A Long Range Plan for the Arts in South Carolina,
2011-2020

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Online survey results

What is a great opportunity for the arts in our state?

• The opportunity to explore artistic potential.
  
• Geographic location
  
• We can have arts and craft festivals and attract tourists to walk our streets. Street musicians need to be welcome here. We are lucky with warm climate, let's use it for arts. More walking traffic equals more people spending money in our state. Let's look at Wilmington and Asheville. They have small galleries and events that promote local artists.
  
• Much of the art that is already here (Columbia) is not advertised broadly enough and information is very hard to come by. No single S.C. "art" presence on the web. Just try to find out everything that is happening in a particular area using the web. You will be lucky to get information on 25 percent of what is already available.
  
• To bring the various cultures that make up South Carolina together in an art intiative. Embracing international crafts as well as local craft artisans.
  
• The realization that art can mean money.
  
• When arts are mentioned, I don't usually see mention of different cultures. I think there is a benefit of learning about different cultures and could help ease tensions and erase some of the myths about them.
  
• S.C. is experiencing extensive growth in many areas. Engaging the newcomers in meaningful ways will build audiences and sustainability.
  
• The Artisans of the S.C. Tobacco Trail, The Artisans of the S.C. Cotton Trail and Pee Dee Arts Council. More organizations like these will bring artists together on a local and regional level and should be set up throughout the state.
  
• Talent throughout - bring artists of all types together.
  
• To influence and change peoples lives when the economy is causing so many problems for the population.
  
• Columbia is very diverse with a vibrant international community. We should use these internationals to create a truly international cultural environment.
  
• Use more arts to promote tourism, especially in the Holy City.
  
• For us, it is that a small rural community like McClellanville has its own local Arts Center for folks to examine and participate in a variety of arts programs.
  
• To go into the schools and give children opportunities for a better future; to bring communities together
  
• Arts tourism.  Tie it into our culture, our history, our agriculture, create mapped drives, tourism packages including artists, etc.
  
• I think the fact that Greenville was just named in the top 10 Small Art Towns in the country is a plus.  How does that impact the economy?
  
• Talented artists and a great tradition of arts in the state
  
• Grants
  
• We are at a place in time where we must recognize that home grown talent is every bit as good as imported talent. We are rich in home-grown talent and I would like to see it recognized more.
  
• Collaboration! Instead of vying for our buyer's time with other artists and groups, we need to combine various arts into shows for multiple arts. In doing so we share audiences, and hopefully gain supporters from each other! We must encourage feedback from our buyers to give them a feeling of importance, and use their feedback to guide us.
  
• More support for young writers in rural areas and small towns.
  
• Again, the presence of individuals and groups who do continue to try new efforts and continue to produce art.
  
• Greenville is a thriving arts community that gets little attention from the rest of the state, especially from Columbia and Charleston.
  
• We are a state with a growing population, of which many are moving here from other states.  They bring knowledge, experience and money which has a great potential to help sustain our arts groups with support and also provide a wealth of ideas to help us plan our future.
  
• More & stronger support from our leaders and government at all levels of government. More road shows that are priced more for our economic levels so that more people will be able to attend
  & learn that the arts are not a ""frill"" but aign of our level of civilization.
  
• More opportunities to showcase all the arts, not just visual arts. I'd love to see more multidisciplinary events/shows/demos or whatever.
  
• Collaboration and communication is the key.  The good news is that there are lots of people out there willing to help; they just need to be directed properly so that they can help us to achieve the goals that we, the arts community in the state of South Carolina, all wish to achieve.
  
• To combine- visual arts with performing arts.
  
• Such a strong arts base.
  
• Jasper Johns, Jonathan Green, Porgy & Bess: noted nowhere! get Fed $$ "grants" 4 any and everything u can. Go to as many local papers as will let u write free fill to promote S.C. artists in all fields. Let arts reach all levels: I re'cd ticket offer 4 150$/per 4 event at Columbia Art Museum, some people here dont take that pay home per week.
  
• A great opportunity for the arts here in S.C. would be for the S.C. Arts Commission and other funded groups to find ways to employ various types of artists around the state to create public art works.  Artists are searching for ways to make money while creating art and this is a great time for the state to gain publicity through public art.
  
• I miss the community public art projects - examples:  Palmetto Trees all over town, or the Doors
  
• Spoleto Festival USA.
  
• The empty storefronts in downtown Columbia.
  
• Start young with arts education. Make arts accessible and cool to get younger crowds who are the future donors and art goers (ex: guerrilla cuisine.)
  
• The ability to offer something to interest all ages and cultures.
  
• In our state it is the fact that we have so many residents that are incredibly talented and you don't have to look far to find things
  
• More professionally curated site-specific exhibitions and residencies that bring in a mix of international, national and regional artists to all areas of the state would be a great opportunity for S.C. (Such as those in Sumter and, in the past, at Spoleto)
  
• To utilize the rich heritage of the arts as a testament to its long term value in nurturing a family-centric environment which creates citizens who truly care about each other and their communities.
  
• I didn't find one for the last 14 years of living in SC. If it would be my choice, I would never choose to stay here as an artist. The art (as a creative and intellectually challenging process) simply doesn't exist in S.C.
  
• More and more people are being forced to find creative solutions to economic problems -- that's mostly horrible, but it has also encouraged innovation.
  
• There are many, including our numerous folk arts. But I know my own profession best, and I see great opportunities in a diverse, history- and nature-obsessed state for documentary arts projects. We have more than our share of good documentary photographers and filmmakers, and a couple of good university programs for the same.
  
• To be an expected place for special arts events.  We do have Spoleto in Charleston and the state has great art centers but we could do even more from the national offerings.
  
• Churches, festivals
  
• Limitless, as so few have been manifested--murals on buildings, invitations to compete for/design/create 3D art in parks and public spaces. The more opportunities created for artists, the more will "come out of the woodwork". We are here, but we're forced into silence by the limits of our pockets. Starving artist is a REAL IDIOM.
  
• More focus on true talent, outsider, folk, self taught artists.
  
• Using the arts to reach children who cannot afford to be part of it normally, especially in small towns where support is not usually great enough.
  
• For all students to learn, grow in and experience the arts.
  
• You need % for the arts for all buildings
  
• Our state is filled with wonderful artists and leaders with unbelievable talent and passion.
  
• Art activity promotes a healthy economy and cultural life.
  
• Arts will draw tourists and the tourist dollar is good. Grow our tourism volume by being considered an arts & culture destination.
  
• To offer the arts programs in our educational institutions, community involvement. The children are our future.
  
• The hospitality tax.
  
• There are a lot of empty businesses and mills in our state which could be turned into lofts for a wide variety of artistic endeavors.
  
• Folk arts and the continued support for artists.
  
• Spoleto Festival and perhaps adding more spin-offs from it that are similar to the Wadsworth chamber concerts at the art museum in Columbia.
  
• The Governor's School for the Arts.
  
• A cultural arts center in Charleston.
  
• The Spoleto Festival
  
• Promoting the talented people who live in South Carolina while continuing to expose more residents to the arts.
  
• Our youth. More paying orchestras for S.C.'s highly educated musicians, and there are many since S.C. is known for the musicians it produces. It keeps professors working.
  
• To become more visible to the general public and to create art communities in underused buildings and neighborhoods.
  
• In troubled economic times I think the opportunity for a performing arts institution is to pull back and focus on the programming that it does best and is the most successful.
  
• I live in an area where a great deal of cultural events are offered.
  
• The arts are a vital part of the well being of human beings.  It has been proven that the arts help lower stress, reach the unreachable and teach what was thought once to be the unteachable.
  
• Children...encouraging the future to continue what our generation has started.
  
• Celebrating the talents of individual artists - artists' colonies, etc.
  
• Beautiful natural resources and great talent
  
• S.C. has a wealth of artists of all disciplines and cultures. We have an opportunity to offer experiences for anyone.
  
• Create and  present effective Teaching Artist programs that add a further dimension to South Carolina's cities, our schools, our jobs, and our creative spirit.
  
• South Carolina film incentives
• If building owners would be realistic about renting empty building spaces at low rates to artists, for studios & homes, considering the value of art to the larger community, not just to have artists build up a community for developers to take over and get insanely high prices when the area becomes trendy - which is the historical development model.
  
• The exposure of the many media of artwork.
  
• Use art talent in the state to refurbish unpleasant looking area buildings.
  
• With all the new initiatives and the associated energy, the opportunities for more collaborative initiatives are endless.
  
• We have wealth of small festivals which could be a springboard for creating interest in the arts. The arts council should have people at every azalea festival, founders day and chitlin' strut in the state, with lively informative exhibits educating and  inspiring people to take an interest in the fine arts
  
• More collaboration and promotion of local artists. Look at smaller often overlooked artists and promote them.
  
• More arts festivals to bring residents of different backgrounds together; Make visual arts organization membership more diverse
  
• Consider abandoning the current funding approach in favor of exploring opportunities to work with cultural institutions not solely defined as "arts organizations" - and thereby, open up opportunities for combining resources that could help sustain the arts within a larger "cultural institutions" umbrella. Change is difficult, but is is also holy!
  
• If people get the message about how creative endeavors improve the environment that we surround ourselves with and the many collaborations with nature, such as the boardwalk in the Congaree State Park (once just a sketch), etc., then we will have the opportunity to create a very special state that attracts the nation to visit us and learn from us.
  
• To promote the many local talents we have in this area such as painters, composers, etc.
  
• Expansion of arts education to the growing older population
  
• There is an opportunity for the state to be known as an arts destination, an arts-infused state.  The arts work well with the historic component in the state as well as being a complement to tourism.
  
• Surely there is some kind of inexpensive and effective way to illustrate the critical need of the arts in public education.
  
• We have a composer in residence in the Carolina Master Chorale, Dr. Andy Fowler.  His wonderful talents are wasting away because of lack of funding, locally in Myrtle Beach and elsewhere.  More public exposure to his writings would be wonderful for Dr. Fowler but also add to the original compositions developing in S.C.
  
• Numerous arts festivals
  
• Consistent stressing of the power and viability of opening the imaginations and hearts of its citizens, educators and politicians to the value the arts (all the arts) to create jobs, increase incomes, build businesses, educate and entertain
  
• Lots of support = lots of opportunities
  
• Providing school children with opportunities to see live performances and to experience workshops with local artists.
  
• Organizations such as the Artisans of the South Carolina Cotton Trail and the Tobacco Trail
  
• Taking community theater into the schools. The excitement must begin early. Children don't go to live theater, as a rule, unless their parents do. Putting a video into the DVD is easier and less expensive for young families, but we have the opportunity to change that and instill in the students the thrill of live performances, both acting & musical.
  
• The S.C. Governors School for the Arts is certainly an important place for the "cream of the crop" to study the arts --- perhaps if there were more opportunities for these students to share their talents in public schools around the state and in other venues, the citizenry might realize how valuable this school is in enriching our lives.
  
• Spoleto is a great thing for South Carolina arts.
  
• Spoletto is the one time of year when Charleston, S.C. engages in contemporary art dialogue, but even then the visual arts are not consistently highlighted. There have been some amazing works created during Spoleto, and these events have inspired other works. These events have also helped to make connections and engage the community.
  
• Think outside of the traditional building as a place for the arts.
  
• To get people as excited about the arts as they are about, for example, sports. Needless to say, this is a tall order. As a matter of fact, although I love the outdoors, I have no interest in sports, and no matter how hard my husband and others try to spark in me an interest in football, basketball - even golf - I am totally disinterested.
  
• Encourage arts organizations to be open and to think creatively and to not be held hostage to a small group of people with narrow ideas.  Encourage arts organizations to take chances with creative programing exploring new ideas and approaches.  Beware of organizations that are more interested preserving the status quo than encouraging new ideas.  .
  
• Tourism, retirees who like to travel and have new experiences throughout the state
  
• Spoleto, Piccolo Spoleto, and the various arts councils that promote local and imaginative programs in rural communities.
  
• I am currently on the roster but live out-of-state.  My plans are to return to S.C. in the very near future.  I feel S.C. is more arts oriented than where I presently live.
  
• We have many volunteers and friends of the arts willing to work in the community, but the McClellanville Arts Council is not allowing anyone to be involved. A McClellanville artist has organized for the last two years a Christmas Art Walk without the McClellanville Arts Council involvement.....Absurd, isn't it?
  
• Bank on all the tourism we have in the area, highlight arts events during peak tourist seasons.
  
• Economic growth is vital to the state and to the arts.  There is great potential for economic growth and better employment in this state.  The arts will not grow in a stagnic economy.
  
• We have a beautiful mix of races and cultures in SC. I think that we all can learn from one another. I think anytime you can expose and artist to a population, that interaction will last for a lifetime. I know as an artist, when I am exposed to a population, they stay with me...forever.
  
• The galleries, museums, concert and performance halls. The writers and musicians and painters, sculptors and more. Every thing, every day, that you see going on around you presents opportunity if only you will embrace it.
  
• To be broader and more inclusive
  
• More community-based organizations such as the development of arts councils.
  
• Indigenous arts, such as the sweetgrass basket, give South Carolina a kind of notoriety and visibility that can boost the state's economy and reputation.The state legislature needs to increase support for the S.C. Arts Commission and for arts education at all levels. School districts should make arts education a budget priority.
  
• I live in N.C., but in S.C., I would say the Spoleto festival.
  
• The opportunity to diversify, to draw from multiple cultures and faiths that are present. Building alliances through shared productions and sponsorships. Also, there is opportunity to keep productions fresh by not relying on the same performers all the time.
  
• Outdoor theater (amphitheater) or especially in the Lowcountry where the weather is mostly mild & we attract people from all over the world.
  
• more classes in the arts for ALL children in ALL forms.
  
• We have a vital opportunity to work together to reduce waste, encourage efficiency, inspire greatness and keep our eyes on the prize: the arts should altogether inspire and feed the souls of our audiences when all other facets of society are doing the opposite.
  
• Incorporating it into students' curriculum so they develop a lifelong appreciate for the arts. Not just art classes from primary through elementary, but other art appreciation/history classes.  Perhaps a statewide art festival would be a good thing too, focused on S.C. art forms/artists.
  
• Cultural and heritage tourism. Link together artists in media - artist's trails like they do in New Mexico. Promote our arts through famous state artists such as Jim Harrison, Jasper Johns, etc."
  
• Having the artist tour
  
• Art and History ---so much of the past has been lost and history brought to life through the arts is wonderful. Storytelling, art, pottery, woodworking etc. can all come alive. Hands on is a great way to learn.
  
• Marketing
  
• Showcase local artists
  
• Two opportunities - first art and tourism.  With the economic slowdown more vacations are day trips or local.  The arts are a prime destination.  Second education in the arts.  The arts organization must understand and focus on the core educational contribution that they can uniquely provide.
  
• Spoleto is fabulous. The new renovated Dock Street Theater is beautiful, although they took away the exhibition space. The Gailliard is about to be renovated, hopefully there will be art or changing art exhibits in the space.
  
• The Chapman Center is one for our community.
  
• Take arts in all forms to the children.
  
• Identifying local traditional arts and through support of these traditions, bring in a new and wider audience (more South Carolinians sing in a church choir than attend ballets).
  
• Nothing. SCAC is a sitting duck about to be cut off by its own government and state officials. Whoever is reading this the time is here and it is now or it will be all or nothing now or never.
  
• Higher education
  
• There are many opportunities, partnerships and populations that could bloom with the arts. However the arts need to be seen as a priority especially for the young and underserved populations, and the funding must follow.
  
• Every arts leader needs to step out of their comfort zone and meet people new to the community.  Again it's about their attitudes; they want to find the "new people" who will be donors, but they don't want to personally befriend them...so this creates the snobby attitudes.
  
• I've visited numerous exhibits brought in from around the world (i.e. Dresden exhibit in Mississippi, Tut exhibit in Atlanta). Having these visit S.C. would provide revenue and enrichment.
  
• Hub-Bub.
  
• The fact that we are a state with character.  We are overflowing with culture and quirkiness - for better or worse - so there is no loss of unique, distinctly South Carolinian images to paint, stories to tell, moments to capture.
  
• South Carolina, especially the Lowcountry and the Upstate, has some wonderful music history and tradition.  S.C. should play on this more to increase tourism and preservation of our musical heritage as well as to support new artists.
  
• Film festival launch
  
• Just more of it!
  
• More touring casts of Broadway shows is a huge opportunity for the Upstate.  Right now there are only 4-5 shows annually whereas Charlotte has 7-10.  More shows bring in more revenue and brings more culture to this area. They are fun for families and individuals alike.
  
• The larger cities do a good job of tapping the potential because of broad-based support, but smaller, more rural communities struggle to get that same support.  Find ways to encourage arts education and exploration in those areas.
  
• The arts could be used more for fundraisers for March of Dimes, Relay for Life... etc. This would attract the supporters of the charity as well as attract new people to the activity.
  
• People supporting different types of arts. Art tourism
  History tourism especially revolutionary
  
• Exposure.  We have such excellent talent and the opportunity to make those talents known statewide is fantastic.

  Bringing others in to perform, hosting events for local talent, making the voice of the artisians heard is certainly one of the greatest opportunities that we have.

• Working within the naturally beautiful and abundant environment -- woodlands, forests, bodies of water. etc.  Artistic endeavors should join forces with tourism efforts to capitalize on all the green space in the state.
  
• South Carolina is made up of many extremely talented people.  As active supporters of the arts we have a unique opportunity to discover those people and help nurtur their talents.
  
• To be a fore runner, set an example. I believe that the city of Berlin spends as much on the arts as the USA, unfortunate that we don't value the arts and embarrassing that we are so UNevolved in that area
  
• South Carolina is a great place to create and enjoy the arts.  I can't think of a more beautiful place on earth.  (There's no place like home!)
  
• In many areas of the state, the arts are an untapped industry.  The arts/artists have survived on limited funding and are aware of how to continue functioning in tough economic times.  Tap into this and follow the leads of Charlotte, NC and larger arts destinations...set art maps, crawls, market it!  Put it into rural areas also!
  
• It looks very bad in S.C.; The legislative will to maintain the Arts is missing, the spokespersons in government supporting the Arts are all AWOL. I encourage your work but fear for any positive results...when it comes to funding. Good luck!
  
• Local artists visiting our schools.
  
• Conituation of number 8. Everything is very "city centered" with too much chat about how other commercial businesses in metropolitan areas benefit from these big boys.There is a major portion of the S.C. (60 percent or more) that needs more exposure of the arts coming to them.  They are not going to go to it.  Take it to them.
  
• To collaborate on more "statewide" arts projects-much like "free night" of theatre is a national event-why don't we have something that is embracing of our entire state?
  
• Charleston and Columbia
  
• Professional work in cities and rural areas.
  
• Our state is home to many artists.  I teach fifth grade, and I see a great opportunity for artists to share their love of art and talents with our state's children so that our children will become adults who support the arts and our state will continue to thrive in the arts for years to come. Again, funding is necessary to pay our visiting artists.
  
• Focus on literary heritage and current vibrancy
  
• A "Book Town" located somewhere in the Piedmont region.  How is Willington's effort on that coming?
  
• Low-cost children's programming, i.e., attendance by school children at performances, varied artistic opportunities for children of all ages, i.e., dance, art, movement, music, etc.
  
• I think we need to better brand ourselves as an "arts" state. There is so much to offer in every part of the state. Here in the Upstate folks often looks to Asheville for arts. We've got all they have right here - it just needs to be better branded.
  
• Becoming more nationally aware.
  
• Intergration of education and arts. Teaching standard state required material in an artistic way helps students have a better understanding of the subject. Art, music, and theatre and dance are creative means for infusing educational lesson plans.
  
• Every free enrichment program we can muster, for young kids - and their parents. Exposure is at least part of our answer.
  
• A great opportunity for the arts in our state is to partner with education and show some concrete correlation for why the arts can and do improve student achievement in education. Our state could use some positive influences in improving our student performance and the public needs what the arts can do for our students.
  
• Large showcases around the state; teaching skills to more people so they will not be lost; better advertisement of all arts programs.
  
• The Community Scholars program, the summer institute, is an excellent program for all kinds of artists and for those who educate in or using the arts. The conferences and workshops that the Arts Commission sponsors are also useful to help promote the arts here in South Carolina.
  
• I think alot of people are starved for real culture, but they are often intimidated by art or they can't afford it. We need citizens to come out, have fun, ask questions & get involved. Art fairs like Art in the Park (G'ville) & HUB-BUB's Artmart, the Spoleto Craft Show are great, but we also need more intimate interation between audience & artist.
  
• Catawba Indian Nation Pow Wow.
  
• I think we have let the sciences run away with our humanity. In these trying times, we need to keep in touch with those things that matter. We need to feed our souls as well as our bodies.
  
• Spoleto Festival and Piccolo Spoleto
  
• We need to export our artistic resources and develop cultural tourism.
  
• Festivals in Charleston.
  
• Find and support traditional artists who are carrying on--if only for a time--the traditions that are so much a part of our state's culture and heritage.
  
• The level of talent is huge
  
• Infusing arts in the schools.
  
• History tie-ins
  
• Making arts vibrant, appealing, and accessible to young people. Helping to sponsor field trips to museums and sites such as Atalaya, Brookgreen Gardens, etc.  I am a retired English teacher who gave strong emphasis to mythology and the arts.  No, I don't work for either facility, but a trip to both were standard fare with follow-up for my students.
• There is a great arts network which is sort of underground.  The Old English District has a grand array of artists at every level.  We need better communication here.
  
• Schools offering interships to students
  
• To be able to display, present, sell their art work that is not just for and with the  big art museums
  
• Using the arts to discuss current social challenges and promote dialogue -- homelessness, domestic violence, etc.  These can help demonstrate how the arts are relevant and a vital part of a health community.
  
• The arts in our state can and have been a great marketing tool to entice new business and even keep business. The arts function as a means of keeping many students in school - they are successful in the arts when academics prove to be of such a challenge that they often lose interest in remaining in school.
  
• Studio cost for artists (i.e. rent) is relatively cheap compared to other states.
  
• To be an advocate for the local artist in the community, to address the political powers of the needs of the community, the public schools, and community organizations.
  
• Traveling art show
  
• We live in a wonderful state!  There is art all around us, I am speaking of folk art.  I belieive that folk art and artists should be given a venue.  I am not talking about trained artists, but true folk artists and outsiders.
  
• Powwows
  
• The huge number of baby boomers who will be retiring in the next 1-10 years. How can we mobilize retiring artists to develop arts education to supplement the meager offerings available to our children?
  
• An opportunity to share one's arts with the public. Recently we were able to have an exhibit shown at the Belton Center for the Arts and this recognition of our digital photography was very gratifying when neighbors, friends and relatives came from a great distance to be there and enjoy the work we did. Our music was also another event we share.
  
• Schools. Children are like sponges and soak up information.  Getting them interested in art early makes them more interested as adults.
  
• Working directly with the communities. Empower people through the arts.
  
• Art is for everyone - it is not elitist - but includes our folk and traditional arts, which are community based.
  
• To reach out to the diverse communities and the diverse talents that live and work right in our midst. Art is not a single medium or a single form. We should explore many forms of art that will draw and interest people from many walks of life
  
• We have some very nice venues.
  
• A great opportunity would be to encourage more cross fertilization or exchanges of the arts regionally and internationally. This is needed especially in the area of folklore. This I believe helps to build a better understanding of each other.
  
• I think that the Koger Center is a terribly under-utilized venue. It seems to sit empty a lot of the time.
  
• More public events that are free or low cost.
  
• Our state has a diverse group of individuals whose art would help bring tourists to our state. As we expose the talents within our state we will open up more avenues for revenue.For example, artist among all three groups:Hispanics, Native American and African American.
  
• Encourage visual art from communities, local and underground artists. Film festivals, and outside theatre productions within the city limits. Focus more on any minority groups' art and histories.
  
• Development of the Stone Soup Storytelling Institute to create a unique educational venue for teaching the oral tradition of storytelling while also including other artistic forms of expression- music, dance, visual arts, drama, new computer- driven technological forms of communication with priority given to the preservation of verbal/oral skills
  
• Cultural awareness events.  Embracing and understanding all the differences in everyone's ethnic background.
  
• Art show exclusively for South Carolinas Indian People.
  
• The speech Arne made this week
  
• Holidays.... summers when kids are out and free to do art
  
• Arts in education/ arts learning opportunities in & out of the class room.
  
• Embracing the concept that ART HEALS and supporting programs that encourage art in healthcare activities.  Once you teach someone the value of using art as an outlet to aid in sustaining one's own health, you also give them the desire and courage to become invloved on a greater community level as an art advocate and supporter.
  

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