Matthews Opera House To Close Art Gallery In Spearfish

The Matthews Opera House is closing its downtown Spearfish Art Gallery on March 14, ending more than two decades of giving local artists a place to showcase and sell their work. Executive director Heath Johnson says the nonprofit has been struggling to keep up with the costs of maintaining a Main Street property, especially as many nonprofits face financial pressure. Johnson says the closure won’t affect the rest of the Opera House, and the organization now plans to shift toward a more “distributed” arts model—partnering with businesses and community spaces around Spearfish to display local art. The gallery’s final exhibit, Ink and Imagination, remains open through March 14, with free admission from 10 to 5, Monday through Saturday.