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South Carolina Arts Commission News
June 2010
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Hello everyone,
Executive Director
Ken May
 | Thanks to your tireless efforts, the Arts Commission survived both of the Governor's vetoes. We heard from numerous legislators that your calls, e-mails and letters made a big difference in their overriding of both vetoes. We also heard that the grassroots campaign to save state arts funding was the envy of professional lobbyists who work regularly at the Statehouse. The most interesting part of the story may be how the speed of communicating via Facebook and other social media tools helped save the day. From the first post on our Facebook page to the launch of three Facebook pages by arts supporters, we had a five-day window in which to spread the word. Every time you shared, commented or "liked" a post on any of those pages, you helped expand the audience. As of June 28, the Facebook following had grown to nearly 14,000 fans.
Thank you to everyone who helped mobilize support and to everyone who stepped up to speak for the arts. We're glad to know that you are willing to act on your convictions in this fundamental, democratic way. This is very important, because even though the immediate threat may be over, the long-term challenge is ongoing. So again, thank you. Whether you worked your phone behind the scenes or held a sign at the Statehouse rally, this victory is yours.
Sincerely,
 Ken May
Executive Director |
Say "thank you" and stay connected
 If the veto override effort was your first involvement in arts advocacy, you might be wondering, "what's next?" The next step is to thank legislators for their support of arts funding. This step is just as important as your request for help. You can also continue to educate those who voted against the override by sharing compelling stories that illustrate why you support the arts in our classrooms and our communities.
Your second step is to stay connected. Contact Betty Plumb at the S.C. Arts Alliance and ask to be added to the alert list. As the hub of a network of arts providers and advocates in the state, the Arts Alliance monitors legislation and notifies arts supporters of important developments. Joining the alert list is free, but you can also support the work of the Alliance with a membership or donation.
If you're a seasoned advocacy pro, but you weren't following the Facebook campaign, you might want to connect in a new way. You might also be inspired by the many supportive comments that were posted over the last few weeks. Here are five Facebook pages to view:
S.C. Arts Commission (official agency page)
S.C. Arts Alliance
Save the S.C. Arts Commission Now!
Save the Arts in S.C. Stop the Arts Veto!
Break the Deal!
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Exceptional artists recognized as Fellows
Left to right, from top:Graci, Madden, Hagerty and Rogers
 | Congratulations to the four artists chosen as S.C. Arts Commission Individual Artist Fellows! Barbara Hagerty of Charleston (poetry), Ed Madden of Columbia (prose), Rodney Lee Rogers of Charleston (playwriting), and Sharon Graci of Charleston (acting), will
each receive $5,000 in recognition of their superior artistic merit. Read more about the artists and the fellowships online. Fellowships recognize the artistic achievements of S.C's exceptional individual artists and can lead to additional exposure and opportunities. Fellowships are made through a highly competitive, anonymous process
and are
based solely on artistic excellence. The next round of Fellowships will recognize artists working in visual arts, craft, music performance and music composition. Applications are due Oct. 1.
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Sandlapper magazine is new Fiction Project partner
 The S.C.
Arts Commission and Sandlapper magazine
announce the 2011 South Carolina Fiction Project, a writing competition for previously
unpublished short stories of 2,500 words or less. Up to eight stories will be selected for publication; each writer whose work
is selected will receive $250 from Sandlapper, which purchases
first publication rights.
Applicants should
submit an application form, a brief biography and three copies of the
story entry to the Arts Commission by Oct. 1, 2010. Forms and guidelines are available on the Arts Commission's website.
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African-American Voice exhibition continues in Travelers Rest until July 31
Larry Jordan
Vase of the New Moon  | The African-American Voice exhibition runs through July 31 at the Trillium Arts Centre in Travelers Rest. The exhibition includes 37 State Art Collection works by 21 African-American
artists. The exhibition
is free to the public. Visit the website for an exhibition preview and more information. State Art Collection traveling exhibitions are available through the Arts Commission's Art in Sight program. For information about bringing the State Art Collection to your community, contact Harriett Green, (803) 734-8762. |
New Arts Commission member and officers
Dr. Sarah Lynn Hayes  | Dee Crawford  | On July 1, the S.C. Arts Commission welcomes new commissioner, Delores "Dee" Crawford of Aiken. Among her many volunteer positions, she serves on the boards of Julliard in Aiken and the Center for African-American History, Art, and Culture of Aiken Regional Medical
Centers. A successful entrepreneur, Crawford is president of a McDonald's organization that includes five restaurants with more
than 250 employees. Also on July 1, the Arts Commission says thank you and farewell to commissioner Dr. Noble Cooper Jr. for his many years of service and support.
2010-2011 officers are: Dr. Sarah Lynn Hayes of Rock Hill, chair; Henry Horowitz of Greenville, vice chair; Elizabeth Factor of Charleston, executive committee; and Bud Ferillo of Columbia, immediate past chair.
The governing body of the Commission is composed of nine volunteer
citizens
appointed at large for three-year terms by the Governor to guide the development of the arts. Commissioners
are S.C. residents who are selected for their practice of, participation in, or support
of the creative and interpretive
arts.
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Teachers: make poetry matter for your students
 Poetry Out Loud: National Recitation Contest was designed so that teachers can easily implement this "poetry bee" contest in the classroom. Poetry Out Loud fits well into literature curriculum, satisfying most of the National Council for Teachers of English (NCTE)
English Language Arts Standards. The program creates an entry point for students to appreciate poetry and strengthens written and oral communication and presentation skills. Each year the program awards more than $100,000 in prizes to students and schools at the state and national levels. Teachers who want to use the program without entering the national competition can access the curricular materials online. For a program overview, classroom tools and model recitations, visit the national Poetry Out Loud website. For more information or to enroll in the S.C. competition, contact Frances Kablick, (803) 734-8639. The deadline to sign up for Poetry Out Loud is Oct. 1.
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An update on Canvas results
Folks around the state had ideas a plenty during the 2010 Canvas of the People tour. Hundreds of comments have now been condensed into a summary list. Visit the website to read the summary or all of the comments and the results.
The next step is a draft of a long-range plan based on the Canvas input. Stay tuned!
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Quote this
"People need trouble -- a little frustration to sharpen the spirit on, toughen it. Artists do; I
don't mean you need to live in a rat hole or gutter, but you have to learn
fortitude, endurance. Only vegetables are happy."
-- William Faulkner, 1897-1962
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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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