The city of Sioux Falls celebrated the opening of the Carver Gallery, a free public art gallery on the first floor of City Hall that exclusively features local Sioux Falls artists. The inaugural exhibition includes 12 local artists working in various mediums, with a jury-selected winning piece, "Lighthouse" by Breanna Fischer, to be purchased for the city's collection. The gallery also offers a People's Choice Award, allowing the public to vote online for their favorite work, with the winning artist receiving a solo exhibition and their piece added to the city's collection.
The Carver Gallery is part of a broader citywide arts and culture master plan aimed at making public art more accessible and supporting local artists. Originally opened in 2019 by Mayor Paul TenHaken and named after arts advocate Charlotte Carver, the gallery was sidelined during the pandemic but has now been revitalized with a commitment to refresh the exhibition every six months. This initiative demonstrates the city's investment in its creative community and provides a free, recurring platform for local artists to gain visibility and have their work permanently acquired for public buildings.