Where Passion Meets Purpose

Greenville Center for Creative Arts (GCCA) was established in 2015 by a dedicated group of artists, educators, and community leaders in response to the need for hands-on arts education in Greenville. Located in the former Brandon Textile Mill in the Village of West Greenville, it is the area’s only nonprofit community art center focused on providing high-quality visual arts instruction and engagement. Our vision is to be a recognized hub for accessible visual arts education and experiences through our work to energize and empower the arts community.

The mission of Greenville Center for Creative Arts is to enrich the cultural fabric of our community through visual arts promotion, education, and inspiration.

Who We Are

Being part of the arts is being part of the change.

Our mission is made possible by our dedicated community of stakeholders, whose philanthropic support is necessary for GCCA to make an enduring impact.

Our mission is driven by the following strategic goals:

  • Ignite creativity and empathy in our community by celebrating the diversity of artistic voices and building bridges to understanding
  • Strengthen our platform, visibility, and outreach to generate engagement, remove barriers, and expand access
  • Generate opportunities for artists and art enthusiasts across disciplines to learn, network, and collaborate
  • Build pathways for artists that nurture their potential and foster career mobility

What We Do

Creativity and innovation have the power to transform communities.

Art School

A year-round calendar of art classes and workshops for all ages and skill levels

Exhibitions

High-profile exhibitions of local and national art that are free and open to the public

Studios

Affordable artist studios located in our beautiful, renovated mill

Community Outreach

Signature programs, such as the Brandon Fellowship for emerging artists, summer art camps, and after-school arts enrichment activities for youth

Venue Rentals

GCCA has venue spaces available to rent for both private and public events

Our Team

Jess Burgess

Jess Burgess

Chief Executive Officer

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Jess joins GCCA with over 15 years of experience in nonprofit arts administration. She has a proven track record of start-up to growth-phase organizational leadership and development. From formulating strategic fundraising plans to preparing annual budgets and implementing sound strategies, her background has consistently been characterized by a steadfast dedication to managing fiscal responsibility and achieving organizational growth objectives. 

Jess comes to Greenville after nearly a decade as the Executive Director of Dogtown Dance Theatre in Richmond, Virginia. She successfully created and managed new programs and fundraising strategies that resulted in increased revenue by 144% during her tenure and those programs reflect the cultural diversity alive in art today. In a panel review by the Virginia Commission for the Arts, jurors commented that “Jess Burgess is a strong and active advocate for the arts at every level.” She has dedicated her career to diligently diversifying income streams and building lasting relationships to secure financial stability for arts organizations that will ensure all programming emphasizes diversity, equity, inclusion, and access. Art should be a fundamental right, not a privilege. 

Jess currently serves on the Executive Board of Directors for James Madison University’s (JMU) College of Visual and Performing Arts and most recently served as the Treasurer for the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Central Virginia Chapter Board of Directors. She received Bachelor of Arts degrees (Magna Cum Laude) in both Dance and Communications from JMU and a Professional Certificate in Fund Development from the University of Richmond. She is thrilled to call Greenville, South Carolina her new home and make a lasting impact on the lives of artists and those who love art while helping GCCA excel for years to come. 

Ben Tarcson

Ben Tarcson

Gallery Director

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Ben graduated from Allegheny College with a BA in Studio Art with a concentration in Painting and a minor in History, While at Allegheny College, he worked as a Gallery Assistant/Attendant for the college’s Bowman-Penelac-Megahan art gallery where he assisted exhibiting artists and the Director & Curator with installations of exhibits and other art-related events. Ben is also a practicing artist in the Greenville area, working mainly in large acrylic paintings and installations. He is excited to become a contributing member of the art community.

Chelsea Rudisill, CFRE

Chelsea Rudisill, CFRE

Development Director

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Chelsea Rudisill is a native of Greenville, SC. She is a Certified Fund Raising Executive and has previously held development positions at the Peace Center in Greenville, Asheville Art Museum in Asheville, NC, and Richland Library in Columbia, SC. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Public Policy from Duke University and a master’s degree in Arts Administration from Winthrop University. Chelsea is an active member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and served as a 2020 and 2021 committee member for AFP Global’s Women’s Impact Initiative. 

Alicia Mizuno

Alicia Mizuno

Operations Manager

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Alicia was born and raised in Arlington, Texas right in the middle of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. She graduated with a BFA in Metalsmithing and Jewelry from the University of North Texas in Denton. Until moving here, she worked as a Facilities Administrator in the Financial Services Industry in Plano, Texas where she also received her certification in Office Ergonomics. She is a practicing artist out of her home studio working mostly on illustration, acrylic painting, and metalsmithing. Alicia now lives in Greer with her husband and their two cats. She is excited to have new adventures in South Carolina, and be working with artists in the Greenville area.

Javy Pagan

Javy Pagan

PROGRAM DIRECTOR

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Javy joins GCCA with nearly a decade of non-profit arts administration experience. Starting his non-profit career in fundraising and development, Javy has been able to build off of his community relationships and partnerships to craft impactful programs across the mediums of visual arts, performing arts, STEAM education, health and wellness education, and community activism. As a professional performance artist, Javy has worked on the creation and production of theatre for young audiences both in the Upstate of South Carolina and in Los Angeles, California. With a degree in Communications and Public Relations, Javy has a passion for creating meaningful community connections and fostering opportunities for community members and artists, alike, to live more enriching, inspirational, imaginative lives in Greenville!

Hailey Chapman

Hailey Chapman

Visitor Experience Associate

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Hailey Chapman is a native of Greenville, South Carolina. She holds an undergraduate degree in Psychology with a minor in Management from Clemson University. As a lifelong practicing artist, she is deeply passionate about identifying meaningful connections between art and psychology. Following her graduation from Clemson, Hailey relocated to North Carolina, where she cultivated her professional experience with a non-profit organization, gaining skills in Graphic Design, hospitality, and customer service. She is highly adept at managing an exceptional guest experience from start to finish.

Upon returning to Greenville and joining the team at GCCA, Hailey hopes to become a more active participant in Greenville’s thriving arts community and to make a positive impact in the lives of others, even through the simplest of interactions.

Board of Directors

Yvonne Julian
Board Chair
Retired — Sales Executive,
The Dow Chemical Company

Bradley Wingate
Board Vice President
Director of Visual & Performing Arts,
Greenville County Public Schools

Tony Callander
Board Treasurer
Retired- Ernst & Young
Managing Director-Tony Callander Consulting, LLC

Blair Knobel
Board Secretary
Founder & CEO, Knobel Media

Anne Q. Barr
Executive Director, FRESH Innovation Hub, Clemson University

Nick Burns
Artist 

Diana Farfan
Artist

Earle Furman
Chair, NAI Earle Furman

Daniel Hartway
Upstate Business Banking Manager/SVP,
First Citizens Bank

Ben Hepner
Attorney, HPLP Law

Sam Jenkins
Project Manager, Cely Construction

Kate Lacher
Artist & Creative Coordinator,
Craig Gaulden Davis

Vee Popat
Director, Fine Arts Center

Rhonda Rawlings
Neighborhood Engagement Director,
Mill Community Ministries & Community Affairs Host 107.3 Jamz/Hot 98.1

Nathan Reynolds
Aviation Specialist

Heather Wheless
Sr. Director of Human Resources,
Thermo Fisher Scientific

Founder’s Circle

Randolph and Allen Armstrong

Bryant Brown

Carrie Burns Brown

Linda and Earle Furman

Tracy T. Hardaway

Rebecca R. Johnson

Patricia and Don Kilburg