Rise Up Arts Mentorship Program

Cultivating the next generation of Sioux Falls artists

Started in 2021 by local performing artists Lisa Conlin and Madeleine Titze, Rise Up has served as an opportunity for young artists in the community to receive one-on-one mentorship throughout the summer from local professional artists, arts educators and creatives. Mentors volunteer their time for a designated number of hours over the summer months to help youth participants develop a piece to present at the annual showcase each September at McKennan Park in central Sioux Falls. It’s a completely free experience for youth participants across the city.

How it Works:

In the spring, youth performing and visual artists are paired with adult mentors in their field of interest — from instrumental music, to contemporary dance, to musical theatre, to comedy-writing, to photography — the goal is to cultivate the skills of the young artists in our community.

Participants gather at our kick-off meet-and-greet in early June, after which they’re encouraged to meet up with throughout the summer for approximately six to eight hours of mentorship in preparation for the fall showcase. The two- to five-minute pieces of each of the around a dozen mentorship pairings will comprise the showcase, an outdoor celebration of the work they’ve done throughout the summer!

Want to Support Rise Up?

2025 Rise Up Arts Mentorship Showcase

This year’s showcase is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 7, at 2 p.m. at McKennan Park. It’s a free event, and community members are encouraged to grab a lawn char, attend and enjoy, to support young artists sharing their gifts with our city.

Interested in Rise Up?

If you or someone you know would be interested in participating as a mentor or mentee for a future session of the Rise Up Mentorship Program, provide your information below, and the Rise Up team will be in touch should there be a slot available to you.