Nickelodeon Theater announces new leader
Eight-month search comes to close
The Nickelodeon Theater, an anchor of both Columbia's arts scene and its revitalized Main Street District, announced a new executive director late last week.
Sumner Bender (right), an educator in Lexington-Richland School District 5 and president of the Trustus Theatre board, will become the new executive director of the arthouse theater on June 6. She is the first named permanently to the position since last August.
The Columbia native has been the theater teacher at Spring Hill High School for six years, and is now responsible for all professional development for theater educators in the district. She has been a member of the Trustus board since 2011.
“The arts community in Columbia is my home,” Bender said. She sees The Nickelodeon as an indispensable part of that community. “The Nick, let’s be honest, is very cool… I want to make sure that institutions like The Nick will always be around.”
“I’m ready for a new challenge. I’m ready for a job where I can implement change.”
Diversity and inclusion key part of process
“We were looking for a transformational, visionary cultural leader who had expertise in many different areas,” said Charmaine Clowney, vice president of the Nickelodeon board and an attorney who consults in the area of diversity and inclusion. “She will be embraced by many diverse communities in Columbia and beyond. I hope that we can keep her.” “The search was conducted by a diverse group of individuals, including board members and community stakeholders,” Clowney said. “The committee sought someone with excellent leadership skills, including an ability to manage diverse teams and to coach for success.” A capability to engage the full range of local communities was also very key, she said. The Nick “has to be inclusive,” meaning “you have to respect the base that has got you where you are, but make sure others feel represented and welcome. I have done that well in the past,” Bender said.Bender faces the challenge of running a movie theater after two years of COVID, and in competition with a growing army of video streaming services. But she’s not worried, especially after her time with Trustus, since “live theater has been ‘dying’” ever since film came along. She believes The Nick provides something unique. “There is absolutely nothing like a shared experience. People want popcorn and beer, and they want to watch movies with their friends.” She looks forward to being involved, hands-on, with every aspect of providing that experience. “I want to pop popcorn on Friday night, if popcorn needs to be popped.”
Founded in 1979 as South Carolina’s only nonprofit arthouse cinema, The Nickelodeon serves the Midlands region of South Carolina as a center for critical dialogue, presenting films that showcase the diversity, challenges, joy, and aspirations of the community. Its two screens on Columbia’s Main Street draw more than 70,000 attendees into the heart of the city annually. Those screens show a mix of first-run independent and foreign films, and present curated series and special community screenings. Learn more at https://nickelodeon.org/.
Good morning! 
We’re looking for an inspiring and innovative leader with a passion for the arts and the role of arts in advancing equity and justice.
Please forward this announcement to anyone you know who might be interested, or apply yourself. Candidate review begins on Jan. 10, but position is open until filled.
Supported projects span 14 artistic disciplines in communities throughout the U.S. Also included in this announcement are the recipients of NEA Literature Fellowships in creative writing and translation and support for arts research projects.
“The creativity and resilience of artists and arts organizations across the country have inspired Americans during this challenging year,” said Arts Endowment Acting Chairman Ann Eilers. “These projects represent the vitality and perseverance of arts organizations small and large to overcome significant challenges, transform to new ways of engagement, and forge new relationships that benefit the diverse populations in neighborhoods and cities throughout the United States.”
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From a CFS email:
These 855 organizations—located in every state, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico—will receive a total of $44.5 million in nonmatching funds to support staff salaries, fees for artists or contractual personnel, and facilities costs.
Grants will be awarded in 13 artistic disciplines, arts research, and partnership agreements with all U.S. state and regional arts agencies. They are separate from the 
“These awards demonstrate the continued creativity and excellence of arts projects across America and the nimbleness of our nation’s arts organizations in the face of a national crisis that shuttered their doors for months” said Mary Anne Carter, chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts. “By funding arts projects in every U.S. state, territory, and the District of Columbia, the National Endowment for the Arts again celebrates the opportunity to make the arts available to every corner of the country and to see how the arts can heal and unite us.”
Grants this round support a range of activities, including:
The communications manager shapes the [Columbia Film Society] brand and voice and develops strategies to engage members, reach new audiences for the theatre and media education programs and raise the local and regional profile of the Indie Grits Festival. The Manager is responsible for the development, administration, coordination, and implementation of all elements of the marketing, public relations, publications, and advertising functions of the Columbia Film Society.
This position requires a strong visual sensibility, excellent writing skills, and works closely with programming staff of the theatre and IG Labs and supervises the marketing coordinator. The communications manager reports to the executive director of the Columbia Film Society.
This is a full-time, non-exempt position.
Chapman Cultural Center (CCC) is seeking to fill the position of theater technical coordinator (TC). The TC would be responsible for the maintenance, oversight, and technical operations of CCC’s Theater. These responsibilities will include the oversight of the theater’s presentations and projects, all backstage and back of house personnel, equipment, operations, lighting, sound, and coordinating necessary maintenance. During periods when the services of the TC are not required in the theater, their services will be used in the maintenance and usage of technical equipment in other areas of CCC. The TC reports to the theater services manager.
Due to the high volume and complexity of the Chapman Cultural Center theater operations and the need to carefully coordinate the activities of both resident partner agencies and outside renters, the TC must demonstrate a significant degree of both technical expertise and diplomatic skills to properly manage the use of the theater on a daily basis and maintain a standard of excellence. TC is responsible for the efficient and safe operation of CCC Theater facilities and equipment.
Ken May, S.C. Arts Commission executive director:
“At the Arts Commission, our grant will be put to use serving communities throughout the state. It will fund community arts development initiatives that seek to foster the creativity and unity needed to address the unique issues facing rural South Carolina communities. It will further our goals to provide every South Carolina child with access to an arts-inclusive education. It will also let us help our artists develop their skills to grow businesses that contribute to the state’s $9.7 billion creative economy.”