From outside, the large brown building that houses Flutter Productions gives little indication of the colorful magic that happens inside its doors. But when performers, volunteers, and theater students fill the space, new possibilities and beautiful worlds are born, creating a ripple effect throughout our entire community.
Founded by Heather Pickering in 2008, Flutter Productions joined the Black Hills Works family in 2015. Under Pickering’s artistic direction, adults and youth of all abilities join forces to create astounding, one-of-a-kind productions and original fashion shows. Individuals who are supported by Black Hills Works also enroll in theater classes outside of production seasons.
“We know that one marker of a successful and vibrant community is the presence of the arts,” says Pickering. “Flutter focuses on empowering individuals who have been historically marginalized by society,” demonstrating that “their vision and creativity is valued and valid.”
Hundreds of audience members enjoy Flutter’s creative and thought-provoking productions, which are the culmination of months of devoted work. Performers grow and develop in many ways pre-production. As Pickering explains, during rehearsals and planning, performers “are building critical thinking, problem solving skills, and synthesizing information. They have to use coordination, dexterity, communication skills, and emotional intelligence.
The experience boosts self-confidence and perception of themselves.” Volunteers of all ages and young dancers are heavily involved in productions, building a healthy ecosystem of collaborative relationships.
Suzie Cappa Arts Center is another arts enterprise housed at Black Hills Works. Located in downtown Rapid City, the working studio and gallery employs 30 artists. Like their peers at Flutter Productions, the artists here experience many benefits of arts involvement. Whether they work with paint, clay, fabric, or ink, the act of creative self-expression and collaboration promotes much of the same skill development that occurs in theater. The involvement of artists in residence, volunteers, and gallery customers offers opportunities to build a wider community as well.
While performing and visual arts offer numerous cognitive and social benefits to actors and artists, audiences and art lovers also benefit. Pickering says their productions “amplify the creativity and contributions of individuals with disabilities, showcase their talents in performances that bring together community members, build connections
