At the Matthews Opera House & Arts Center, collaboration is at the heart of how we cultivate creativity and strengthen community. We believe the arts thrive when artists, organizations, educators, and community members work together to share ideas, resources, and creative experiences. Our collaborative programs aim to connect diverse voices and disciplines throughout Spearfish and the Black Hills. By working alongside local artists, schools, nonprofits, and businesses, we create opportunities that expand access to the arts and invite people of all ages and backgrounds to participate in the creative process. Through collaboration, we strive to build a supportive network for artists, spark meaningful conversations, and ensure that creativity continues to be a vibrant and accessible part of everyday life in our community.
Canyon Hills Program
The Canyon Hills Center Visiting Artist Program is a partnership between Canyon Hills Center in Spearfish, operated by Lutheran Social Services of South Dakota, and the Matthews Opera House. This program brings professional artists into the classroom for hands-on creative learning. The residential center supports youth as they work towards stability, personal growth, and successful transitions back to their communities.
Cary A. Thrall began working with Canyon Hills Center as a visiting artist in 2018 and became the program’s Managing Artist in 2021, coordinating the visiting artists and developing creative programming for students in grades 8-12. This work is special to her because it aligns so well with Creative Explorations Nonprofit, which she leads, and her local arts business, CAT Scratch Studios; both focus on expanding access to creative learning, holistic, healthy lifestyles, and community connection through the arts.
Visits take place bi-weekly, with two sessions serving 12–15 students each. Returning throughout the year allows students to build relationships with artists while exploring drawing, watercolor, printmaking, poetry, book arts, and mixed media. Working with professional artists gives students space to slow down, focus, and experiment with creative problem-solving. These experiences build confidence, support self-expression, and introduce students to positive mentors from the creative community.
Journey Home
Guided Imagery & Creative Expression
A collaborative program with Sarah Sue Burich (Journey Home Healing). The Matthews partners with wellness guide Sarah Sue to offer a unique blend of guided imagery and creative expression. Participants are guided through a gentle visualization journey and invited to explore their experience through writing, drawing, painting, or other creative outlets. No artistic experience is needed; art supplies are provided. This program strengthens the Matthews community by providing a space for reflection, creative exploration, and personal well-being. It fosters connection, self-expression, and resilience, allowing participants to leave grounded, inspired, and with a tangible self-care tool to carry forward.
Dates: March 21, April 11, May 16 | 10–11:30am
Black Hills State University Collaborations
The Matthews Opera House is proud to collaborate with Black Hills State University to create engaging opportunities for artists and the community to connect through creative experiences. Together, we have hosted mural painting sessions, live drawing events, and interactive art exhibits that invite participation and celebrate the creative energy of students, faculty, and local artists.
These partnerships bring fresh perspectives into the Matthews while providing students with opportunities to share their work beyond campus. We look forward to continuing this collaboration and exploring new projects that expand creative learning, public art, and community engagement in the years ahead.
Art-O-Mat Installation
The Matthews Opera House is proud to host an Art-o-mat, a unique vending machine that dispenses original, pocket-sized works of art. Created in 1997 by artist Clark Whittington, these machines are restored vintage cigarette machines that have been transformed into interactive art experiences. Visitors simply purchase a token, pull a knob, and receive a small, original artwork created by one of hundreds of participating artists.
Each piece comes packaged in a cigarette-pack-sized box and can include miniature paintings, prints, sculptures, jewelry, or other creative surprises. The project now includes hundreds of artists and machines installed in museums, galleries, and creative spaces around the world, all with the mission of making art accessible, collectible, and fun.
Learn more about the project at Artists in Cellophane and their official site, Artomat.org
