Mayor Summey announces Intellectual Property for the Arts Workshop

North Charleston Mayor R. Keith Summey announces an Intellectual Property (IP) workshop for the Arts Community to occur on Wednesday, May 29, 2013 from 1:00pm - 5:30pm at the Wild Dunes Resort on the Isle of Palms, SC. The event is set to attract artists, authors, journalists, script writers, singers/song writers, musicians and others working in, and managing the arts.

The workshop is produced in association with the City of North Charleston, City of Charleston, the National IP Taskforce, South Carolina Film Council, Youth Endowment for the Arts, the Darla Moore School of Business, and the Charleston Regional Alliance for the Arts.

Highlights of the workshop will cover: the creation and protection of copyrights, the realities of royalties, marketing, setting financial goals and structuring agreements. The program will feature a mix of national and state leaders and their success stories, as well as provide the opportunity for artists to interact with state and local entertainment industry business leaders and executives. The cost of $65 per person will cover the half-day workshop registration and reception that follows.

Mayor Summey maintains active support of the regional group. He stated, “The collective mix of co-producers, who have stepped forward are vital partners in the event’s success. Bringing focus to the knowledge of Intellectual Property will help build a stronger arts and entertainment community with more opportunity for commercial success and prosperity.”

IP deals are art forms in their own right, the structuring of deals in the arts and entertainment industry can be unique and creative. Workshop participants will see that creativity extends to the business aspects of their talents, learning to realize value from their creative works and how to market that value. 

Program details and registration information are available at: http://www.ipbusinesssummit.com/IPArtsWorkshop.html.

Entries Sought for 2013 North Charleston Arts Festival Judged Fine Art & Photography Competitions & Exhibitions

Fine artists and professional and amateur photographers ages 18 and up are invited to participate in the annual North Charleston Arts Festival Judged Fine Art and Judged Photography Competitions and Exhibitions. Entries will be on display throughout the festival, May 3-11, at the Charleston Area Convention Center Complex, located at 5001 Coliseum Drive in North Charleston. Cash prizes are awarded for winning entries. Complete entry instructions are available for download here. Entries for photography will be accepted at the Convention Center on Wednesday and Thursday, May 1 and 2, from noon to 7:00pm. Entries for fine art will be accepted on Wednesday and Thursday, May 1 and 2, from noon to 7:00pm, as well as Friday, May 3, from 9:00am to noon. Entry fees are $5 and $10, respectively.

Fine artists may submit work in five categories: Acrylic, Oil, Drawing/Pastel, Watercolor, and Mixed Media. Entries will compete for cash prizes totaling up to $4425. Awards are at the sole discretion of the juror, Sara C. Arnold. Arnold is the Curator of Collections at the Gibbes Museum of Art in downtown Charleston. In this role she is responsible for the study, care, and interpretation of the museum’s permanent art collection. During her nine year tenure at the Gibbes, Arnold has curated numerous exhibitions and written articles for American Art Review and Antiques and Fine Art magazines. She is also the co-editor of The Life and Art of Alfred Hutty: Woodstock to Charleston, published by the University of South Carolina Press in 2012. She holds a BA in Anthropology from the University of Alabama and a master’s degree in Historic Preservation and Museum Studies from Georgia State University.

Photographers may submit work in the Professional/Advanced division or Amateur division under the categories of Color or Monochrome. Entries will compete for cash prizes totalling up to $1450 and are judged using the Photographic Society of America Print Guidelines. Scoring is done by three competent judges in the field of photography who will score entries using the 3-9 range of scores. Each judge will evaluate each entry as a whole, considering the areas of Impact, Composition, and Technique. However, there is no specific weighting or allotment of points for each category. This system is used efficiently and effectively by many councils, at international exhibitions, and by camera clubs. It allows an adequate qualitative separation of entries while lessening the potential for a large number of the higher scoring entries having identical scores. In the event of a tie-breaker, judges will choose the winning entry.

Awards for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in each division and category, as well as Honorable Mentions for both competitions will be announced at an artist reception on Friday, May 3, from 6:00-7:00pm at the Charleston Area Convention Center. The reception is free and open to the public. Exhibition viewing times are Saturday, May 4, 10:00am–4:00pm; Sunday, May 5, 2:00–5:00pm; Monday through Friday, May 6-10, 9:00am–5:00pm; and Saturday, May 11, 9:00am–Noon.

The North Charleston Arts Festival, scheduled May 3-11, is one of the most comprehensive arts festivals in the state, providing thousands of residents & visitors with a fabulous array of nearly 100 performances, exhibitions, and activities. The Main Event, held May 4 and 5 at the North Charleston Performing Arts Center and Charleston Area Convention Center, offers free admission and parking to over 40 performances on four stages, exhibitions, a gem and mineral show, an antique show, children’s activities, art and crafts booths, and a food courtyard. The Arts Festival continues with over 65 free or moderately priced ticketed events throughout the week at various locations and concludes with fireworks over the Cooper River at the Grand Finale at North Charleston Riverfront Park.

For more information about the North Charleston Arts Festival, or to download entry instructions for the Judged Fine Art and Photography Competitions and Exhibitions, visit www.NorthCharlestonArtsFest.com. For more information about other exhibition opportunities offered by the City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department, visit http://bit.ly/culturalarts or call 843-740-5854.

Annual North Charleston Arts Festival Set for May 3-11

 Nine-day celebration of the arts offers something for everyone

The annual North Charleston Arts Festival is just one month away, set to kick off on May 3 and conclude on May 11. Now in its 31st year, the nine day event has matured into one of the most comprehensive arts festival in the state, drawing thousands of residents and visitors to experience the talents of national, regional, and local artists and performers in the areas of Dance, Music, Theatre, Visual Arts, Crafts, Photography, Media Arts, and Literature. Nearly 100 festival offerings are scheduled to take place in a variety of venues throughout North Charleston and the surrounding area, including libraries, community centers, schools, civic auditoriums, and parks.

Recognized by the Southeast Tourism Society as a Top 20 Event, the North Charleston Arts Festival offers something for everyone. The City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department organizes and presents the event each year, striving to maintain the spirit of a public celebration with the mission of presenting a broad, multidiscipline event schedule that provides a wide range of performances, exhibitions, and activities for people of all ages and backgrounds. Many of the offerings are free, and those that are ticketed are moderately priced.

“The variety of Arts Festival offerings and the inclusiveness of the event have really become a point of pride for the City of North Charleston,” says North Charleston Mayor, Keith Summey. “The event provides both our residents and visitors from throughout the Southeast a myriad of opportunities to experience high quality programming in every arts discipline in a variety of traditional and non-traditional settings.”

The Arts Festival Main Event, held on Saturday, May 4, and Sunday, May 5, at the North Charleston Performing Arts Center and Charleston Area Convention Center, offers free admission and parking to over forty performances on four themed stages: General Audience, Cultural Heritage, Youth Entertainment, and Bands.  Other features include judged fine art and photography exhibits; the 12th annual South Carolina Palmetto Hands Fine Craft Exhibit; youth art from Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester county students; the Lowcountry Gem & Mineral Society show and sale; the Village Antiques & Collectibles show; children's activities at Box City and Creation Stations; art & craft vendors, a food court, and much more. 

Individual events take place throughout the nine days of the festival at various locations.  An exciting array of free and ticketed offerings include concerts, street dances, theatre presentations, film screenings, art workshops and demonstrations, an art walk, children’s programs, and a Grand Finale at the beautiful
North Charleston Riverfront Park. Examples of visual art exhibitions on view during the festival include a group display of contemporary works by artists from Pinar del Rio, Cuba; the 8th annual National Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition; an Art & Fine Craft CoOp Gallery & Sale; the 7th Annual African American Fiber Art Exhibition; a Wearable Art Exhibit and Pop Up Shop; and The PODS Project, featuring interactive installations created within portable storage units. This year’s Grand Finale on May 11 features a Tri-County school showcase, music and dance performances, a slam poetry show, children’s activities, food trucks, and an evening concert by Rivers & Company. The event concludes with a fantastic fireworks display over the Cooper River.
 
Applications are now being accepted for participation in the Festival’s Art Walk and Opening Processional. Entry instructions for the Festival’s Judged Fine Art Exhibition, Judged Photography Exhibition, and Tri-County Youth Art Exhibition, as well as Volunteer sign-up forms are also available. Applications can be found at NorthCharlestonArtsFest.com/apply.

For more 2013 North Charleston Arts Festival information, including event details and venue information, visit NorthCharlestonArtsFest.com or contact the North Charleston Cultural Arts Department office at (843) 740-5854.

Participants Sought for Opening Processional of 2013 North Charleston Arts Festival

The City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department is accepting applications from local performing arts groups of all ages for participation in the 2013 North Charleston Arts Festival Opening Processional on Saturday, May 4, at 9:45am. In past years the processional has been led by African drummers and dancers and has included groups dressed in brightly colored outfits and costumes, volunteers carrying giant puppets, banners and other crafted props, jugglers, dance troupes, theatre groups, and more. Applications can be found on the Applications page at NorthCharlestonArtsFest.com. Deadline for applications is Friday, April 19, at 5:00pm.

The Opening Processional has kicked off the Arts Festival’s Main Event festivities at the Charleston Area Convention Center Complex for over a decade. Participants parade around the complex toward the North Charleston Performing Arts Center. Once the Processional enters the North Charleston Performing Arts Center Auditorium, the celebration continues with a Performance Spotlight, featuring 3-5 minute performances by pre-selected groups. Performance Spotlight slots may be requested on the Opening Processional application and are filled on a first come, first served basis. 

The North Charleston Arts Festival will be presented May 3-11, 2013, at various venues throughout North Charleston and the surrounding area. The nine-day event is one of the most comprehensive arts festivals in the state, highlighting national, regional, and local artists and performers in the areas of Dance, Music, Theater, Visual Arts, Crafts, Photography, Media Arts, and Literature. For 3o years the festival has made quality arts programming affordable and accessible to the widest spectrum of the public, attracting over 30,000 residents and visitors from throughout the Southeast to participate in a fabulous array of free and modestly priced performances, workshops, exhibitions, and activities. The Main Event weekend at the North Charleston Performing Arts and Charleston Area Convention Center on Saturday, May 4, and Sunday, May 5, offers free parking and admission to over 40 performances on four themed stages. Other Main Event activities include fine art and photography shows, the SC Palmetto Hands fine craft exhibit, a gem and mineral show, an antique show, activities for kids at Box City and Creation Stations, art and craft booths, and a food courtyard. The Arts Festival continues with over sixty free and ticketed events and exhibitions throughout the week at various locations, including street dances, concerts, theatre presentations, film screenings, workshops and demos, children’s activities, a National Outdoor Sculpture Competition and Exhibition, and the Grand Finale with fireworks. 

For more information on the Opening Processional, contact Nancy Rodriguez at (843)740-5851. Visit NorthCharlestonArtsFest.com for more information about the 2013 North Charleston Arts Festival and other participation opportunities, including downloadable applications for judged art, photography, and youth art exhibitions; art & craft and food vendor space; and volunteers.

Flowertown Players close out North Charleston Dinner Theatre season on March 22

The Flowertown Players of Summerville will present Forever Plaid, the off-Broadway musical revue written by Stuart Ross, as part of the North Charleston Dinner Theatre Series on Friday, March 22, 2013. 

This deliciously goofy revue centers on The Plaids, a wholesome quartet of well harmonized guys that just want to sing. Tragically these four young, eager male performers were killed in a car crash on the way to their first big concert. As the play opens they have been miraculously revived for the posthumous chance to fulfill their dreams and perform the show that never was. With nostalgic hits from the 1950’s, The Plaids’ close harmony, zealous choreography, and boyish squabbles will put a song in your heart. 

The Flowertown Players staged this production at the historic James F. Dean Theatre in downtown Summerville at end of January and have adapted it for the North Charleston Dinner Theatre stage. Enjoy the final performance of the 2012/13 Dinner Theatre Series with this delightful new rendition of the off-Broadway show. The evening’s meal, catered by Embassy Suites, will feature a boneless pork chop entrée with soy, maple, and red chili marinade and sweet charred corn relish.

Forever Plaid will be presented at the Charleston Area Convention Center Ballroom (adjacent to the North Charleston Performing Arts Center) at 5001 Coliseum Drive in North Charleston. The ballroom doors open at 7:00pm for dinner. Tickets are $40 per person. Group discounts are available. Ticket price includes dinner, play, and gratuity. Tickets for just the performance are available for $15. Parking is free. A cash bar will be available. 

To purchase tickets or to request more information, contact Pam Smith at 843-740-5847 or email culturalarts@northcharleston.org. For information on the 2012-13 North Charleston Dinner Theatre Series or additional programs and events, visit the Cultural Arts section of the City’s website at northcharleston.org.

North Charleston Performing Arts Center Best of Broadway Series announces shows for 2012-2013 Season

The North Charleston Performing Arts Center Best of Broadway series announced today that LES MISÉRABLES will anchor their 2012-2013 season.  Cameron Mackintosh’s brand new 25th anniversary production of Boublil & Schönberg’s legendary musical, LES MISÉRABLES, with glorious new staging and dazzlingly reimagined scenery inspired by the paintings of Victor Hugo will run February 19-24, 2013 for eight performances.  This new production has been acclaimed by critics, fans and new audiences and is breaking box office records wherever it goes.

The Best of Broadway series also announced four other productions for 2012-2013:  ROCK OF AGES (October 4-5, 2012); SHREK THE MUSICAL (November 23-24, 2012); WEST SIDE STORY (December 18-19, 2012); BLUE MAN GROUP (January 11-12, 2013).  Best of Broadway will also present a one night only special performance by Mannheim Steamroller on December 1, 2012. All performances will be held at the North Charleston Performing Arts Center.

“The Best of Broadway series keeps getting better and better!” said Dave Holscher, General Manager of the North Charleston Performing Arts Center. “With great shows like LES MISÉRABLES, ROCK OF AGES, SHREK THE MUSICAL, WEST SIDE STORY and BLUE MAN GROUP, there is something for everyone to enjoy.”

“It’s hard to believe that the Performing Arts Center and the Best of Broadway series are entering their fourteenth year of presenting world class entertainment to the Lowcountry. This season’s line-up features both new and classic shows that audiences will love.” said North Charleston Mayor Keith Summey.

“We’re entering the ninth year of an outstanding partnership with the good people at the North Charleston Performing Arts Center. We are committed to bringing the very best of Broadway to the Lowcountry and it doesn’t get any better than this season’s line-up!” said Nick Scandalios, Executive Vice President of Nederlander Producing Company of America.

Season ticket packages are now available and prices start at only $190.50. Tickets are available at the Coliseum Advance Ticket Office, by calling the Best of Broadway hotline (843) 202-ARTS (2787) or online at www.northcharlestoncoliseumpac.com. Individual show tickets will go on sale at a later date.

In addition to having the same seat for all performances, Best of Broadway season ticket holders enjoy many other benefits such as free parking, priority access to tickets for Coliseum & Performing Arts Center events before they go on public sale and special discounts & offers not available to the general public.

The Best of Broadway series features the best in national touring Broadway shows and is presented by the North Charleston Performing Arts Center and the Nederlander Producing Company of America.

...and in case you want it, here's even more information!

ROCK OF AGES
October 4-5, 2012
7:30 PM
The worldwide party musical ROCK OF AGES features a mix of 28 rockin’ 80’s tunes including DON’T STOP BELIEVIN’, WE BUILT THIS CITY, THE FINAL COUNTDOWN, WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE, HERE I GO AGAIN, CAN’T FIGHT THIS FEELING and I WANT TO KNOW WHAT LOVE IS. In 1987 on the Sunset Strip, a small town girl met a big city rocker and in LA’s most famous rock club, they fell in love to the greatest songs of the 80’s. It’s five time 2009 Tony® nominee ROCK OF AGES, an arena-rock love story told through the mind blowing, face-melting hits of JOURNEY, NIGHT RANGER, STYX, REO SPEEDWAGON, PAT BENATAR, TWISTED SISTER, POISON, ASIA, WHITESNAKE and many more. Don’t miss this awesomely good time about dreaming big, playing loud and partying on!

"Impossible to resist!”
- Charles Isherwood, New York Times

"Rock and comedy in perfect proportion!"
- David Cote, Time Out

SHREK THE MUSICAL
November 23-24, 2012
November 23 at 7:30 PM, November 24 at 2:00 PM
SHREK THE MUSICAL, based on the Oscar®-winning DreamWorks film that started it all, brings the hilarious story of everyone’s favorite ogre to life on stage.

In a faraway kingdom turned upside down, things get ugly when an unseemly ogre – not a handsome prince – shows up to rescue a feisty princess. Throw in a donkey who won’t shut up, a villain with a SHORT temper, a cookie with an attitude and over a dozen other fairy tale misfits, and you’ve got the kind of mess that calls for a real hero. Luckily, there’s one on hand… and his name is Shrek.

Featuring a terrific score of 19 all-new songs, big laughs, great dancing and breathtaking scenery, WWOR-TV proclaims SHREK THE MUSICAL, “FAR, FAR AND AWAY THE FUNNIEST NEW MUSICAL ON BROADWAY!”

SHREK THE MUSICAL is part romance, part twisted fairy tale and all irreverent fun for everyone!

WEST SIDE STORY
December 18-19, 2012
7:30 PM

More than fifty years ago one musical changed theater forever. Now it's back and mesmerizing audiences once again. From the first note to the final breath, WEST SIDE STORY soars as the greatest love story of all time and remains as powerful, poignant and timely as ever. The Bernstein and Sondheim score is considered to be one of Broadway's finest and features such classics of the American musical theatre as "Something's Coming," "Tonight," "America," "I Feel Pretty" and "Somewhere." As the Associated Press says, “WEST SIDE STORY remains Broadway’s best dance-driven musical. Five decades have not dimmed the extraordinary choreography or the score that pulsates throughout.”

BLUE MAN GROUP
January 11-12, 2013
January 11 at 7:30 PM, January 12 at 2:00 PM and 7:30 PM

Experience the Phenomenon. BLUE MAN GROUP is best known for their wildly popular theatrical shows and concerts which combine comedy, music, and technology to produce a totally unique form of entertainment. The New York Times heralds the show as “One of the most delightful performance pieces ever staged.” E! Entertainment News exclaims, “BLUE MAN GROUP is what every live performance aspires to be.” The Baltimore Sun raves, “Blue Man Group packs a wallop. It’s a big, loud, funny, silly, visually arresting production!”

Although it is impossible to describe, people of all ages agree that BLUE MAN GROUP is an intensely exciting and wildly outrageous show that leaves the entire audience in a blissful, euphoric state. With no spoken language, BLUE MAN GROUP is perfect for people of all ages, languages, and cultures. BLUE MAN GROUP is now on the road for its first U.S. theatrical tour. This unique experience is a form of entertainment like nothing else; guaranteed to be an outing you will never forget.

LES MISERABLES
February 19-24, 2013
February 19-22 at 7:30 PM
February 23 at 2:00 PM and 8:00 PM
February 24 at 2:00 PM & 7:30 PM

DREAM THE DREAM

Cameron Mackintosh presents a brand new 25th anniversary production of Boublil & Schönberg’s legendary musical, LES MISÉRABLES, with glorious new staging and dazzlingly reimagined scenery inspired by the paintings of Victor Hugo. This new production has been acclaimed by critics, fans and new audiences and is breaking box office records wherever it goes.

The New York Times calls this LES MISÉRABLES “an unquestionably spectacular production from start to finish.” The London Times hails the new show “a five star hit, astonishingly powerful.” The Star-Ledger says "a dynamically re-imagined hit. This 'LES MISÉRABLES’ has improved with age” and NY1-TV proclaims “this new production actually exceeds the original. The storytelling is clearer, the perspective grittier and the motivations more honest. Musical theatre fans can rejoice: ‘Les Miz’ is born again.”

Based on Victor Hugo’s classic novel, LES MISÉRABLES is an epic and uplifting story about the survival of the human spirit. The magnificent score of LES MISÉRABLES includes the classic songs “I Dreamed a Dream,” “On My Own,” “Stars,” “Bring Him Home,” “Do You Hear the People Sing?,” “One Day More,” “Empty Chairs at Empty Tables,” “Master Of The House” and many more.

Season tickets for the BEST OF BROADWAY shows are on sale now at the Coliseum Advance Ticket Window or call the season ticket hotline (843) 202-ARTS (2787). For more information or an online order form, visit www.NorthCharlestonColiseumPAC.com. 

North Charleston’s Farmers Market opens Thursday

The North Charleston Farmers Market will open Thursday, April 19, 2012 from 2:00 pm to 7:00 pm in its new location at 1055 East Montague Avenue in the Olde Village of North Charleston off of Park Circle. The market will be open every Thursday until mid-October.

Join and Share the Facebook event

The City of North Charleston’s annual Farmers Market includes a number of local farmers and growers selling local produce, free-range poultry & beef, and locally caught seafood. Local vendors will be on hand offering arts and crafts, and even gourmet dog treats. 

Each week the City’s Cultural Arts Department features a performance or artist to showcase. Musical performances on the 1st, 3rd, and 5th Thursday of each month and art demonstrations on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month. 

On April 19, Michael Wolk will be featured, playing live acoustic music from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm.

Entries Sought for 2012 North Charleston Arts Festival Judged Fine Art & Photography Competitions & Exhibitions

Fine artists and professional and amateur photographers ages 18 and up are invited to participate in the annual North Charleston Arts Festival Judged Fine Art and Judged Photography Competitions and Exhibitions, which will be on display throughout the Charleston Area Convention Center Complex May 4-12, 2012. Cash prizes are awarded for winning entries. Details for participation are available for download on the Applications page at www.NorthCharlestonArtsFest.com. The deadline for submissions is 7:00pm on Thursday, May 3, for photography, and noon on Friday, May 3, for fine art. Entry fees are $5 and $10, respectively.

Fine artists may submit work in 5 categories: Acrylic, Oil, Drawing/Pastel, Watercolor, and Mixed Media. Entries will compete for cash prizes totaling up to $4425. Awards are at the sole discretion of the juror, Kimberly H. Spears. As the Executive Director of the Anderson County Arts Council, Ms. Spears oversees the rotating gallery exhibitions in the Anderson County Arts Center. She has served as juror for art exhibitions around the state. 

Photographers may submit work in the Professional/Advanced division or Amateur division under the categories of Color or Monochrome. Entries will compete for cash prizes totally up to $1450 and are judged using the Photographic Society of America Print Guidelines. Scoring is done by three competent judges in the field of photography who will score entries using the 3-9 range of scores. Each judge will evaluate each entry as a whole, considering the areas of Impact, Composition, and Technique. However, there is no specific weighting or allotment of points for each category. This system is used efficiently and effectively by many councils, at international exhibitions, and by camera clubs. It allows an adequate qualitative separation of entries while lessening the potential for a large number of the higher scoring entries having identical scores. In the event of a tie-breaker, judges will choose the winning entry. 

Awards for both competitions will be announced at an artist reception on Friday, May 4, from 6:00-7:00pm at the Charleston Area Convention Center, located at 5001 Coliseum Drive in North Charleston. Exhibition viewing times are Saturday, May 5, 10:00am – 4:00pm; Sunday, May 6, 2:00pm – 5:00pm; Monday through Friday, May 7-11, 9:00am – 5:00pm; and Saturday, May 12, 9:00am – 12:00pm. 

The North Charleston Arts Festival, scheduled May 4-12, is one of the most comprehensive arts festivals in the Lowcountry, providing thousands of residents & visitors with a fabulous array of performances, exhibitions, and activities. The Main Event, held the first weekend in May, offers free admission and parking to over 40 performances on four stages. Other Main Event activities include exhibitions, a gem and mineral show, an antique show, children’s activities, art and crafts booth, and food court. The Arts Festival continues with over 50 free or moderately priced ticketed events throughout the week at various locations and concludes with fireworks over the Cooper River at the Grand Finale at Riverfront Park. 

For more information about the North Charleston Arts Festival, or to download applications for the Judged Fine Art and Photography Competitions and Exhibitions, visit www.NorthCharlestonArtsFest.com. For more information about other exhibition opportunities, visit http://bit.ly/culturalarts or call the City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department office at 843-740-5854.

Boosting State Economic Growth: Five roles of Arts, Culture, and Design

Join the South Carolina Arts Commission Wednesday, June 22, for a free webinar to hear how the arts community and its partners can take leading roles in strengthening our state's economy. The National Governors Association Center for Best Practices will preview findings of a new report demonstrating how creative industries, creative place-making and arts education can help states address their most pressing economic challenges.

Presenters

Laura Scanlan, director of state and regional partnerships at the National Endowment for the Arts; Mary Jo Waits, director of the economic, human services and workforce division at the NGA Center for Best Practices; and Kelly Barsdate, chief program and planning officer, National Assembly of State Arts Agencies.

Who should participate

Arts organizations, artists and their partners; chambers of commerce representatives; city and rural developers; elected officials, city and county staff members; the education community; etc. -- anyone interested in working toward a stronger South Carolina. 

When

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Time

3:00-4:00 pm  

Where

Felix C. Davis Community Center

4800 Park Circle

North Charleston, SC 29405

(843) 740-5853

Host: Donna Jones, North Charleston Cultural Arts Department

North Charleston Arts Festival presents Annual Art Walk

Evening of Art & Music to take place May 4 in Olde Village Area

 

Take a stroll in the Olde Village area of East Montague Avenue through businesses, pubs, studios, and salons to see works by local artists during the North Charleston Arts Festival Art Walk on Wednesday, May 4, 2011. Admission and parking are free.

Original art, fine crafts, and photography, ranging from traditional to contemporary, will be displayed in the common areas of participating businesses from 5:00-8:00 pm. Exhibiting artists include Arianne King Comer, Caroline Echols, Sara Evers, Karen Gaag, Philip Hyman, Lori Starnes Isom, Keller Lee, Michele Levani, Drew Pederson, Nicole Rath, Sylivia Shorter, and students from the Charleston County School of the Arts.

Enjoy live music by Lime and the Coconuts (ukulele/swing/folk) and Lane Gregory (bluegrass/folk/Americana) throughout the evening. Command Performance Productions and Karen DeLoach will host a screening of original short films by Lowcountry student filmmakers from 6:00-7:00pm at the Olde Village Community Building, located at 4820 Jenkins Avenue. Second Sundays at Seven, a writers’ and actors’ workshop, will take place from 5:00-7:00pm at South of Broadway Theater, located at 1080 East Montague Avenue. In addition, artists participating in the annual Art & Fine Craft Co-Op Gallery at the Meeting Place, 1077 East Montague Avenue, will host a public reception during the Art Walk. Other attractions include face painting and live artist demonstrations. It’s an evening of art and culture for the whole family!

For more information about the Art Walk or any other 2011 North Charleston Arts Festival events, contact the City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department office at (843) 740-5854 or visit www.northcharleston.org.

Annual North Charleston Arts Festival Set for April 29-May 7, 2011

Nine-day celebration of the arts offers something for everyone

Now in its 29th year, the North Charleston Arts Festival will take place April 29 through May 7, 2011. The nine day event is one of the most comprehensive arts festivals in the state, providing thousands of residents & visitors with a fabulous array of performances, exhibitions, and activities featuring national, regional, and local artists and performers.

Organized by the City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department, the festival strives to maintain the spirit of a community celebration with the mission of presenting a broad, multidiscipline event schedule that provides a wide range of performing, visual, media, and literary arts events for people of all ages and backgrounds. Many of the offerings are free, and those that are ticketed are moderately priced. Recognized by the Southeast Tourism Society as a Top 20 Event, the North Charleston Arts Festival truly offers something for everyone.

“The Arts Festival unlocks our imagination and gives an opportunity to all residents and visitors of the City of North Charleston to participate in high quality entertainment, exhibits, and programming,” says North Charleston Mayor, Keith Summey. “It is a time of the year that we are joined by thousands throughout the Southeast to celebrate the importance of art within our world.”

The Arts Festival Main Event, held on Saturday, April 30, and Sunday, May 1, at the North Charleston Performing Arts Center and Charleston Area Convention Center, offers free admission and parking to over 40 performances from national, regional, and local performers on four themed stages: Cultural Heritage, Youth Entertainment, Bands, and General Audience.  Other features include judged art and photography exhibits; the 9th annual SC Palmetto Hands Fine Craft Exhibit; Youth Art from Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester county students; the Lowcountry Gem & Mineral Show & Sale; the Village Antiques & Collectibles show; children's activities at Box City and Creation Stations; arts & crafts vendors, and much more. 

The Festival continues with over 50 events throughout the week at various locations around the City of North Charleston.  An exciting array of free and ticketed events include street dances, a murder mystery dinner theatre, concerts, literary gatherings, children’s events, film screenings, theatre presentations, art workshops and demonstrations, an Art Walk, an Art & Fine Craft Co-Op, the 6th annual National Outdoor Sculpture Competition and Exhibition, and a Grand Finale at the beautiful North Charleston Riverfront Park. This year’s Grand Finale features children’s activities, performances by school groups, dance troupes, and spoken word poets, an evening concert featuring The Fowl Play Band, and fireworks over the Cooper River.

Applications are now being accepted for participation in the Festival’s Judged Fine Art, Judged Photography, and Tri-County Youth Art exhibitions. Volunteer applications are also being accepted. Application forms are available on the Cultural Arts section of the city’s website at www.northcharleston.org.

For more 2011 North Charleston Arts Festival information, including detailed event schedules and venue information, visit www.northcharleston.org, email culturalarts@northcharleston.org, or contact the North Charleston Cultural Arts Department office at (843) 740-5854.

North Charleston City Gallery to Exhibit Works by Barrie Hinson

The City of North Charleston’s Cultural Arts Department is pleased to announce that works by Barrie Hinson will be on exhibit at the North Charleston City Gallery from March 1-31, 2011.

Charleston Artist Guild member, Barrie Hinson, will exhibit plein air landscapes in oil in her exhibit of recent works, titled Landscapes of the Lowcountry. Hinson paints landscapes on location with the essential monochromatic value study, and then takes the piece to her studio where she lays in the color. She then pushes and pulls the color temperatures to create mysterious and intriguing focal points. Barrie is drawn to the intriguing demeanor of the Lowcountry, such as its lazy rivers, majestic live oaks, afternoon light and marshes. She says, “It is a thrill to be able to stand before nature and let her challenge me with her infinite beauty.”

Hinson grew up near the Blue Ridge Parkway in Asheville, NC, where she started receiving recognition in art early on in life. She was voted “most artistic” at Asheville High School and as featured in a one-man-show at the age of 18. She studied Painting and Printmaking at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro for two years and received a B.F.A. degree in Art Education from Virginia Commonwealth University.

In 1985 Barrie moved to Charleston, SC, where she taught art in public and private schools, introducing and encouraging many young people to pursue art as a career. In 2003 she retired from teaching to return to her first passion of painting oil portraits, murals, and black and white photography. She was past president of the Goose Creek Artist Guild and is currently exhibiting in the Charleston Artist Guild Gallery.

The North Charleston City Gallery is located in the Charleston Area Convention Center with free parking and admission during regular Convention Center operating hours 9:00AM – 5:00PM, daily. The Gallery is staffed on Friday, Saturday, and Monday only. Inquiries regarding artists or purchase information may be directed to the North Charleston Cultural Arts Department at (843) 740-5854. For information on additional exhibits, programs, and events, visit the Cultural Arts section of the City’s website at www.northcharleston.org.

The Meeting Place Window to Exhibit Works by Keller Lee

The City of North Charleston’s Cultural Arts Department will host an exhibition of works by Keller Lee in the display windows of The Meeting Place during from March 1-31, 2011.

In his exhibit, Inspiration and Interpretation, local artist Keller Lee will present fused glass objects that were inspired by items and patterns found in every day life. Most of Lee’s works function as some sort of practical object, from candle holders to coasters. Lee says, “Glass is a great way to make my life inspired art take on a functional form that can be used in everyday life.”

Glass fusion, often referred to as "warm glass," is one of the oldest forms of glass making. Torches and kilns are used to make the glass soft and molten. Handcut, broken, pulled and ground pieces of glass are used with each glass fusion project.

The Meeting Place is located at 1077 East Montague Avenue in the revitalized Olde North Charleston Business District. Parking is free. Display window exhibits offer visitors a continuous opportunity to view artwork by different artists every other month. Proposals are being accepted and considered on a continuing basis. Further inquiries about this exhibition and exhibition opportunities may be directed to the North Charleston Cultural Arts Department at (843) 740-5854. For information on additional exhibits, programs, and events, visit the Cultural Arts section of the City’s website at www.northcharleston.org.

Major arts award trio named

“Combining this triumvirate of highly accomplished persons as namesakes for the Summey Barkley Rucker Medallion has great potential for elevating the work of mentoring young lowcountry artists,” said Mary Gould, director of the South of Broadway Theatre Company (SOBTC), announcing a new arts award named after North Charleston Mayor Keith Summey, Charleston Regional Alliance for the Arts Founding Chair Nella Barkley and Hootie & the Blowfish lead singer Darius Rucker. The award, sponsored by SOBTC and presented annually, will recognize group or individual efforts at training and developing young artists. A selection committee will name the award’s first recipient by early-March as other plans take shape for a longstanding SOBTC youth arts project.  

Since 2005 SOBTC has sponsored Summer In The City (SITC), a month-long artististic residency program for aspiring Lowcountry actors, dancers and musicians ages 14-19. SITC participants reside at The Juilliard School in New York City while taking masterclasses with teachers from various performing arts institutions. According to Gould averages of ten students make the trip each year, however, the increased student turnout at SITC auditions held last month is expected to boost this year’s June 5 – July 2 residency to its highest enrollment. Gould will announce SITC participants later this month.

Mayor Summey and Youth Endowment for the Arts along with Mayors Joseph P. Riley, Jr. and the late Harry Hallman, Jr. were instrumental in launching the first year of SITC. “Mayor Summey is leading a transformation in North Charleston’s commercial and cultural appeal which impacts our work everyday,” Gould said. After taking office in 1994, Mayor Summey restored the city’s previously disbanded Cultural Arts Department to a full stand alone department which now has 13 employees and in 1999 established The Coliseum and Convention Center Complex, the lowcountry’s largest events arena.

Nella Barkley is a former Spoleto Festival USA General Manager, Founding Chair of the SCETV Endowment and of the Crystal-Barkley Corporation’s pioneering strategies for human resources management and author of The Crystal-Barkley Guide To Taking Charge of Your Career. “Nella is a towering force in many local, state and national endeavors and especially in the arts, education and the humanities,” said Gould. As board chair of the Charleston Regional Alliance for the Arts since 2006, Barkley’s reach in helping arts organizations is much sought after.

From his world-wide success as the lead singer of Hootie & the Blowfish to his solo delve into R&B, to his current meteoric rise to the top of the Country Music scene, Darius Rucker has sustained a successful music career spanning a quarter of a century. Songs from their debut album earned the group two Grammy’s along with a multitude of other awards, countless television appearances, and a fan base that crosses continents.  Rucker’s release of his solo record, Charleston, SC 1966, has reached #1 on the country chart as well as climbing to #2 on the Billboard Top 200. Gould cited Rucker’s “commitment to philanthropy, hard work, quality songwriting and energizing performances” as key elements in defining the purpose of the new arts award, the Summey Barkley Rucker Medallion.

“Indeed the life-works of these three persons is an inspiration to young artists and to the groups and individuals who help shape the lives of young artists” Gould said.

For more information call 843-814-4451 or visit website at: www.southofbroadway.com.

5th Annual National Outdoor Sculpture Competition & Exhibition Winners

Sculpture artists from across the nation applied to the fifth annual National Outdoor Sculpture Competition and Exhibition. Presented by the City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department, this unique, eleven month exhibition offers established and emerging artists the opportunity to display their thought provoking, extraordinary sculptures, as well as compete for up to $14,750 in Exhibition Honorariums and Awards. Eleven sculptures were selected by the juror, Stuart Hordoner, Artistic Director of the Atlanta Contemporary Art Center. Once installed at the exhibition site, the juror then selected pieces to receive awards for Best in Show, 2nd Place, and Honorable Mention.

The eleven sculptures selected for exhibition are by eleven artists from seven states. Division I includes ten sculptures that are anchored to a concrete pad or in the grass. Division II includes one sculpture that is secured to a concrete pedestal.

Division I

• “Mass Murder Machine” (steel, iron, and aluminum) (2nd Place)
  by Doug Barton - Athens, GA
  
  
  
  
• “Prism Arc SC” (painted steel) (Honorable Mention)
  by Carl Billingsly – Ayden, NC
  
  
  
  
• “Cube” (corten steel)
  by Dana Gingras – Moorseville, NC
  
  
• “Fools Buoy” (steel and concrete) (Honorable Mention)
  by Roger Halligan – Chattanooga, TN
  
  
  
  
• “Two Headed Ass” (steel) (Best in Show)
  by George Long – Roswell, GA
  
  
  
  
• “Boat Nest, Elevation of Divergence” (steel)
  by Corrina Mensoff – Atlanta, GA
  
  
• “Between Hope and Despair” (steel and stone)
  by Philip Smith – Columbia, MD
  
  
• “Ball Joint” (cast iron and bronze) (Honorable Mention)
  by Kristy Summers – Carbondale, IL
  
  
• “La Fleur da Vie” (steel)
  by TEKLA – Black Mountain, NC
  
  
• “Inside the Vee” (steel and recycled materials)
  by Bob Turan – Earlton, NY
  

Division II

• “End of Time” (recycled metal)
  by Jim Shultz – North Charleston, SC
  

Sculpture sites are located throughout the picturesque Riverfront Park set on the banks of the beautiful Cooper River. Visitors may enjoy ten acres of walking paths, a performance pavilion, picnic shelter, a fishing pier and boardwalk, an oversized sandbox, and children’s play fountain.

The 2010/11 National Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition will be on display May 1, 2010 – March 25, 2011.

Click Here to find out more

The Arts Festival is coming!

April 30 - May 8

Complete Arts Festival Brochure - Official Arts Festival Website

The North Charleston Arts Festival is organized and presented by the City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department and numerous volunteers. The festival was launched as a one day community celebration at Park Circle in 1982 and has evolved with the addition of new facilities throughout the City. The festival moved to the North Charleston Coliseum in 1995 and expanded to two days. In 2000, the opening of the Charleston Area Convention Center, North Charleston Performing Arts Center, and other new venues, provided the springboard for the festival to expand to nine full days of performances and activities for residents and visitors throughout the City. In 2008, the Arts Festival was recognized by the Southeast Tourism Society as a Top 20 Event.

Today, the festival maintains the spirit of a community celebration with the mission of presenting a comprehensive, multidiscipline event schedule that provides an array of performing, visual, media, and literary arts events for people of all ages and backgrounds. The festival is accessible to all with numerous free and moderately priced events.