Governor’s Award lifetime achievement recipient on exhibit in Columbia
Richland Library exhibition includes public artist talks
Select works completed by the decorated artist Philip Mullen from 1996 to 2022 are now on exhibit in the Richland Library through May 7, 2023.
Of the 15 works selected, 14 have never been shown in Columbia, which is Mullen's home. Many come from his private collection.

Mullen is scheduled to give two public gallery talks:
In 2020,
the SCAC honored Mullen's significant body of work with the Governor's Award for the Arts in the lifetime achievement category.
Enjoy fall AiR with Richland Library
Richland Library seeks submissions for fall 2022 artist-in-residence
Richland Library’s Artist-in-Residence program aims to connect the community with local working artists and to provide creative and educational opportunities to the community in a way that supports cultural and artistic exchange.

We are looking for visual, performance or media artists who have a direct connection to the local arts community and a desire to help the library improve the livelihood of our creative community. The resident will deliver art-making tutorials, studio tours, creative workshops, and artist meet-ups, and serve as a liaison between artists and the library while enjoying a space of their own to create freely.
Residency Dates
Application Deadline
Candidate Interviews
RFP Submissions
Artists should attach or include the following:
- Artist statement/bio
- CV/résumé
- Samples of work
- Brief proposal describing how you can help Richland Library connect our customers and local artists to artful opportunities and experiences that advance the community. Proposals should include specific ideas for special programming, projects, artist talks, or workshops.
- Submissions should be sent via email to artful@richlandlibrary.com.
Stipend/salary
Pop-up arts shows coming thanks to Richland Library
Richland Library is hosting its first pop-up art show of the season at Richland Library Sandhills on April 16 at 11 a.m.

Richland Library's Pop Up Art Shows aim to highlight the work of local, emerging visual artists and their unique personal ties to the specific communities where our libraries are located. Stop in (763 Fashion Dr., Columbia, 29229) to meet
Bradley Williams and
Ashlan Bishop, browse the art or make a purchase.
Bradley Williams is an artist living in Camden who has been painting and drawing since he can remember. Williams paints life as a visual journal and is currently working on a series of paintings inspired by his time living and working in Yellowstone National Park.
Ashlan Bishop is a South Carolina native fiber artist with a focus on needle-felted wool art pieces. Affectionately known around town as “the ghost lady,” Bishop's needle-felted wool art allows folks to keep the spirit of Halloween going all year.
The April 16 pop-up art show is the first of the Spring exhibition series and will be followed by two additional opportunities to view the works of South Carolina artists on:
- May 5 | First Thursday on Main (Boyd Plaza)
- June 18 | Richland Library Main branch (1431 Assembly St.)
About Richland Library
Awarded the National Medal in 2017 by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, Richland Library is a vibrant, contemporary organization that provides resources and information that advance the Midlands. Offering state-of-the-art technology, a variety of literary and cultural programs and 13 bustling facilities located throughout the county, Richland Library provides a truly customizable, modern library experience for residents and visitors alike.
Residency connects library, Midlands arts community
APPLICATION DEADLINE: Friday, December 10, 2021
Richland Library’s Artist-in-Residence program aims to connect the community with local working artists and to provide creative and educational opportunities to the community in a way that supports cultural and artistic exchange.
The program, created in 2015, gives artists, performers and makers of
all types and disciplines the ability to work freely in their own studio space, share their works and artistic process with the community, and provide learning opportunities and programs for library customers.
Richland Library is trying to connect with visual, performance, or media artists "who have a direct connection to the local arts community and a desire to help the library improve the livelihood of
our creative community." Its residents are expected to deliver art-making tutorials, studio tours, creative workshops and artist meet-ups, while serving as a liaison between artists and the library.
The library provides its residents' program-related supplies and—oh yeah!—offers a $1,000/month stipend.
For more,
visit the residency page on the library's website.
Creative entrepreneurship Q&A
Are you an artist yearning to create full time?
Have questions about grant opportunities, taxes, licensing, and marketing yourself? Local artists and art professionals like the SCAC's Ce Scott-Fitts are available to answer your questions at Richland Library Main Branch in a Q&A session!
Register here:
https://www.richlandlibrary.com/event/2021-07-08/creative-entrepreneurship-questions-answered
Ed. note: An earlier version of this post ran an incorrect event description. The Hub regrets the error.
Columbia-area artist directory opens
If you're interested in learning more about or connecting with other creatives in the Midlands region, there's a new resource.
Thanks to a partnership with former Richland Library artist-in-residence (AiR)
Crush Rush and
One Columbia for Arts & Culture, Richland Library is excited to announce the launch of the Local Artist Directory.
It provides an online platform for local artists to share a brief biography, indicate their art medium or area of focus, and exhibit some of their work. They can also add ways to communicate by listing a personal or business website, social media channels, and contact information. You can view the Local Artist Directory through our website at richlandlibrary.com/art and One Columbia for Arts & Culture's website at
https://www.onecolumbiasc.com/artist.
The Local Artist Directory was part of Rush's final project as the library's artist-in-residence at the end of 2020. He proposed working with One Columbia for Arts & Culture to offer a free online resource that features working artists and allows local residents to engage with or hire artists in our community.
If you're interested in becoming part of the Local Artist Directory, you can create an artist profile by visiting
https://www.onecolumbiasc.com/artist/.
For questions, please contact Emily Stoll at 803.587.3637 or
estoll@richlandlibrary.com.
About Richland Library
Awarded the National Medal in 2017 by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, Richland Library is a vibrant, contemporary organization that provides resources and information that advance the Midlands. Offering state-of-the-art technology, a variety of literary and cultural programs and 13 bustling facilities located throughout the county, Richland Library provides a truly customizable, modern library experience for residents and visitors alike.
Richland Library exhibition series to highlight BIPOC artists
Pop-up outdoor shows to start this spring
APPLICATION DEADLINE: Thursday, April 15, 2021
Richland Library is collaborating with local visual artist Jeff Rivers to expand the social and economic participation of underserved artists and communities.
We're currently seeking submissions for an outdoor exhibition series in May and June 2021.
The Pop-Up Art Shows intend to highlight the work of local BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) artists and their unique personal ties to seven of our library locations, including:
Edgewood (2101 Oak St.)
- Main (1431 Assembly St.)
- North Main (5306 North Main St.)
- Northeast (7490 Parklane Rd.)
- Sandhills (763 Fashion Dr.)
- Southeast (7421 Garners Ferry Rd.)
- St. Andrews (2916 Broad River Rd.)
We're looking for work that speaks to each neighborhood's roots, culture and citizenry. Submissions should contain the artist's head shot and bio, at least five examples of the artist's work, the artist's preferred location, and a brief summary of the artist's connection to the community.
To read the official call for artists or to apply, visit
www.richlandlibrary.com/services/exhibit-richland-library.
The deadline is Thursday, April 15.
For questions, please contact Emily Stoll at 803.587.3637 or
estoll@richlandlibrary.com.
About Richland Library
Awarded the National Medal in 2017 by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, Richland Library is a vibrant, contemporary organization that provides resources and information that advance the Midlands. Offering state-of-the-art technology, a variety of literary and cultural programs and 13 bustling facilities located throughout the county, Richland Library provides a truly customizable, modern library experience for residents and visitors alike.
New residents introduced by Richland Library
Artist, entrepreneur selected for short-term residencies
With the New Year underway, Richland Library is thrilled to announce two new additions to the residency program: Tammaka Staley as the artist-in-residence (AiR) and Kevin Williams as the entrepreneur-in-residence (EiR).
[caption id="attachment_46248" align="aligncenter" width="584"]

Tammaka Staley (left) and Kevin Williams (right)[/caption]
A native of Columbia, Staley runs a performance art and speaking brand called Talks with Tammaka, and she’s the founder and executive director of Youth Affirming Sex Education (YASÉ), LLC. She hosts writing workshops to teach youth and young adults how to construct poems and improve stage performance. Staley also facilitates dialogues in public and online spaces about various gender, racial and sexuality inequities.
Founder of Cognizant Leadership, LLC and owner of Escapology Columbia, Williams combines visual learning tools, escape room experiences, and team retrospectives to help individuals and groups learn more about themselves and create lasting change. He has more than 25 years of business experience in a variety of technical and leadership positions both nationally and abroad.
During their residencies, Staley and Williams plan to:
- serve as liaisons to the artistic and entrepreneurial communities
- work with our staff to offer online programs, which are free and open to the public
- host online office hours or virtual appointments to interact with local residents and answer their questions
- curate digital content to highlight and share their expertise
Williams’ residency extends through May 2021, and Staley’s residency continues through June 2021.
The library’s residency program aims to connect the community directly with local working artists, entrepreneurs and writers. Learn more here:
https://www.richlandlibrary.com/residents.
About Richland Library
Awarded the National Medal in 2017 by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, Richland Library is a vibrant, contemporary organization that provides resources and information that advance the Midlands. Offering state-of-the-art technology, a variety of literary and cultural programs and 13 bustling facilities located throughout the county, Richland Library provides a truly customizable, modern library experience for residents and visitors alike.
Richland Library looks for first 2021 Artist-in-Residence
Residency runs January through May
APPLICATION DEADLINE: Thursday, December 31, 2020
In an effort to showcase the talents of area artists and provide a direct connection to the local arts community, Richland Library is currently accepting applications for our next artist-in-residence.
The focus of this residency, which runs January-May 2021, is to address the needs of local professional and emerging artists who are impacted by racial, gender, and socio-economic inequities and biases.
Responsibilities consist of:
- serving as a liaison between the library and area artists
- curating digital content, such as art-making tutorials and studio tours
- working closely with our arts librarian to offer online programs, which are free and open to the public
- hosting online office hours to share expertise with others and answer questions
The residency also includes an online gallery exhibit of the artist's work on the library's website as well as a monthly stipend.
We encourage artists spanning all mediums (traditional/fine art; sculpture; performance; filmmaking; musical; etc.) to apply. The deadline is Thursday, Dec. 31, 2020. Applications and additional information are available here:
https://www.richlandlibrary.com/services/become-artist-residence
Initially developed in September 2016, the concept behind Richland Library's artist-in-residence is to establish partnerships with local, working artists and to provide creative and educational opportunities to local residents in a way that supports cultural and artistic exchange.
For questions, please contact Emily Stoll at 803.587.3637 or email
estoll@richlandlibrary.com.
Awarded the National Medal in 2017 by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, Richland Library is a vibrant, contemporary organization that provides resources and information that advance the Midlands. Offering state-of-the-art technology, a variety of literary and cultural programs and 13 bustling facilities located throughout the county, Richland Library provides a truly customizable, modern library experience for residents and visitors alike.
Apply to become Richland Library’s Artist-in-Residence this fall
Application deadline: Tuesday, September 1, 2020
In an effort to provide continued support to local artists and share their talents with the community, Richland Library is accepting applications for our next artist-in-residence in fall 2020, starting Saturday, August 1.

The focus on this particular residency, which runs from Sept. 20-Dec. 18, 2020, is for the artist-in-residence to serve as a liaison to the local arts community and help the library assess the needs of other artists during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Responsibilities consist of:
- curating digital content, such as art-making tutorials and studio tours
- working closely with our arts librarian to offer online programs, which are free and open to the public
- hosting online office hours to share their expertise with others and answer questions
The residency also includes an online gallery exhibit of the artist's work on the library's website as well as a monthly stipend.
We encourage artists spanning all mediums (traditional/fine art; performance; filmmaking; musical; etc.) to apply.
The deadline is Tuesday, September 1. Applications and additional information are available at
www.richlandlibrary.com/services/become-artist-residence.
Initially developed in September 2016, the concept behind Richland Library's artist-in-residence is to connect the community with local, working artists and to provide creative and educational opportunities to local residents in a way that supports cultural and artistic exchange.
For questions, please contact Emily Stoll at 803.587.3637 or email
estoll@richlandlibrary.com.
Awarded the National Medal in 2017 by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, Richland Library is a vibrant, contemporary organization that provides resources and information that advance the Midlands. Offering state-of-the-art technology, a variety of literary and cultural programs and 13 bustling facilities located throughout the county, Richland Library provides a truly customizable, modern library experience for residents and visitors alike.