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Summerville Orchestra sees momentum with new staff, partnership

Education and outreach programming see boost

Summerville Orchestra is having itself a month.

Last week, it announced DeAnndra Glenn as the inaugural director and education coordinator for the new Summerville Orchestra Youth Philharmonic (S.O. Youth Philharmonic) and education program, bringing "a wealth of teaching and performing experience to the position," according to a news release. Glenn (right) has taught strings students of all ages in the Charleston area since 2005 and has performed with the Charleston Symphony Orchestra, the North Charleston POPS! and with Mannheim Steamroller, Michael Bublé and Michael W. Smith among many others. She was conductor of the Charleston County School District Honors Orchestra from 2005 to 2010, and served for seven years as a strings instructor for both the Charleston County School district summer SMAART (Students Mastering the Academic Arts) program and the West Ashley middle and high schools. Glenn founded Charleston Violin Studio, and many of her violin and viola students have gained admission to the Charleston County School District School of the Arts, Rollings School of the Arts, the Lowcountry Region and South Carolina All-State Orchestras and the Charleston Symphony Youth Orchestra. She holds a Bachelor of Music in violin performance from the University of Montana and a South Carolina teaching certification in instrumental music. She received her training in the Suzuki method and “Every Child Can!” from East Carolina University. She studied locally under the College of Charleston’s Lee-Chin Siow. Glenn and S.O. staff will work with area school music instructors to identify and audition students for participation. Auditions will be held on Monday, Sept. 19, 6-7 p.m., at Alston Middle School, 500 Bryan St., Summerville. Additional information is available at www.summervilleorchestra.org/youth. The S.O. Youth Philharmonic is being made possible through a $10,000 Term Arts Education Project grant from the SCAC. The mission of the Youth Philharmonic program is to provide an affordable youth orchestra experience to public, private and charter school students as well as home-schooled students in the tri-county. The Youth Philharmonic is scheduled to perform three concerts this year and will also conduct workshops and summer programs that engage students throughout the year.
[caption id="attachment_51010" align="alignright" width="350"]A Summerville Orchestra string quarter performs on an indoor stage. A Summerville Orchestra string quarter performs. Provided photo.[/caption] Additionally, a new partnership the orchestra announced will bring music and art together in a new series featuring the Summerville Orchestra (S.O.) String Quartet at the Public Works Arts Center (PWAC). Titled “A Musical SPARK,” the first of four free Saturday concert/art experiences, or PWAC Strolls, will be held on Sept. 24 from 6:30-8 p.m. at the PWAC at 135 W. Richardson Ave. This performance will include selections from Tchaikovsky’s “Children’s Album,” the music of PIXAR and more – music inspired by and about our youth – to highlight the featured SPARK exhibition concurrently on display at PWAC. Registration for the launch event is required and is open here on a first-come, first-served basis. S.O.’s PWAC Stroll events will also be held in December, February and May. “Following the overwhelming community support for our Encore Series, we have sought ways to expand the reach of our free performances,” said Andrew Price, S.O.’s executive director. “This collaboration with the Public Works Arts Center allows us to not only increase the number of free concerts, but to expand our offerings to include an interactive, multi-sensory arts experience for attendees.” Reservations will be available on the S.O.’s website beginning approximately two weeks before each PWAC Stroll event. To maximize the number of participants who can participate in this immersive arts experience, there will be three 30-minute attendance slots for this first PWAC Stroll, and registrants will be invited to select one 30-minute window for participation. There will be a cash- or check-only bar with alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages available for purchase for $5 – state-issued ID required. Additional PWAC Series dates and programs for the 2022/2023 season include the following:
  • Sat., Dec. 17: Strings for the Season. A selection of holiday works by American composers will be paired with the work of artist Kent Ambler, the featured PWAC artist on exhibition.
  • Sat., Feb. 25: Water in Color. This performance will feature works by composers from around the world exploring themes of water, color palettes and the portrayal of daily life, to be paired with the work of featured PWAC artist Andrea Hazel.
  •  Sat., May 6: Abstract Chaos. Ensemble members will perform works by minimalist and Impressionist composers, exploring themes of layer, chaos, order, collage and color palettes to highlight the work of featured studio artists Anna Dean and Kate Ritchie.
All performances will run from 6:30-8 p.m. Registration for PWAC Stroll #1: A Musical SPARK is now open at https://summervilleorchestra.org/pwac-announcement/. To learn about the current gallery exhibits, visit https://www.publicworksartcenter.org/.
The Summerville Orchestra seeks to share its love of music by engaging and enriching the community through the orchestral art form. The 75-member orchestra performs an annual subscription series of five concerts at the Summers Corner Performing Arts Center, along with many free concerts and events during the year including an Encore Series of four chamber music concerts (held at Coastal Coffee Roasters), nine Music Chats with Wojciech (held at the Dorchester County Library), and other free concerts and events throughout the greater Summerville area. For more information about the S.O. or the S.O. Youth Symphony and Education Program, contact office@summervilleorchestra.org or call 843.873.5339.

Jason Rapp

Charleston Supported Art (CSA) seeks local, emerging and established artists for second year

After a successful launch in late 2013, Charleston Supported Art, LLC, is gearing up for its second year of local art sponsorship and distribution. On October 1, the group will begin accepting proposals from emerging and established visual artists to create original work for its 2015 seasonal shares. Contemporary visual artists ages 18 and up working in any media and living in the Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties are eligible to apply to the open call jury process, which closes on November 1, 2014. A link to the application as well as answers to frequently asked questions are available at www.CharlestonSupportedArt.com/how-to-apply. Charleston Supported Art (CSA) aims to support artists in the creation of new work, cultivate a culture of support for original work by Charleston area artists, and foster new relationships between buyers and artists with the potential for future art purchases. The program, which is based on the buy-local, from-the-source model of community supported agriculture, was met with great enthusiasm and support from artists and art patrons in its inaugural year. Artists who wish to participate in 2015 must submit an online application via Slideroom including a CV, work samples, and a proposal detailing the nature of the pieces that they intend to create for the program. A minimum of 25 artists will be chosen to move on to Phase II of the selection process and will be asked to create one piece that represents the style and quality of work that they will create for their season. After a review of these works and personal interviews, a total of 12 artists will be selected and will receive a stipend of $1,500 to produce 32 pieces of original fine art or fine craft, such as paintings, drawings, sculpture, photography, ceramics, textile, jewelry, and more. A jury panel consisting of the seven co-founders of CSA will make the selections. The panel will seek input from the 2014 roster of artists. CSA’s 2015 program will consist of three seasons – Spring, Summer, and Fall – with four artists per season. The 2015 artists and their season assignments will be publicly announced in January 2015. Seasonal shares will be available for purchase at $425 + tax following the announcement. The public will have an opportunity to meet the artists and view their work at a Meet & Greet event in February 2015. For more information about Charleston Supported Art, visit www.charlestonsupportedart.com. Questions or requests to be added to the CSA mailing list should be directed to info@charlestonsupportedart.com. Images: Work by 2014 artists.

CSAbanner

About Charleston Supported Art, LLC Charleston Supported Art is a platform to connect emerging and established artists and collectors. Launched in November 2013, the program is part of a nationwide movement that has developed in over 40 communities across the country and is the first of its kind in Charleston, SC. Co-founders include Kristy Bishop, Camela Guevara, Stacy Huggins, Karen Ann Myers, Erin Glaze Nathanson, AnneTrabue Nelson and Ann Simmons. Supporters include 1600 Meeting Street, Artist & Craftsman Supply, Básico, Cannonborough Beverage Company, Drill Films, Enough Pie, Frothy Beard Brewing Company, GrowFood Carolina, Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art, Ink Meets Paper, Mixson Bath & Racquet Club, Redux Contemporary Art Center, The Cut Company, Three Little Birds Café, and Tree Climber Productions. Via: Charleston Supported Art

Gullah Geechee artists and residents invited to community meetings

Gullah Geechee artists, residents and organization representatives are invited to a series of networking meetings hosted by the South Carolina Arts Commission and the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Commission. The goals of the meetings are to identify Gullah Geechee residents who practice or represent one or more of the expressions outlined in the Corridor’s management plan (music, arts, handicrafts, foodways, spirituality, language, education and economic development) and to gather ideas for developing awareness of the Gullah Geechee culture. The Arts Commission and the Corridor are partnering to create networks and resource opportunities.

To RSVP for either meeting, email sbauer@arts.sc.gov or call (803) 734-8687. Be sure to indicate which meeting you will attend: Each meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. and runs through 8 p.m.

The first meeting, held in Mt. Pleasant on Oct. 29, attracted a variety of community members.

“Our ultimate goal is to make new relationships that bring new resources to people and create interest in the Corridor – both in the state and beyond,” said Ken May, S.C. Arts Commission executive director. “We were pleased to have such a good turnout for the first meeting."

Those attending the meetings are encourage to share a "chatta" -- a seven-word essay describing a Gullah Geechee sentiment. Examples include: "Just the way we live. Embrace it!" and "Gullah Geechee wisdom. Listen to our ancestors." For additional information about the partnership, contact Arts Participation Program Director Susan DuPlessis, sduplessis@arts.sc.gov or (803) 734-8693. About the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor The Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor was designated a national heritage area by Congress on Oct. 12, 2006. The Corridor was created to recognize contributions made to American culture and history by African Americans known as Gullah Geechee, who settled in the coastal counties of South Carolina, Georgia, North Carolina, and Florida; to assist organizations in the four states in interpreting and preserving Gullah Geechee folklore, arts, crafts, and music; and to assist in identifying and preserving Gullah Geechee sites, historical data and artifacts for the benefit and education of the public. South Carolina counties in the Gullah Geechee Corridor are Beaufort, Berkeley, Charleston, Colleton, Dorchester, Georgetown, Horry, Jasper, Marion and Williamsburg. For more information, visit www.gullahgeecheecorridor.org.

Tri-county area receives grant funds from the S.C. Arts Commission

Thanks to the Charleston Regional Alliance for the Arts for posting this summary of South Carolina Arts Commission grants in Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties. And of course, we love the shout out for The Hub and for the S.C. Arts Alliance!

Each fall after an undoubtedly tense state budget season, performing, visual, literary, and arts education organizations across South Carolina cross their fingers waiting to hear whether or not the South Carolina Arts Commission's (SCAC) general operating and granting budget will stay in tact for another year.  Luckily, the 2013-2014 budget was approved as well as a $1 million increase in funds specifically for grants to organizations throughout the state.  The result is an increase in annual general operating and program specific support for the SCAC's grantees with 15% of all grant funds coming to nonprofit arts and arts education organizations in Charleston, Berkeley, and Dorchester counties. Here is a snapshot of overall funding granted to the tri-county for 2013-2014: General Operating Support: $276,648 (22% of total grant awards) Arts in Basic Curriculum Education Support: $35,560 (9.7% of total grant awards) Small Organization grants: $7,200 (17% of total grant awards) Subgranting (Lowcountry Quarterly Arts Grants Program): $9,491 (12.5% of all grant awards) Total: $332,034 (15% of total grant awards across all categories) The South Carolina Arts Commission was created by an act of the state legislature in 1967 in order to build a thriving arts environment for the benefit of all South Carolinians.  Since its inception the SCAC has focused its programs and services toward making the arts accessible to all SC citizens regardless of their economic status or location in a rural community of the state.  The SCAC's programs and services are focused in three core areas of: Artist Development, Arts Education, and Community Arts Development. The Arts Commission's primary source of funding is state tax dollars appropriated by the S.C. General Assembly. Grants from the federal government through the National Endowment for the Arts comprise the Commission's secondary source of funding. Additional support for Arts Commission projects is provided by private foundations and community sponsors.  After general operating funds, 70% of funding is granted back into communities across the state in order to support the arts and artists as a viable and important part of South Carolina's economy.  In addition to grants, the SCAC is also available to organizations year round and hosts several workshops, facilitates forums and discussions, and is available for consulting on a variety of areas of need such as board development strategies, strategic planning, etc. Organizations receiving funds this year in the tri-county include:
Charleston Chamber Opera Park Circle Film Society* Unedited Artists*
Smalls Institute for Music & Youth Leadership SC Watermedia Society (Dorchester County) Art Forms & Theatre Concepts*
Gibbes Museum of Art* Chamber Music Charleston* Charleston Academy of Music*
Charleston Artist Guild* Charleston Concert Association* Charleston Regional Alliance for the Arts
Charleston Stage Company* Charleston Symphony Orchestra* City of Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs*
City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department* Creative Spark Center for the Arts* Flowertown Players*
Footlight Players* Jazz Artists of Charleston* Theatre Charleston*
McClellanville Arts Council New Music Collective PURE Theatre*
Redux Contemporary Art Center* Robert Ivey Ballet Company* Sculpture in the South
Spoleto Festival USA Summerville Community Orchestra Village Repertory Company*
Alston Middle School Ashley River Elementary H.E. Bonner Elementary
Howe Hall AIMS Elementary Wando High School Windsor Hill Elementary
  *denotes members of the Charleston Regional Alliance for the Arts For more information on the granting process and for a full list of this year's grantees, please visit the SCAC's website.  For state arts news please visit the SCAC's new blog site, The Hub.  To get involved in arts advocacy statewide and stay up to date on state level decisions affecting the arts please join the SC Arts Alliance and receive their advocacy calls to action throughout the year. The Charleston Regional Alliance for the Arts staff is also available anytime to answer your questions about the arts in our community and statewide.  Please contact us at info@artscharleston.org or 843.577.5288 if you'd like to get involved in arts advocacy locally, statewide, or nationwide.

Gullah Geechee residents invited to meetings celebrating culture

The South Carolina Arts Commission is pleased to partner with the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Commission to help connect Gullah Geechee artists, residents and organizations to resources and promote the state’s Gullah Geechee culture.

“Our goal is to identify Gullah Geechee residents who practice or represent one or more of the expressions outlined in the Corridor’s management plan,” said Ken May, S.C. Arts Commission executive director. “Those areas include music, arts, handicrafts, foodways, spirituality, language, education and economic development. We want to build relationships with Gullah Geechee artists and those who advocate for the preservation of Gullah Geechee culture and traditions. Our ultimate goal is to make new relationships that bring new resources to people and create interest in the Corridor – both in the state and beyond.” Gullah Geechee artists, residents and organization representatives are invited to learn more during a series of networking meetings that will be hosted by both the S.C. Arts Commission and the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Commission:
  • Oct. 29, Mt. Pleasant Waterworks Community Room, 1619 Rifle Range Road, Mt. Pleasant
  • Nov. 19,  The Frissell House at Penn Center, St. Helena Island, Beaufort County
  • Nov. 21, Georgetown County Library Auditorium, 405 Cleland St., Georgetown
Each meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. and runs through 8 p.m. “The Gullah Geechee Corridor’s partnership with the South Carolina Arts Commission hopefully will develop a template for use with other arts commissions throughout the Corridor,” said Ronald Daise, Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Commission Chairman. “We’re excited that the initial meeting is being held during Gullah Geechee Awareness Month, and we encourage Gullah Geechee artists in each community to participate. All ideas that are expressed will help to develop awareness of authentic representation of Gullah Geechee culture.” Those attending the meetings are encourage to share a "chatta" -- a seven-word essay describing a Gullah Geechee sentiment. Examples include: "Just the way we live. Embrace it!" and "Gullah Geechee wisdom. Listen to our ancestors." View the Oct. 29 mtg invitation. To RSVP for this meeting, email deona@dejogroup.com or call (843) 793-8684. For additional information about the partnership and future meetings, contact Arts Participation Program Director Susan DuPlessis, sduplessis@arts.sc.gov or (803) 734-8693. About the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor The Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor was designated a national heritage area by Congress on Oct. 12, 2006. The Corridor was created to recognize contributions made to American culture and history by African Americans known as Gullah Geechee, who settled in the coastal counties of South Carolina, Georgia, North Carolina, and Florida; to assist organizations in the four states in interpreting and preserving Gullah Geechee folklore, arts, crafts, and music; and to assist in identifying and preserving Gullah Geechee sites, historical data and artifacts for the benefit and education of the public. South Carolina counties in the Gullah Geechee Corridor are Beaufort, Berkeley, Charleston, Colleton, Dorchester, Georgetown, Horry, Jasper, Marion and Williamsburg. For more information, visit www.gullahgeecheecorridor.org.

OPEN showcases art in tri-county area

Arts organizations and vendors in Charleston, Dorchester and Berkeley are invited to showcase upcoming projects, performances and other arts opportunities during OPEN, an annual expo organized by the Charleston Regional Arts Alliance. OPEN takes place Sept. 8 from noon until 4 p.m. at the Cistern Yard on the College of Charleston campus. OPENOPEN Arts Expo is a multi-disciplinary arts event, free to the public and featuring the rich variety of arts experiences in the tri-county area with the goal of building arts audiences and breaking down barriers to participate in the joy and festivity of the arts. OPEN registration is $125 for Charleston Regional Arts Alliance members and $250 for nonmembers and vendors. Join the Charleston Regional Arts Alliance for FREE and take advantage of the member rate! Register by emailing lily@artscharleston.org. Registration deadline is Aug. 16 at noon. Via: Charleston Regional Arts Alliance

Dorchester Two teachers win big with arts grants

Congratulations to Dorchester Two School District for their success in winning Arts Innovation grants from the S.C. Department of Education. Twenty-two teachers in 11 schools applied for and received 11 arts grants totaling $187,655.  Fine Arts Director Larry Barnfield recognized the teachers at the September school board meeting. Read more about these grants in the Summerville Journal Scene. Via: Summerville Journal Scene

Milly

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