The South Dakota Association of Healthcare Organizations (SDAHO) hosted the 2nd Annual Facility Art Contest at the 2025 Post-Acute Partners in Care Conference that took place April 8-9, at the Sioux Falls Convention Center.
This year’s theme, “Seasons of Change,” inspired creativity and connection across participating facilities. 15 facilities participated in this year’s contest with attendees at the conference voting on their favorite project. Winners were announced, with each receiving a monetary prize.
1st Place – Dow Rummel Village Sioux Falls, South Dakota – $2500
Dow Rummel Village “Sunflowers”. This entry uses a native flower to North America, seen in fields in certain parts of South Dakota. This sunflower is a symbol of enlightenment, spiritual awaking and personal growth. These attributes guided the theme behind Dow Rummel’s submission, that uses reclaimed wood for the frame, with the residents of all levels of the care facility helping with the painting of the images. The canvas showcases a vast prairie sky with a beautiful field of sunflowers emerging from the canvas.
2nd Place – Sunset Manor, Avera – Irene, South Dakota – $1500
Sunset Manor, Avera – This colorful art piece beautifully illustrates the journey of aging and the transitions we all experience throughout life. Set against vibrant seasonal backgrounds, each scene is brought to life using striking black silhouette images that tell a universal story.
The journey begins in Spring, with children at play, full of energy and promise. It then moves into Summer, where young adults fall in love and begin new lives together. Fall captures the essence of growing families, full of warmth and activity. Finally, the piece transitions into Winter, symbolizing the golden years—peaceful, reflective, and full of wisdom.
This visual narrative reminds us of the beauty and inevitability of change, as we each move through the ever-shifting seasons of life.
3rd Place – Avera Brady Health and Rehab, Mitchell, SD – $750
Avera Brady Health and Rehab – Branches of Time. This collaborative artwork is created with the hands and hearts of the nursing home residents. It embodies the journey of life through the changing seasons from a twisted wire tree. Each color represents a season with hanging ornaments that bring these stages to life, with each piece holding a personal meaning and memory for a resident.
A heartfelt thank you to all the Activity Directors, residents, and staff who contributed their time and creativity. Your support has helped bring this fun and meaningful event to life. To view all this year’s entries, click here.
