Initiatives
Pipes to Pedals: Tracker Organ Showcase
Join us for a weekend of culture, history, and music at the historic Christ Episcopal Church in Lead, SD February 27th & 28th, 2026February 27th, Lecture & Q&A: Friday, Organist Andrew Earhart and local historians will share the story of Christ Church, its 119-year-old tracker pipe organ, and the rich tradition of organ music with attendees.February 28th, Organ Recital: On Saturday, Earhart will perform a recital highlighting the unique sound of this rare instrument.
WanderWild
Trail + Art Series
These Trail + Art Connections bring creativity outdoors. By pairing guided trail experiences with hands-on art engagement to support mental well-being and community connection across the Black Hills. By activating trailheads and local third places, we invite people of all ages to gather, create, and reconnect with nature as a catalyst for reflection, resilience, and shared stewardship.
Linking Fences
Linking Fences builds resilient communities by connecting people of all ages through collaborative public art. We strengthen relationships among children, families, individuals, and organizations by creating shared purpose. When people work together, they build trust, communication skills, pride in craftsmanship, and lifelong problem-solving abilities. Strong communities are rooted in unity—neighbors who know one another show up for one another.Linking Fences creates multiple touchpoints for community engagement, including material preparation sessions, cross-curricular art lessons, and the collaborative development of permanent public artworks. There are currently 15 art fences across South Dakota, each symbolizing continuity, connection, and shared story.Bees serve as a unifying theme—symbols of resilience, pollination, and healthy ecosystems. Our Executive Director is a designer, teacher, and artist experienced in guiding intergenerational groups through meaningful public art creation.New Linking Fences artworks will continue expanding connection across communities. We are currently fundraising to support these public art installations and invite you to consider a donation to help beautify and strengthen rural communities.Black Hills Post-Naturalist Art Movement
The Black Hills Post-Naturalist Movement, termed also as PNAM, is a diverse group of artists with a purpose in promoting interpretation of nature versus pure realism/visual accuracy in various artistic forms. All artistic endeavors are a part of the movement. Black Hills post-naturalists receive their inspiration from nature and they don’t have a desire to replicate it like realism photography, whether it is a stone, plant, landscape, cavern, human, etc. We respect the intuition which can bridge the gap between the conscious and nonconscious parts of our mind and can be especially helpful during creative endeavors. The Movement’s members are interested in avant-garde processes which stretch the vision of art and include unusual, innovative, edgy, imaginative and/or experimental ideas that break precedent and connect to post-naturalist ideas. The Movement is an on-going, ever-changing, developing entity created by and for its members. It is non-hierarchical in the sense that any artist from the Black Hills can join as long as they have a belief in interpretation of nature versus a naturalist/realism art pursuit. The Movement encourages lively discussions and continuing education on the possibilities connected to a post-naturalist movement. Creative Explorations was proud to partner and support the PNAM in 2023.
West River Creatives
West River Creatives mission is to create a thriving environment to nurture the innate multidisciplinary nature of the artist community. The West River Creatives is an online coworking space and community for artists. WRC unites creatives from all artistic disciplines to collaborate with and support the larger West River and South Dakota arts community. We offer a material share for anyone needing components. The WRC develops creative and artistic dialogue and experiences between the established and the experimental, the past and the present, in an environment that is responsive to the issues of modern and contemporary life and art. Being accessible to a diverse public ranging from elders to young children of every age and ethnicity, we also work to enrich the lives of our community members through the acquisition and presentation of art works through meaningful online exhibitions. Our work is intentionally developed to bring justice to all artists and offer thoughtful experiences, dialogues and interactions.
This event is rich; including a variety of sessions that synthesize cross-curricular educational sessions like art, literacy and yoga, promote and practice the foundations of yoga, creative movement, personal growth through creativity and empowerment, community, confidence, and life long skills encouraged by gratitude. By working with educational professionals, yoga instructors, mental health providers, cultural leadership and more, we provide unique experiences for children of all ages, families and our communities!
Gather to Grow | Family Yoga Event
Balanced Brews | BB 4 Bliss
This event is a beautifully curated to ensure a blissful experience filled with yoga-based sessions. The time is set for relaxation, community building and deep self-awareness. The special sessions crafted are based in yogic principles, meditative practices and connection to the natural beauty of the He Sapa (Black Hills) surrounding us. The co-hosts for BB 4 Bliss are CAT Scratch Studios and local breweries. Attendees enjoy an intentional, connective and peaceful event followed by sipping on a cold, fresh brew. This event is unique. Setting up participants to engage mind, body and soul in the co-creative power of manifesting a life filled with love and purpose.