Arts Council. She holds her Masters of Fine Arts in photography from the Academy of Art in San Francisco. Prior to being employed as the Assistant Curator, Jeannie was a volunteer for the RCAC for several years. Jeannie enjoys working directly with artists to make sure their exhibiting experience at the Dahl Arts Center goes smoothly. In her spare time, she enjoys anything to do with the outdoors, whether it be fishing or hiking throughout the beautiful Black Hills. |
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JOSH MIRANDA
Community and Events Manager Born and raised in Chamberlain, South Dakota, Josh has cultivated a lifelong passion for the arts, driven by a commitment to fostering meaningful connections that inspire community engagement and economic creativity. A graduate of South Dakota State University with a B.S. in Entrepreneurial Studies, Josh brings a blend of innovation and dedication to his role as Community Manager for the Rapid City Arts Council. At the Dahl Arts Center, Josh cultivates relationships that unite people and ideas, creating art experiences that resonate deeply and amplify the center’s role as a cultural cornerstone in the Black Hills. His journey has taken him from Austin to Los Angeles to Denver, where he developed a vision rooted in the belief that the arts have the power to transform lives, heal, and strengthen communities. |
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VICTORIE WILSON
Guest Services Coordinator Victorie is our Guest Services Coordinator, if you have a question big or small, need help finding information, or want recommendations for lunch downtown she’s the one to ask. They also help with memberships and art sales and is the first face you see walking in to our galleries, ready to check you in. She has a B.S. in Production Animation and loves helping with marketing and video editing for the organization. When not at the Dahl you can find them on trails through the Black Hills with her dog or at home playing video games and crocheting. |
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COREY JENSEN
Facilities Coordinator Corey Jensen, our Facility Manager at The Dahl, brings over 20 years of experience in facility grounds and maintenance to our team. His extensive background in maintenance roles and hands-on experience with various equipment have equipped him well for overseeing our facility and staff. Corey is dedicated to ensuring a safe and well-maintained environment for both our employees and guests. Outside of work, Corey enjoys spending time with his family and friends, playing golf, participating in dart games, and engaging in social activities to meet new people. |
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KELLY HELMS
Guest Services Assistant Kelly, our Guest Services Assistant, joined our team after relocating to Rapid City from Michigan in the Spring of 2022. Having grown up traveling across the U.S. and Canada with art shows, Kelly brings a unique perspective to her role. In her leisure time, she indulges in cooking, playing video games, and cherishing moments with her beloved dog and cat. |
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BRIE GROVES
Business Manager Brie is a Rapid City native and her family has been in South Dakota for more than one hundred years. She attended and played tennis for Augustana University before graduating with her Bachelor of Business Administration from Black Hills State University. Brie has always had a love for art from her world travels to playing the violin for most of her life. Brie enjoys all that the Black Hills has to offer by spending her free time outside and attending local music shows. She finds peace by being in nature with family and friends. Her hobbies include traveling, skiing, tennis, paddle boarding, biking and yoga. She is also the proud owner of a mini golden doodle, Gruff, who joins her on most of her adventures. |
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DEMCIE MESTETH
Education & Volunteer Specialist Demcie Mesteth is both the Education Assistant and a graphic design student at Oglala Lakota College in Rapid City. His passion for art and creativity traces back to his days as a chef in Minneapolis, where he enjoyed crafting unique dishes and desserts. Now, he brings that same creative energy to art education for the Rapid City community. In his free time, Demcie enjoys playing tabletop role-playing games, creating art, and spending quality time with family and friends. |
Would you like to join our team?
Check out our open positions!
OUR STORY
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The Rapid City Arts Council (RCAC) is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization that manages the Dahl Arts Center under contract by the City of Rapid City. We are one of the oldest and most respected arts councils in South Dakota, incorporated in 1968.
We bring art and people together to inspire creativity and innovation and to encourage diversity through dynamic partnerships that strengthen the communities we serve. |
As responsible leaders, we carry out our mission through visual arts, performing arts, arts education programs, and by supporting artists and arts organizations in the community. Through a public-private partnership with the City of Rapid City, we provide artistic and cultural development for the community, and manage the Dahl Arts Center.
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