SC Arts Commission Press Releases
Moncks Corner and Columbia Artists Named 2008 Jean Laney Harris Folk Heritage Award Winners
March 5, 2008
Media Contact:
Milly Hough
(803) 734-8698
COLUMBIA, S.C. –The South Carolina Arts Commission and the University of South Carolina's McKissick Museum have announced the recipients of the 2008 Jean Laney Harris Folk Heritage Award. This year's award winners are Will Moreau Goins from Columbia for Native American traditions and Richard “Chip” Chipman from Moncks Corner for bluegrass music advocacy.
"Will Goins and Chip Chipman were selected for their passionate commitment to South Carolina traditional culture,” said Saddler Taylor, chief curator of folklife and research for the College of Arts and Sciences' McKissick Museum. “For the past several decades, they have maintained a high level of artistic vision and through their talents and dedication have enriched the lives of people throughout the Southeast. I can think of no two South Carolinians more deserving of this award."
The awards presentation is taking place along with the Elizabeth O’Neill Verner/Governor’s Awards for the Arts ceremony at 9:15 a.m. April 16 at the Statehouse. An awards luncheon at the Columbia Marriott Hotel will follow the ceremony. In celebration of the 40th Anniversary of the Arts Commission, previous Verner/Governor’s Awards for the Arts and Folk Heritage Award recipients are being recognized during the ceremony and benefit luncheon, which is sponsored by Carolina First. McKissick Museum is also holding a special reception at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 15 at the museum to honor all recipients.
“This year’s recipients have both made a priority of informing people about the traditions that have been so significant in each of their lives,” said Julianne Carroll, S.C. Arts Commission Folklife and Traditional Arts program director. “Their commitment to excellence, both in the creation and the perpetuation of their traditions, has earned them the respect of their peers and the admiration of their communities. Both are highly deserving of this award.”
The state legislature created the Folk Heritage Award in 1987 to recognize lifetime achievement in traditional arts. The award is named for the late Jean Laney Harris, an ardent supporter of the state's cultural heritage and a member of the House of Representatives, who co-chaired the Joint Legislative Committee on Cultural Affairs.
Click here for more information, or contact Saddler Taylor at (803) 777-3714 or Julianne Carroll at (803) 734-8764.
About SCAC:
The South Carolina Arts Commission is the state agency charged with creating a thriving arts environment that benefits all South Carolinians, regardless of their location or circumstances. Created by the South Carolina General Assembly in 1967, the Arts Commission is celebrating 40 years of increasing public participation in the arts by providing services, grants and leadership initiatives in three areas: arts education, community arts development and artist development. Headquartered in Columbia, S.C., the Arts Commission is funded by the state of South Carolina and by the federal government through the National Endowment for the Arts. For more information, visit www.SouthCarolinaArts.com or call (803) 734-8696.
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