A black and white photograph of the exterior of the Oglala Lakota Artspace building in Kyle, SD. The focal point of the photo is a steel sculpture outside of the building that symbolizes Lakota Star Knowledge.

OLA is the first community arts facility on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in Kyle, South Dakota. The 8,500 square-foot space is dedicated and available to the large community of artists and culture bearers who live there.

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PROGRAMS > oglala lakota artspace

About the OLA

The Oglala Lakota Artspace (OLA) is an arts facility on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in Kyle, South Dakota. Completed in 2021, the Native-run program is administered by Oglala Lakota Artspace LLC, a partnership between Artspace, Lakota Funds, and First Peoples Fund. The facility provides a collaborative and intergenerational environment for artists to learn, share, and grow their businesses. Oglala Lakota Artspace LLC partners with local artists and Rolling Rez Arts to offer artistic, business, and financial services to Native artists across the Pine Ridge Reservation.

The Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, located within the Great Sioux Territory, is home to around 26,000 tribal members, with a significant portion being 25 years old or younger. Roughly 30% of the population identifies as artists. However, Native artists on the reservation face challenges in accessing creative space, business training, supplies, equipment, and networks necessary for building successful art businesses rooted in Lakota cultural identity. This hinders the development of art business skills, intergenerational sharing of cultural knowledge, and the ability to generate income from art businesses. Additionally, it limits the broader expression of Lakota culture and identity, which is desired for healing and strengthening the people of Pine Ridge. The Rolling Rez Arts bus was established in 2016 to address these issues, and now the Oglala Lakota Artspace has been opened. Together, they serve as a central hub for Lakota youth, artists, and culture bearers, offering year-round arts and culture programming, studio and production spaces, as well as business and financial services.

A 3d aerial rending of the Oglala Lakota Artspace

the 8,500 square-foot arts facility features

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Artist Studios
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Recording Studio
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Classroom Space
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Outdoor Market Space
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Community Gathering Space
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Performance Space
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Lakota Federal Credit Union
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Rolling Rez Arts Bus
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Homebase for Wicahpi Olawan Music Program
donate to the ola

OLA Programs

Upcoming Events at the OLA

OLA Accessibility Coordinators

A portrait of Leslie Mesteth (Oglala Lakota) Associate Director of the OLA

Leslie Mesteth

Oglala Lakota
Associate Director, Oglala Lakota Artspace
A portrait of Talon Bazille Ducheneaux in the Wicahpi Olowan Recording Studio at Oglala Lakota Artspace.

Talon Bazille Ducheneaux

Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe
Manager, Wicahpi Olowan Music Program
Interested in upcoming workshops and events at the Oglala Lakota Artspace? Or, would you like to host an event or workshop at OLA? Reach out to us at programs@firstpeoplesfund.org

Artist-In-Residency Program

The Oglala Lakota Artspace Artist-in-Residence Program is designed to support Oglala Lakota culture bearers and artists working in the continuum of Lakota art, historically, traditionally, and contemporarily, to develop their practice and build collaborations with local artists and the community.

residencies

Residencies are available for two to six weeks in 2023, including living accommodations, a food stipend, a workspace, a material stipend, transportation to and from the residency space, and uninterrupted time to concentrate on creative practice. The residency is open to Oglala Lakota visual artists, writers, composers, choreographers, interdisciplinary artists, performance artists, and collaborative teams, with established or emerging artists encouraged to apply.

Applications for 2023 have been closed. Subscribe to our newsletter to learn more about future application cycles.

OLA Artist-In-Residency living room with a gray couch and tv mounted to the wall.OLA Artist-In-Residency bedroom - a double bed against a wall with a window.OLA Artist-In-Residency kitchen with wood cabinets and modern appliances.

2023 Artists-In-Residence

The Oglala Lakota Artspace (OLA) is thrilled to introduce the talented Oglala Lakota artists selected for our inaugural Artist-in-Residence (AiR) program! This groundbreaking initiative aims to provide a nurturing environment for Oglala Lakota artists to showcase their artistic prowess, explore new horizons, and contribute to the rich tapestry of indigenous art.

We are proud to present this incredible group of artists, who embody the spirit and creativity of the Oglala Lakota community. Each artist brings a unique perspective and artistic style, promising a dynamic and engaging residency experience.