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Something for everyone: Fall for the Arts in Sumter

The Sumter County Cultural Commission proudly presents their annual event, Fall for the Arts: a week long art adventure, Oct. 15-20, 2018. There will be an eclectic lineup of local and national talent for the community to enjoy all week. From beach music & modern dance, to theater & visual art - expect a little something special for everyone.

2018 Fall for the Arts Schedule

Monday, Oct. 15 Fall for the Arts Kickoff Concert – 7 p.m., Patriot Hall (doors open at 6:30 pm) Featuring the Sumter Civic Chorale, Sumter Community Band, Sumter Civic Dance Company, and a few other surprises. This event is FREE to the public. Tuesday, Oct. 16 Ailey II –7:30 p.m., Patriot Hall (doors open at 7 p.m.) The Millican Foundation presents the world-renowned dancers of Ailey II. Tickets are $35. Purchase tickets in person at Patriot Hall and Imports Limited (9 N. Main Street, Sumter SC) after September 1 or online at Eventbrite.com Other events affiliated with Ailey II, Oct. 16: • A Master Class with Ailey II dancers will be held at Morris College gymnasium. Purchase tickets by contacting Melanie Colclough at mcolclough@sumtercountysc.org for $25. Registration is required for entry and tickets for the Master Class are limited. • Greet and meet some of the Ailey II leaders at the VIP Reception - 6:30-7:30 p.m. at Patriot Hall, Tickets are $50. (*VIP reception tickets include both the reception and performance.) Wednesday, Oct. 17 Music on Main - 6-9 p.m., La Piazza on Main Street Featuring the Latin Caravan (Latin Jazz, Salsa, Merengue, Bachata, and Cumbia music) This event is FREE to the public. Thursday, Oct. 18 Sumter Little Theatre Opening Reception – 7 p.m., Patriot Hall (Booth Room) • Student Art Opening • Sumter County Art Gallery open – 7-8 p.m. Sumter Little Theatre presents Little Shop of Horrors – 8:00 pm (14 Mood Ave, Sumter) Purchase tickets at SLT or online at http://www.sumterlittletheatre.com/tickets.html. Friday, Oct. 19 Shag & Jazz - 7 p.m., outside Patriot Hall Featuring Terence Lonon and the Untouchables. This event is FREE to the public. Saturday, October 20 Historic District Art Crawl – 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Downtown Residential Historic District This event is FREE to the public. Most events are FREE to the public. For the latest information about the week’s events, visit PatriotHall.org.
This event is funded in part by the South Carolina Arts Commission, which receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts, and from the John and Susan Bennett Memorial Arts Fund of the Coastal Community Foundation of S.C.

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U.S. poet laureate, Air Force ‘Rhythm in Blue’ Band in Sumter this weekend

This weekend in Sumter, the Sumter County Cultural Commission and Arthenia Millican Literary Foundation partner to present a new two-day multicultural arts event featuring performances, speakers, an art exhibit, and vendors. "Love. Respect. Unity. Festival" (LRU) is seeking to unite diverse people groups through the arts at Sumter's Patriot Hall March 10-11. Event host Cynthia Hardy from "On Point with Cynthia Hardy" will welcome U.S. Poet Laureate Marjory Wentworth and Hate Won't Win founder Alanna Simmons as speakers. The headlining performer is the U.S. Air Force Rhythm in Blue Band – a nod to Shaw Air Force Base, which calls Sumter home. “We often get into a routine of existing day to day in silos, without meaningfully engaging with people who are different. We have the rare opportunity to unite people around the Sumter area’s rich culture and the diversity of the arts," Sumter County Cultural Center Executive Director Melanie Colclough said. Other performers are scheduled to appear include a combined ‘unity’ choir consisting of choirs from Morris College, First Baptist Church, and Lakewood High and the Sumter County Civic Chorale; a performance by Charleston’s first poet laureate Marcus Amaker; an art exhibit; and performances by a host of Sumter-area and S.C. talent. The AJBM Foundation was established in 2008 to preserve the legacy and literary works of Dr. Arthenia Jackson Bates Millican and to give back. Dr. Millican (1920-2012) was an internationally known poet, educator, novelist and humanist of rural beginnings who called Sumter home. A focal point of the foundation’s contributions is to promote literary and cultural arts locally, nationally and globally. “Many of the performances are inspired by the works of civil rights icon C. T. Vivian and feature themes of togetherness, cooperation, and unity," Millican Foundation Executive Director Richard (Rick) Jones said. “What I’m most excited and passionate about is the impact the festival and ongoing LRU programming will have [on] bringing our diverse and multicultural community together through the arts." Festival admission is free. Hours are as follows:

  • Saturday: vendors from 1:30-3:30 p.m.; program from 3:30-5:30 p.m.
  • Sunday: program from 3:30-5:30 p.m.
More information is available here: https://www.patriothallsc.org/lru.html  

Sumter County seeking executive director for Patriot Hall and Cultural Center

Patriot HallSumter County is seeking an executive director for Patriot Hall and Cultural Center to work closely with the Sumter County Cultural Commission to promote cultural activities and coordinate cultural efforts for the benefit of the community. Examples of duties:

  • Manages the operations and programming of Patriot Hall and the County Cultural Center
  • Coordinates and implements annual festival(s), and event(s)
  • Coordinates the County artists-in-residency program with local school district personnel.
  • Maintains a calendar of cultural events; prints and distributes monthly schedules.
  • Distributes cultural information to arts organizations, individuals and the general public.
  • Oversees the use of Patriot Hall and the Cultural Center by other organizations; prepares billing invoices.
  • Oversees the preparation of the annual department budget; controls department expenditures and oversees capital improvements.
  • Administers quarterly grant program, including writing grants and monitoring expenditures.
  • Supervisory duties include instructing; assigning, reviewing and planning work of others
Requires a Bachelor’s degree in public administration, communications, art, or business management, supplemented by three to five years of management, or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities. Salary: $40,000. Position is open until filled. A complete job description and application are available online.  

Nine high school students advance to state Poetry Out Loud finals

Congratulations to the finalists in South Carolina's 2012-2013 Poetry Out Loud: National Recitation Contest! All nine students advance to the March 16 state finals to compete for South Carolina's spot in the Poetry Out Loud national finals and a shot at a $20,000 scholarship. Region 1: Upstate

  • Ashley Kiley, Crescent High School, Anderson County
  • Ashley Tisdale, Spartanburg Day School, Spartanburg County
  • Justin Fox, Spartanburg High School, Spartanburg County
Region 2: Midlands
  • Brandon Ellison, Ridge View High School, Richland County
  • Kynnedi McManus, Strom Thurmond High School, Edgefield County
  • Jada Daniels, Westwood High School, Richland County
Region 3: Lowcountry
  • Sarah Moody, Ashley Hall, Charleston County
  • Katherine Murchison, Charleston County School of the Arts, Charleston County
  • Whitaker Gannon, Hilton Head Preparatory, Beaufort County
Students participated in one of three regional competitions held in Spartanburg, Sumter, and Charleston Jan. 12-13. The state finals will be held March 16 at the Columbia Museum of Art, and the state champion will compete in the national finals April 29-30 in Washington, D.C. Poetry Out Loud, a program created in 2005 by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation, builds on the resurgence of poetry as an oral art form, as seen in the slam poetry movement. Students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence and learn about their literary heritage while gaining an appreciation of poetry. Last year more than 365,000 students nationwide competed. The winner received a $20,000 scholarship. The South Carolina Arts Commission works with several partners to produce Poetry Out Loud in South Carolina: the Columbia Museum of Art, the South Carolina Department of Education, South Carolina ETV Radio's “Speaking of Schools” Program with Doug Keel, Hub City Writers Project (Upstate) the Sumter County Cultural Commission and the University of South Carolina Sumter Division of Arts and Letters (Midlands), and the College of Charleston School of Humanities and Social Sciences and the Lowcountry Initiative for the Literary Arts (Lowcountry). For more information, visit the South Carolina Arts Commission's website, the national Poetry Out Loud website, or contact Frances Kablick Keel.

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