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South Carolina Arts Commission News
May 2010
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Hello everyone,
The big news this month is close to home -- Ken May has been named executive director of the Arts Commission! Congratulations to Ken, who has served as acting director for a year. Congratulations are also in order for Matt Matthews of Greer, the 2010 First Novel Prize winner.
Thank you to everyone who attended a Canvas of the People meeting or completed a survey. We heard many different ideas as we traveled the state about what's working and how to overcome challenges and embrace opportunities. All of the comments and the survey results are now posted online -- read the Canvas article to find out more.
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Ken May named executive director
 After a national search that attracted 230 applications, the S.C. Arts Commission board has named Ken May as the new executive director of the agency. May
joined the Arts Commission in 1985 as a regional arts coordinator and served as
director of planning, research and grants and assistant deputy director before
being named deputy director in 1995. May has served as acting director since former Executive Director Susie Surkamer retired in May 2009. Read the press release announcing May's selection.
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What did we hear on the Canvas tour?
What did folks have to say during the Canvas of
the People tour? Find out what we heard in Aiken, Beaufort, Columbia, Greenville, Hartsville and Spartanburg about what's working in the arts and what challenges and opportunities await local communities and the state. Visit the website to read all of the comments and the results of the Canvas of the People 2010 survey.
A group of community leaders from around the state is assisting the Arts Commission staff and board in reviewing and organizing the information. The next step is a draft of a long-range plan based on the Canvas input. Stay tuned!
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African-American Voice exhibition opens in Traveler's Rest June 19
Larry Jordan
Vase of the New Moon  | The African-American Voice exhibition continues to tour the state with the next stop at the Trillium Arts Centre in Traveler's Rest. Thirty-seven State Art Collection works by 21 African-American
artists will be exhibited June 19 through July 31. The African-American Voice artists range from self-taught, outsider artists Sam Doyle, Leroy Marshall Richard Burnside
The Ancient King with Attendants  | and Dan Robert Miller to academically trained artists Leo Twiggs, Arthur Rose and Tarleton Blackwell. A
number of the artists are noted arts educators as well. The exhibition
is free to the public. Visit the website for an exhibition preview and more information. For information about bringing the exhibition to your community, contact Harriett Green, (803) 734-8762. |
Greer writer named First Novel winner
 The S.C.
Arts Commission and its literary partners have named William P. "Matt" Matthews
of Greer, S.C., the winner of the 2010 S.C.
First Novel Prize. Matthews' novel, Mercy
Creek, will be published by Hub City Press, an award-winning independent press in Spartanburg.
Hub City Press will publish at least 1,500
hardback copies of the novel, including a book for every public library branch
in the state. Collaborating with Hub City and the S.C. Arts Commission to
present this contest are the S.C. State Library and the Humanities CouncilSC.
Visit the website for more information about Matthews, his book and the contest.
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South Carolina Arts Gala a sell-out!
Jonathan Green and Pat Conroy received Verner Lifetime Achievement Awards. | Nearly 600 attendees joined the celebration during the South Carolina Arts Gala on May 6.
Congratulations to the Verner Award honorees and to former Gov. Richard
W. Riley, recipient of the McNair Award. Thank you to the artists, the
sponsors, the S.C. Arts Foundation and to everyone who
helped make the evening a special event! Take a look at the photos.
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Artist space funds available from LINC
 Nonprofit arts organizations with strong track records of
artistic
excellence that intend to buy, build, renovate, partner or become anchor tenants in a vibrant artist space can
apply for up to $100,000 through the LINC/Ford Foundation Space for Change Planning and Pre-Development Grant program. Some of the eligible activities include advocacy to develop community commitment, feasibility studies, strategic and program planning for the space, site identification, land surveys, and architectural and legal services. Letters of inquiry are accepted on a rolling basis and are due by Sept. 17 for the fall 2010 cycle. Read the complete guidelines on the LINC website.
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Join the Be ArtsReady movement!
 South Arts
(formerly the Southern Arts Federation) has launched ArtsReady.org to assist artists
and arts organizations in preparing for emergencies to ensure business continuity and long-term sustainability.
To "Be ArtsReady" means that your organization has a plan ready before it's needed. It means that you
have protected your organization's assets and can get
back to business after an emergency. It means that critical
documents are backed up and stored off-site, communication and evacuation
plans are in place and staff and volunteers are trained to carry out the readiness plan.
South Arts is currently developing a powerful online planning tool to help arts organizations and artists "Be ArtsReady." Visit ArtsReady.org to learn more, review readiness resources and download materials for use in your own communications.
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What do South Carolinians think about the arts?
As part of the Canvas of the People process, the S.C. Arts Commission placed several questions about the public's participation in and attitudes toward the arts in the fall 2009 S.C. State Survey. The survey is administered twice a year by the USC Institute for Public Service and Policy Research. Here are some highlights: - Almost 67 percent of adult South Carolinians participated in the arts at least once during the last year.
- The average frequency of participation was 14 times per year.
- More than 70 percent said that the arts are an extremely or very important part of basic education, and another 25 percent said that the arts are somewhat important.
- Regarding state and local government funding for the arts, 38 percent favor increased funding and 55 percent said that funding should be kept at its current level.
- 79 percent favor increased funding to strengthen arts education in our schools.
Read the complete survey report on the website.
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Grant writing workshop for nonprofits
The Central Midlands Council of Government and Grant Writing USA will present a two-day grant writing workshop in Columbia June 14-15. Beginning and experienced grant writers from city, county and
state agencies as well as nonprofits, K-12, colleges and universities are
encouraged to attend. Cost is $425 per person. Visit Grant Writing USA's website for registration details.
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Quote this
"Each of us is an artist, capable of conceiving and creating a vision from the depth of our being."
-- Dorothy Fadiman
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Milly Hough
Communications Director
S.C. Arts Commission
803.734.8698
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| The South Carolina Arts Commission is the state agency
charged with creating a thriving arts environment that benefits all
South Carolinians, regardless of their location or circumstances.
Created by the South Carolina General Assembly in 1967, the Arts
Commission works to increase public participation in the arts by
providing services, grants and leadership initiatives in three areas:
arts education, community arts development and artist development.
Headquartered in Columbia, S. C., the Arts Commission is funded by the
state of South Carolina and by the federal government through the
National Endowment for the Arts. For more information, visit SouthCarolinaArts.com or call 803.734.8696. |
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