The 7th Annual South Carolina Clay Conference will be held September 17-19 at Newberry Firehouse Conference Center. The theme this year is Embrace Flame, learn about and participate in wood firing. Register at SouthCarolinaClayConference.com by September 10.
North Carolina Writers' Network (NCWN) presents the Squire Summer Writing Workshops, offering an intensive course in a chosen genre (fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry), with ten hour-and-a-half sessions over the four days of the program. Registrants work in-depth on their own manuscript samples, as well as their colleagues’, while also studying the principles of the genre with their instructor. Other features include faculty readings, panel discussions, and open mic sessions for residents. Faculty includes Kathryn Kirkpatrick (Poetry); Mark Powell (Fiction), and Zackary Vernon (CNF). Registration and payment deadline is July 7th. Fees vary depending on NCWN membership and on-campus housing. (Some scholarship aid is available; deadline to apply is June 25th.)
The North Carolina Writers' Network, the UNC-Greensboro MFA Program in Creative Writing, and the Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County bring you two evenings and one full day of classes, workshops, and conversations on the craft and business of writing fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction—entirely online. The conference features classes in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction, as well as sessions on the craft and business of writing, faculty readings, an an open mic. The faculty includes memoirst James Tate Hill; poet Terry L. Kennedy; fiction writer Zelda Lockhart; poet Ashley Lumpkin; fiction writer Valerie Nieman; poet Joseph Mills; poet Emilia Phillips; poet Ross White; and essayist Eric G. Wilson.
Infinity Song and solo artist Victory Boyd perform with the goal of bringing a positive, family-friendly message with soothing sounds and bright dispositions. They'll be joined by other seasoned recording artists to introduce a new nonprofit arm of the artists' founding recording label, Peace Industry Music Group, at the Redemption Song USA Inaugural Event, October 2nd through 4th at the Charleston Marriott Hotel. This will be a socially distanced event, in compliance with local Health Department guidelines.
North Carolina Writers' Network presents its Writingest State Online Conference 2020, a five-day festival for writers held online November 10th through 14th. The festival features classes and conversations on the craft and business of writing, as well as a keynote address by North Carolina Poet Laureate Jaki Shelton Green, a Pre-Conference Tailgate, a Prompt Party to get creative juices flowing, online Open Mic readings, Happy Hour virtual gatherings, and an Agents & Editors panel discussion. The registration deadline is November 9th.
The purpose of TEDxCharleston is to gather inspiring people with diverse ideas to share the many untold stories of Charleston’s thinkers, visionaries, and teachers. It's a setting where connections, partnerships and opportunities can be forged; and where the past is honored while something new is brought forth for consideration and action. This year's theme, Cascades, embodies the spirit that triggers great force and movement within the Charleston community and beyond. The city is overflowing with energy and momentum, and Cascades illustrates the dynamic renaissance the whole area is experiencing. The 2020 event explores timely, relevant and inspiring ideas with the power to cascade throughout the rest of the world. Scheduled speakers include artists, educators, students, scientists, legal advocates, entrepreneurs, environmentalists, and military experts. TEDxCharleston: Cascades is set for September 15th at Charleston Music Hall. This event was originally scheduled for April 1, 2020.
The South Carolina Arts Commission is partnering with the Peace Center for the Performing Arts to offer free professional development for South Carolina teaching artists. This new standardized program grants participants Certified Teaching Artist status on the South Carolina Arts Directory. Teaching Artist Certification provides the professional tools and practical skills to create the richest possible arts education experience for learners of all backgrounds. The program will bolster the creative process and strategic implementation of arts residencies that Teaching Artists can provide in classrooms for students and teachers. South Carolina Teaching Artist Professional Development for Certification will take place March 30th and 31st at the Peace Center in Greenville. The online application includes uploading two sample activity or lesson plans, a headshot, and a resume or CV. The deadline to complete your registration is March 16th.
The North Carolina Writers' Network 2020 Spring Conference offers intensive workshops in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction; as well as publisher exhibits, "Lunch With an Author," readings, an open mic, and the annual "Slush Pile Live!" This year's faculty includes poets Stuart Dischell, Jennie Malboeuf, and Timothy O'Keefe; fiction writers Xhenet Aliu, Jorge D. Cortese, Quinn Dalton, and Lynn York; and creative nonfiction writers Randal O'Wain, Cameron Kent, Bridgette A. Lacy, and Aimee Mepham. The Keynote Celebration will feature members of the Carolina African-American Writers' Collective. The Conference takes place April 18th at the MHRA Building, on the campus of The University of North Carolina at Greensboro. (Note: Early registration rates available until 9:00 am April 13th.)
The 6th annual South Carolina Clay Conference will be held February 28th through March 1st, at the Firehouse Conference Center in Newberry. The conference brings in national and internationally known clay artists to demonstrate, discuss their work, studio habits and inspirations. This year's presenters include Akira Satake, Kristin Schoonover, and Rosa & Winton Eugene. The mission of the SCCC is to connect potters and clay artists with other amateurs and professionals in their field and to learn from the presenters and each other. The SCCC also features a pottery sale of work by the presenters and participating attendees. Registration for the conference is intentionally kept small to allow attendees access to the presenters and speakers. The registration deadline is February 18th.
McKissick Museum at USC in Columbia has a history of documenting and preserving the textile traditions of the South, and they'd like to help you do the same! On Quilt Documentation Days, visitors can have their quilts examined and documented by museum staff, for free, a first come, first served basis. It's a chance to learn more about the quilts that have been passed down from your great-grandmother, or hiding in your attic for the last decade, and help McKissick gather information for future research. Quilt Documentation Days are held on the 2nd Saturday of the month, February through June, from 11:00am to 2:00pm.