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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Travis Dewes
Executive Director Travis is dedicated to cultural engagement and community enrichment through the arts. Raised in the Black Hills, he earned a B.A. in History from South Dakota State University. Throughout his career as an arts and museum professional, he has worked closely with diverse community stakeholders to strengthen the relationship between Indigenous cultures and residents/visitors to the Black Hills region. Travis has focused on the power of the arts to build meaningful connections across communities by leading large programming formats featuring Native artists while emphasizing strategic initiatives that center Indigenous culture bearers and their heritage. Away from work, Travis enjoys riding a bicycle, playing cribbage and dominoes with his partner Bree, reading with his cats, Olive and Bean, and spending quality time with his dog, Roy. |
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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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JEANNIE LARSON
Curator Jeannie holds her Masters of Fine Arts in photography from the Academy of Art in San Francisco. Prior to being employed as the 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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James Gaylord
Education Director James is an educator, researcher, and visual artist from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His BFA and graduate studies have been in Art and Visual Culture Education, with emphases in art history and two-dimensional studio art disciplines. In both making and teaching, he invites participants to become co-creators in art-making, research, and education. By engaging people in creative and socially grounded inquiry, he aims to empower others to respectfully challenge conventions and boundaries while contributing meaningfully to artistic, educational, and community dialogues. New to the Black Hills, James is always up for conversations about art, film, television, and all things pop culture. You can find him in the studio, on the trails, or riding his bike around Rapid City. |
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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 a cat named Tofu, a puppy named Belly, and a leopard gecko named Lenny. |
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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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BRIE GROVES
Business Manager Brie is from Rapid City 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. |
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ABBY HAMMOND
Guest Services Associate Abigail is our guest services assistant, and you will often see her at the front desk here at The Dahl or helping with events. Abigail is passionate about art and does oil paintings and graphite or charcoal drawings in her spare time. Before working at The Dahl, Abigail would take art classes here and believes in the community space centered around support for local artists looking to improve their abilities and support to branch out. When not at The Dahl, you can find Abigail out biking or listening to live music with friends. |
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AMY DAISS
Events Manager Amy Daiss grew up in the Black Hills, surrounded by nature and music. With two musician parents, her childhood was steeped in song, and she began learning her first instrument at age three. After earning a degree in Vocal Performance from BHSU, she pursued her teaching certification and has spent the last 14 years sharing music in public and private schools in the Midwest and abroad in Mexico and Colombia. Though her wanderlust is not yet fully satisfied, she has returned home to enjoy time in Paha Sapa with her family. Amy teaches private music lessons and holds fast to her belief that everyone can, and should, sing. (What better way to soothe and heal the soul?) When she’s not organizing events for the Dahl, playing, or teaching music, she’s often outdoors hiking, biking, or gardening, or in the kitchen perfecting a gluten-free recipe and canning vegetables from her garden. |
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MATTISON POYNTER
Events & Guest Services Staff Mattison has lived in Rapid City her whole life. She attended Western Dakota Technical College to get her degree in Business and Technology. She primarily works in the Artists' Market and enjoys the Emerging Performing Artists Program. She enjoys photography and hopes to get my photos displayed someday! |
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ARILEY ORTIZ
Events & Guest Services Staff Ariley (Riley), was born and raised in Rapid City and is currently majoring in social work. She loves the Dahl because of the unity it brings and how it inspires our community to be creative. It has been a safe place that connects her to great new people and opportunities! She loves being in nature, going for rides, and listening to music! She has always had an obsession with knick-knacks and everything weird and whimsical. You can find her making jokes in the Dahl Artists' Market or at our outreach events. |
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ABBY SIMMONS
Teen Art Studio Attendant Born and raised in Rapid City, Abby has fond memories of the art classes she took as a child at the Dahl. She is excited for her second year as the Teen Art Studio instructor and member of the education team. She has a background in studio art and her BA in theatre arts (with dual emphasis in performance and costume design) from Lawrence University in Appleton, WI. She is a founding board member of Catalyst Theater Company, located in downtown Rapid City. Outside of the arts, she enjoys cooking and thrifting with 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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