Beloved Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues Society Dissolves After 35 Years

One of the biggest music festivals in Sioux Falls was The Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues Festival – JazzFest. The Sioux Falls Jazz and Blues Society hosted the giant music weekend along with other events including The Jazz Diversity Project, The All-City Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Camp, and scholarship programs.

For the last couple of years, the local Sioux Falls JazzFest has been canceled with the hopes of its triumphant return. Unfortunately, the Sioux Falls Jazz and Blues Society made the difficult decision to dissolve the organization.

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Our partners at Dakota News Now are reporting that the sudden announcement is not something the Sioux Falls Jazz and Blues Society takes lightly. The COVID-19 pandemic did not help the struggles of the organization. Here's a statement from the Board of Directors shared with Dakota News Now:

“The last few years, including during the pandemic, have been challenging not just for SFJB but also other smaller arts non-profits. We are proud of the programming we supported during this time and especially proud that we are able to continue our mission of music and arts education through Levitt at the Falls and the Sioux Falls Arts Council. THANK YOU to the community, volunteers, staff, directors, and sponsors for their support over the years.”

So what happens with the current funds of the Sioux Falls Jazz and Blues Society? The funds will be distributed to the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation and the Sioux Falls Arts Council’s Artist Micro-Grant program. The hope is to use the funds for educational music programs.

More information about the announcement from the Sioux Falls Jazz and Blues Society and where the funds are going can be found here.