by Greg | Sep 13, 2021 | News
Greenville, SC – Greenville Center for Creative Arts (GCCA) is launching a new series of FREE professional development workshops called “The Business Toolkit for Artists.” The six-part series will give visual artists insight into the resources and skills needed for career growth in the fine art industry. The program is funded in part by the Metropolitan Arts Council, which receives support from the City of Greenville, BMW Manufacturing Company, Michelin North America, Inc., SEW Eurodrive and the South Carolina Arts Commission.
Topics range from foundational basics for every artist like writing an artist statement, to more advanced business tools like taxes and money management for creative entrepreneurs. Led by recognized industry professionals, these workshops will help artists transition their unique craft into a sustainable business model.
“We are thrilled to have the support from MAC to launch this series,” says Kim Fabian, GCCA’s Executive Director. “Professional development opportunities like these are critical to build skills and career mobility in the artist community. Being able to offer this curriculum for free allows people who may not have the financial resources for continuing education to benefit from this valuable content.”
The line-up of workshops includes:
- Applying to Juried Shows: A How-To Guide and Portfolio Review with Robin Aiken, Artisphere Visual Artist Manager, on Saturday, October 2 from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
- (Virtual) Taxes for Artists, Freelancers and Creative Businesses (Virtual) with Hannah Cole, Enrolled Agent and Founder of Sunlight Tax, and Tax & Money Columnist for the Art Blog Hyperallergic, on Saturday, November 20, from 9:00 – 11:00 a.m.
- Social Media 101 for Artists with Will Henderson, Associate Director of the Clemson Social Media Listening Center, on Friday, October 15, from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.
- Making Post Art School: Methods for Finding Grants, Exhibitions & Residencies with Jonell Logan, Creative Director, McColl Center for Art + Innovation, former Executive Director of The League of Creative Interventionists, & Founder of 300 Arts Project, on Saturday, October 30, from 3:00 – 5:00 p.m.
- Telling Your Story: Tackling Artist Statements and Grant Narratives with Jennifer Oladipo, Marketing Strategist, Arts Advocate & Publisher of The Chord, on Wednesday, October 20, from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
- Directing Your Personal Money for Creative Business Success (Virtual) with Edris Tucker, AFCPE Accredited Financial Counselor, CommunityWorks and former NFCC Certified Credit Counselor & Financial Educator, on Thursday, November 4, from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
These workshops are free and open to any artist in the Upstate community. Artists can attend them all or pick and choose. Workshops fill on a first-come, first-served basis and are held in-person at GCCA unless listed as “virtual” in the title. Registration is required for all workshops by visiting www.artcentergreenville.org/classes and scrolling down to Professional Development.
About GCCA
Greenville Center for Creative Arts is a non-profit organization that aims to enrich the cultural fabric of the community through visual arts promotion, education, and inspiration. For more information, visit www.artcentergreenville.org, call 864-735-3948, or check out GCCA on Facebook (Greenville Center for Creative Arts) & Instagram (@artcentergvl).
by Greg | Aug 9, 2021 | News
Greenville, SC – The Greenville Center for Creative Arts (GCCA) announced the recipients of the 2021-22 Brandon Fellowship at its Annual Showcase on August 6. The Fellowship is a 12-month program that aims to develop three emerging artists between the ages of 21 to 30 who represent the diversity of the Greenville visual arts community. Now in its seventh year, the program provides free studio space, a stipend for supplies, a supportive environment, mentorship, and art education, including professional development resources, to help these artists thrive in the next step of their education, career, or business.
The recipients are:
Kim Le is an alumna of the Fine Arts Center at Wade Hampton High School. She recently received her Bachelor of Fine Arts from Winthrop University, where she graduated magna cum laude. Kim won the distinction of being the only student ever to have received first place in three consecutive undergraduate juried exhibitions at Winthrop University Galleries. She is a mixed media artist who uses her art to explore the abject adolescent feminine psyche. Working in a variety of mediums, her goal is to decontextualize objects of feminine consumerism to explore the “true” and “false” self as it relates to repressed violence, aggression, and abjection in the female mind.
Sienna Patterson creates unique and expressive metal and enamel jewelry and is also a proficient watercolor and ink artist. She previously studied at the Fine Art Center at Wade Hampton High School, where she excelled in metals classes and robotics. While in high school, Sienna was selected to exhibit at Art Fields in the junior division and won several Scholastic Art and Writing awards. Her use of color is vibrant and rich, and is expressed seamlessly across all of the mediums in which she works. Sienna continues to explore mediums and ways to expand her creative expression and is driven by a desire to make art accessible and present for all populations.
Terrell Washington makes intimate paintings inspired by his dreams and what he sees in the world around him. His high-energy, colorful pieces are layered with meaning and reflect the personal, spiritual, and societal challenges he has experienced in his young life. Primarily self-taught, Terrell is a painter with a natural eye for design, composition, and color. During his senior year at Eastside High School, Terrell became a member of the National Arts Honor Society. He has also participated in Artisphere several times, where he received an Honorable Mention and two First Place awards in the student exhibition. In addition to painting, Terrell is a partner in a business where he produces unique and custom-designed T-shirts.
This year’s Brandon Fellows selection committee included chair Pamela Adams, design professional and Art in Public Places Commissioner for the City of Greenville; a photographer and member of the original Brandon Fellows class of 2016; Danielle Fontaine, artist and Brandon Fellowship Founder; Julio Hernandez, a GCCA board member and chief of staff of the Office of Hispanic Outreach for the Division of Inclusion and Equity at Clemson University; Glory Day Loflin, working artist and member of the original Brandon Fellows class of 2016; Ashley Waller, working artist and Brandon Fellows aluma from 2016-17, and Kara Bale, operations manager for GCCA who oversees the Fellowship program.
“The competition was fierce again this year and demonstrates the quality of artistic talent in Greenville,” says Kim Fabian, GCCA’s executive director. “We are delighted to welcome these artists to the GCCA family and be a part of their growth. For many of our recipients, we know this program can be the distinguishing opportunity that allows them to make a living doing the work that inspires them and enriches our community.”
Previous Brandon Fellows alumni have gone on to become full-time working artists, designers, participants in Artisphere and other festivals, graduate students, artists-in-residence, instructors, community muralists, published artists, grant recipients, and award winners.
An exhibition featuring the work of the 2020-21 Brandon Fellows, Anna Grace Cunningham, Evan Givens, and Savannah Ralph is on display through Sept. 22 in GCCA’s Main Gallery, which is free and open to the public Tuesday-Friday from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
To learn more about the Brandon Fellowship, visit www.artcentergreenville.org.
About GCCA
Greenville Center for Creative Arts is a non-profit organization that aims to enrich the cultural fabric of the community through visual arts promotion, education, and inspiration. For more information, visit www.artcentergreenville.org, call 864-735-3948, or check out GCCA on Facebook (Greenville Center for Creative Arts) & Instagram (@artcentergvl).
by Greg | Aug 1, 2021 | News
Greenville, SC – Greenville Center for Creative Arts (GCCA) will open a new Community Gallery exhibition, A Well Worn Path by Zach Suggs, on Friday, September 3rd, 2021 from 6 pm – 9 pm. This exhibition is located in the second-floor Community Gallery and will be on display until October 27th, 2021. A Well-Worn Path consists of a series of photographs that documents transient lifestyles. It emphasizes the millennial mindset of wanderlust while also longing for a home. These photographs are reflections on the gap between idyllic images serving as bastions of effortless living and the actual experience of life.
Zach Suggs is a career photographer based in Greenville, South Carolina. Growing up with a heart that roamed elsewhere, rambling trips with friends growing up became earnest searches for a place to call home out west. Each time he left he found himself tethered to Appalachia. He has partnered with brands and agencies such as Shakespeare Fishing, Hodgman Waders, BF Goodrich, Liquid Wrench, and Brains on Fire, and organizations such as Great Outdoor Adventure Trips, and The Family Effect. Since 2017 he has worked closely with the BMW Car Club of America Foundation archiving BMW’s automotive history through exhibition catalogs of four award-winning CCA Foundation Museum exhibitions. Zach photographed musician Nikki Lane for a limited edition picture disc vinyl for her ‘Highway Queen’ album, and most recently he was the recipient of the Greenville Metropolitan Arts Council individual artist grant for his solo exhibition, “A Well-Worn Path.”
About GCCA
Greenville Center for Creative Arts is a non-profit organization that aims to enrich the cultural fabric of the community through visual arts promotion, education, and inspiration. For more information, visit www.artcentergreenville.org, call 864-735-3948, or check out GCCA on Facebook (Greenville Center for Creative Arts) & Instagram (@artcentergvl).
by Greg | Aug 1, 2021 | News
Greenville, SC – Greenville Center for Creative Arts (GCCA) will open a new Community Gallery exhibition, Anthropocene by Martha Gene Grattan, on Friday, October 1st, 2021 from 6 pm – 9 pm. This exhibition is located on the first floor Community Gallery and will be on display until October 27th, 2021. In this educational art exhibition, clay sculptures illuminate issues surrounding endangered animals around the world. Martha focuses on mass extinction due to habitat destruction. Each sculpture is accompanied by a written discussion of each species’ situation.
Martha Grattan is a ceramic sculptor, specializing in wildlife art. Originally from Fort Myers, FL, she has recently relocated to Greenville, SC. She is also an art school instructor at GCCA. Martha will be teaching two upcoming workshops at GCCA. On October 23rd, Marth will be offering Polymer Clay Mokume Gane. Please head to our website at https://www.artcentergreenville.org/classes to learn more about Martha’s clay workshops.
About GCCA
Greenville Center for Creative Arts is a non-profit organization that aims to enrich the cultural fabric of the community through visual arts promotion, education, and inspiration. For more information, visit www.artcentergreenville.org, call 864-735-3948, or check out GCCA on Facebook (Greenville Center for Creative Arts) & Instagram (@artcentergvl).
by Greg | Aug 1, 2021 | News
August 1, 2021: Greenville, SC – Greenville Center for Creative Arts (GCCA) will open a new Main Gallery exhibition, Pushing Pop, on Friday October 1st, 2021 from 6 pm – 9 pm. This exhibition will be located in the Main Gallery and will be on display until November 24th, 2021. In Pushing Pop, thirteen artists from Upstate South Carolina revisit the Pop Art movement. These multi-generational artists explore the original movement while integrating contemporary insights. The featured artists are John Acorn, A-N-D, Kent Ambler, Larry Bennett, Adam Burgess, Patricia Crandall, Kymberly Day, Peggy Tanner Day, Steve Garner, Diane Hopkins Hughs, Gary Huntoon, Carey Morton, & Ryan Roth.
On November 9th at 6 PM, GCCA will hold an ARTalk with the exhibiting artists in association with the Pushing Pop exhibition.
About GCCA
Greenville Center for Creative Arts is a non-profit organization that aims to enrich the cultural fabric of the community through visual arts promotion, education, and inspiration. For more information, visit www.artcentergreenville.org, call 864-735-3948, or check out GCCA on Facebook (Greenville Center for Creative Arts) & Instagram (@artcentergvl).
by Greg | Jul 15, 2021 | News
Greenville, SC – Greenville Center for Creative Arts (GCCA) will hold its sixth Annual Showcase on Friday, August 6, from 6 – 9 pm in its renovated mill facility at 101 Abney St. in the Village of West Greenville. The Annual Showcase is GCCA’s premiere event for artists and art lovers of all ages, featuring a new Main Gallery exhibition with works from more than 100 local artists, a special exhibition of youth artwork created during GCCA’s Summer Art Camps, live artist demos promoting classes in the fall Art School Schedule, visits with 15 studio artists, and much more.
Located in the Main Gallery, the Annual Showcase exhibition highlights over 100 GCCA members each year whose work embodies the talent and diversity of GCCA’s vibrant visual arts community. From contemporary paintings to functional ceramics and everything in between, there is something for everyone at the Annual Showcase exhibition. The 2021-2022 Brandon Fellowship exhibition will also be on display showcasing work by emerging artists Kim Le, Sienna Patterson, and Terrell Washington. In addition, after a competitive selection process, GCCA will announce the three new Brandon Fellows for the upcoming 2022-2023 program year.
This summer GCCA’s art camps introduced a variety of visual art mediums to over 150 campers. To culminate all the hard work completed by instructors and campers, the Summer Art Camp Showcase presents a collection of various artworks from campers ages 5-12 years old. This showcase will be located on the second floor Gray Loft.
Visitors can also see in-person demos by GCCA instructors and learn more about the offerings in the newly launched fall session of classes and workshops. In addition, there will be live music, T-shirt sales, and a raffle drawing at 8 pm for two Shoeless Joe Jackson paintings completed by Brandon Fellow Alumni, Nick Burns, at the Greenville Drive game on July 22nd for the Homeruns for Heroes promotion.
After First Friday, the Annual Showcase exhibition will be open to visitors through Sept. 22 on Tuesdays through Fridays from 9 am – 5 pm and Saturdays 11 am – 3 pm. Admission is free and open to the public. For more information, call GCCA at 864-735-3948 or visit www.artcentergreenville.org.
About GCCA
Greenville Center for Creative Arts is a non-profit organization that aims to enrich the cultural fabric of the community through visual arts promotion, education, and inspiration. For more information, visit www.artcentergreenville.org, call 864-735-3948, or check out GCCA on Facebook (Greenville Center for Creative Arts) & Instagram (@artcentergvl).
by Greg | Apr 23, 2021 | News
Greenville, SC – The Greenville Center for Creative Arts (GCCA) is pleased to announce six new members elected to its board of directors.
- Diana Farfan, Ceramic Sculpture Artist
- Sam Jenkins, Project Manager, Cely Construction
- Lindsay Odom, Project Manager, SYNNEX Corporation
- Vee Popat, Director, The Fine Arts Center
- Nathan Reynolds, Service Project Manager, Watson Electric
- Bradley Wingate, Director of Visual and Performing Arts, Greenville County Schools
“It is rewarding and encouraging that our organization has attracted such a diverse and talented slate of new directors to help us expand our mission and achieve our goals,” says Kim Fabian, GCCA’s Executive Director. “While 2020 had its challenges, it also allowed us to pause and reflect on GCCA’s imprint and potential in the Greenville community. Our 2021 board will be poised to create a new strategic plan that will help to ensure long-term sustainability and foster meaningful economic and outreach impact through the education, advancement, and promotion of the visual arts.”
GCCA also named four former directors as members of its Founder’s Circle: artists Randy Armstrong and Carrie Burns Brown, and business leaders Bryant Brown of GMKA and J. Earle Furman Jr. of NAI Earle Furman. This distinction recognizes these GCCA leaders and founders for their vision and commitment to the organization.
About GCCA
Founded by a dedicated group of local artists and philanthropists, Greenville Center for Creative Arts opened in May 2015 as a community hub for the visual arts. A 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, its mission is to enrich the cultural fabric of the community through visual arts promotion, education, and inspiration. GCCA provides arts education to more than 900 people each year, as well as showcases local artists, and nurtures appreciation and enjoyment in the arts. It houses artists’ studios, an emerging artists’ fellowship, exhibitions, free community programs, and classes for all ages. For more information, visit www.artcentergreenville.org, call 864-735-3948, or check out GCCA on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
by Greg | Apr 21, 2021 | News
Greenville, SC – On First Friday, May 7, the Greenville Center for Creative Arts (GCCA) at 101 Abney St. will celebrate its sixth year of serving its community with quality art classes, exhibitions, and opportunities to promote the visual arts and artists in the Upstate. The day will also mark the organization’s plan to expand into 7,000 square feet of vacant space in its Linda Quinn Furman Building.
“We are beyond grateful for the outstanding support this community has shown to our mission, which provided us the resources to weather the pandemic and strengthen our ability to be an enduring organization,” says Kim Fabian, GCCA’s Executive Director. “This exciting expansion will add 10 artist studios, a jewelry-making classroom, printmaking classroom, multi-use conference and education space, as well as relocate our main entrance for easier access and greater visibility. It is our hope that these enhancements will help even more community members explore their creativity at GCCA.”
The community is invited to come out and celebrate at this free First Friday event, open to the public from 1-9 p.m. Guests will enjoy:
- The opening of a Community Gallery exhibition featuring artwork from high school students at the Fine Arts Center
- The debut of a new “Instagram-able” mural in GCCA’s Gray Loft
- Live art demos in conjunction with the launch of GCCA’s summer art class schedule
- The Uncanny Terrain exhibition in our Main Gallery, featuring Bryce Speed and Maja Godlewska
- Visits with our 12 studio artists and three Brandon Fellows
- Mental health resources from Walt’s Waltz
- Light refreshments and giveaways
Walk-ins are welcome from 1-5 p.m. From 5-9 p.m. reservations are recommended to ensure your spot by visiting www.artcentergreenville.org/firstfridaysatgcca. Limited walk-ins are available within capacity limits for social distancing. All visitors should kindly wear a mask.
A highlight of the evening’s festivities is the opening of Seven Places, a new Community Gallery exhibition that showcases the work of seven students from Greenville’s Fine Arts Center as they explore the definition of place. From things like place in society to place in evolution, these advanced young artists have banded together to provide a perspective on how high school students view not only themselves, but the world around them. Sam Barnhart, Grae Beckham, Brianna Bruce, Alex Coffey, Thomas Hicks, Dylan Swain and Katherine Wiedemann are the young artists who will be displaying their individuality through their places in life. After First Friday, the exhibition will be open to visitors Wednesday to Fridays from 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. through June 23.
About GCCA
Greenville Center for Creative Arts is a non-profit organization that aims to enrich the cultural fabric of the community through visual arts promotion, education, and inspiration. For more information, visit www.artcentergreenville.org, call 864-735-3948, or check out GCCA on Facebook (Greenville Center for Creative Arts) & Instagram (@artcentergvl).
by Greg | Mar 8, 2021 | News
Greenville, SC – The Greenville Center for Creative Arts (GCCA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Kara Bale as Operations Manager. Kara is a non-profit administrative professional with more than 15 years of experience in operational support and organizational communications. During her career, she has worked with a variety of organizations, always with the goal of supporting mission-driven enterprises that benefit people, the community, and the planet.
“We are delighted that GCCA will benefit from Kara’s non-profit and operational experience, as well as her commitment to making an impact in the community,” says Kim Fabian, Executive Director of the Greenville Center for Creative Arts. “In this critical time for our growth, her skills will help us take our facility and outreach to the next level so all members of our community feel welcome and have a great experience when they engage with GCCA.”
A native of Columbia, SC, Kara recently moved to Greenville after a long stay in Charleston, where she was Administrative and Communications Manager for the Avian Conservation Center, or Center for Birds of Prey. During her time at Birds of Prey, she helped the organization grow extensively by expanding communications and fundraising events, while also improving internal processes and increasing operational efficiencies. Kara excels at stewardship and has demonstrated acumen in logistics and coordination, an important set of skills that will support GCCA’s continued growth.
Kara holds a B.A. in English from the University of South Carolina and received her M.B.A. from the University of Denver. A long-time proponent of the creative arts, when not in the outdoors with her two adopted pups, Loca and Zee, Kara enjoys painting, writing, and listening to music.
About GCCA
Founded by a dedicated group of local artists and philanthropists, Greenville Center for Creative Arts opened in May 2015 as a community hub for the visual arts. A 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, its mission is to enrich the cultural fabric of the community through visual arts promotion, education, and inspiration. GCCA provides art education to more than 900 people each year, showcases local artists, and nurtures appreciation and enjoyment in the visual arts. Located in the historic Brandon Mill in the Village of West Greenville, GCCA houses 15 artists’ studios, an emerging artists’ fellowship, free exhibitions and community programs, and classes for all ages. For more information, visit www.artcentergreenville.org, call 864-735-3948, or check out GCCA on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
by Greg | Oct 23, 2020 | News
Greenville, SC – On Friday, November 6, Greenville Center for Creative Arts (GCCA) will be recognized as the first Stigma-Free Zone in South Carolina by Walt’s Waltz, an Upstate-based non-profit organization that serves as a megaphone and compass for mental health support, education, and change. This event is a part of the First Fridays gallery crawl.
“Walt’s Waltz is working to liberate people who wrestle with anxiety and depression from stigma—whether societal, cultural, religious, or personal—that could lead to alienation and suicide,” explains Walt’s Waltz founder Susan Crooks, whose own son, Walt, died by suicide in 2019. “The elimination of stigma will enable community members to ask for help when needed so recovery can begin, hope can be inspired, and tragedies can be avoided.”
The Stigma-Free Zone designation from Walt’s Waltz acknowledges GCCA for taking steps to eliminate the stigma associated with mental health conditions. The art center will serve as a safe and welcoming place that allows community members to get the mental health resources they need without judgment. This is vital considering that one in four adults experiences a mental health condition within their lifetime, and many do not seek help because they fear shame or judgment from those around them.
“This is a cause that is close to our hearts because we know many creative individuals whose lives have been impacted by mental health challenges,” says Kim Fabian, GCCA’s executive director. “Through this designation, GCCA will have the opportunity to offer effective ways to reduce the stigma and encourage those who are affected to seek services and support. We hope this will raise awareness of local resources so no one within our community needs to feel hopeless or alone.”
As part of the First Friday activities, GCCA Brandon Fellow alumnus Nicks Burns will exhibit an 8’x8’ portrait of Walt Crooks. Attendees will also have the opportunity to contribute to a large community art project. Participants will add handwritten words of hope, empowerment, and compassion, as well as an adjective that describes the feeling a person might experience when faced with mental health stigma. These words will be burned into a large piece of wood as a permanent reminder that speaking out reduces shame. This artwork will then be used and displayed in the state’s future Stigma-Free Zones.
First Friday at GCCA will take place on Nov. 6 with expanded hours from 1:00-8:00 p.m. Admission is free, but all visitors must register in advance on EventBrite at this link for a one-hour time slot. For safety, masks are required and capacity is limited to ensure social distancing. The schedule of activities includes:
1:00-8:00 p.m.: Participation in Walt’s Waltz Art Installation
Walt Crooks Portrait Exhibit
Sign-ups for a free Mental Health First Aid Course
Main Gallery Exhibition – Constellations
1st Floor Community Gallery Exhibition – Cecile Martin
2nd Floor Community Gallery Exhibition – Linda Quinn Furman
Virtual Poetry Readings – Glenis Redmond
5:00-8:00 p.m.: Visit with GCCA Brandon Fellows & Studio Artists
5:30-7:30 p.m.: Musical Performance – Songwriter Lana Guy
6:30-6:45 p.m.: Remarks and Recognition of GCCA’s Stigma-Free Zone Designation
For more information, call GCCA at 864-735-3948.
About GCCA
Founded by a dedicated group of local artists and philanthropists, the Greenville Center for Creative Arts opened in May 2015 as a community hub for the visual arts. A non-profit organization, its mission is to enrich the cultural fabric of the community through visual arts promotion, education, and inspiration. GCCA provides arts education to more than 900 people each year, as well as showcases local artists, and nurtures appreciation and enjoyment in the arts. It houses artists’ studios, an emerging artists’ fellowship, exhibitions, free community programs, and classes for all ages. For more information, visit www.artcentergreenville.org, call 864-735-3948, or check out GCCA @artcentergvl on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
About Walt’s Waltz
Walt’s Waltz is an Upstate South Carolina-based non-profit organization with regional and national reach that aims to end the stigma associated with mental health conditions through educational training, promotion of mental health screenings, and the establishment of safe spaces for open communication in the workplace, educational institutions, military, and other social settings. To find out more, visit www.waltswaltz.com.
by Greg | Aug 27, 2020 | News
Greenville, SC – GCCA has completed a $1M fundraising campaign to sustain operations and expand its impact—all in the name of a beloved member of the Greenville arts community. GCCA’s historic Cloth Building at 101 Abney Street will now be named the Linda Quinn Furman Building in honor of one of its founders.
This outpouring of support honors Linda—a dynamic artist, philanthropist, and wife of real estate developer and GCCA board member Earle Furman—in a way that is close to her heart. Her family and friends surprised her with the announcement yesterday when they stopped by GCCA to view the newly installed signage.
“In fundraising campaigns, the most significant efforts are those aimed at naming opportunities for an institution’s major facilities. Naming the 30,000-square-foot Cloth Building to honor Linda is most appropriate, and the funds raised will add significantly to the continued financial health and mission of GCCA,” said H. F. “Gally” Gallivan, III, a retired financial advisor and member of GCCA’s Development Committee. He, along with his wife, Fielding, and family joined dozens of others in support of this effort. “Through her early vision for and continuing leadership in GCCA, the organization is poised to thrive, and it thrills us to have participated. This is a gift not only to a life-long friend but to our community. Just think what an art scene Greenville will be with continued access to professional training and a venue to showcase art at any level.”
The decision to launch the campaign came in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, which led the organization to re-evaluate priorities and craft a plan to expand into recently vacated space in the Linda Quinn Furman Building. The goal is to create a new “front door” for the art center, along with additional studios, classrooms, and multi-use space. Funding from the campaign will be used toward this expansion project, as well as to support operating costs and strengthen reserves.
To mark this occasion and view the new building signage, a “drive-through” motorcade celebration at GCCA is planned for Linda and campaign supporters in September.
“We are amazed and overwhelmed by the generosity of these donors, who have not only supported our survival during the most challenging of times, but also laid a solid foundation to expand our efforts in meaningful ways,” explained Kim Fabian, GCCA’s Executive Director. “This accomplishment is a fitting tribute to the inspiration Linda has provided to us all. At its core, GCCA is about creating opportunities—opportunities to help children and adults express and expand their creativity; opportunities to fuel the arts economy by providing affordable studio space and a venue for local artists to showcase their work; and opportunities to provide inclusive access to the arts that might otherwise be unavailable. Following Linda’s example of strength and perseverance, we are inspired to take these opportunities to the next level.”
To further support the art center and honor Linda Quinn Furman, the organization has established The Lindy Fund for the Future of GCCA. Contributions can be made at www.artcentergreenville.org/donate or by calling 864-735-3948.
by Greg | May 8, 2020 | News
Greenville Center for Creative Arts (GCCA) is one of seven community organizations that received funding yesterday as part of Greenville Women Giving’s annual grant program. GCCA received a project grant for $84,183 to improve security, visibility, accessibility, and the visitor experience at the Art Center.
This announcement comes on the heels of GCCA’s fifth birthday on May 1, 2020, during which the Art Center hosted a virtual celebration of this milestone with a live painting from a current member of the Brandon Fellowship program, the launch of Zoom art classes, and an online gallery featuring the work of its studio artists.
“On behalf of the board, staff, and members of Greenville Center for Creative Arts, I would like to express our joy and gratitude to Greenville Women Giving for their generous gift enabling us to make greatly needed improvements at the Art Center,” said Patricia Kilburg, board chair and founder of GCCA. “We are truly honored to be one of the grant recipients for 2020, knowing the goal is to fund projects that will create positive change in the community. As board chair and as a working artist, I know what a significant impact this gift will make for our programs and for providing a safe and positive experience for our artists, students, and visitors who love and appreciate art.”
Since opening its doors in 2015, GCCA has welcomed tens of thousands of artists and arts enthusiasts of all ages for exhibitions, classes, summer camps, and special events. It has also forged collaborations with nearby neighborhood organizations, such as the Center for Educational Equity and the Freetown Community Center, to remove economic barriers for underserved children and adults.
Located in the Historic Brandon Mill in West Greenville, GCCA recognized that its building required key facility upgrades to create a more safe, secure, and welcoming environment. Specifically, the Greenville Women Giving investment will be used to provide enhanced exterior lighting, a handicap-accessible entrance, exterior signage, and upgrades to gallery flooring and lighting.
“These improvements will ensure that GCCA is a place where residents and visitors alike can find common ground, cross boundaries, and overcome barriers as they participate in and enjoy the arts,” explained Kim Fabian, GCCA’s executive director. “This tremendous gift from Greenville Women Giving will go a long way in helping us forward our vision to build an engine for creativity and community building in Greenville—and beyond.”
by Greg | Apr 26, 2015 | News
The Greenville Center for Creative Arts will open its doors to the Upstate community for the first time on Friday, May 1 from 6-9 pm. The Center, located in the historic Brandon Mill in the Village of West Greenville, is offering adult art classes, 16 studio rentals, and exhibition space.
The opening event, First Friday, will showcase nearly 100 locally produced pieces of art by the Founders, Instructors and Studio Artists working at the Center. Asada and Cluck, Squeal and Friends and King of Pops food trucks will be on site serving dinner. There will be a walking trail to connect to the larger #MAY_ONE block party on Pendleton Street.
Adult art classes’ start on May 11, 2015 and will run 7 weeks in length. Classes include media painting, drawing, watercolor, clay, mixed media, and fiber arts. Class sign-ups are available online and in person at the Center from 9 am – 5 pm Monday – Friday.
There are 12 studio artists working on site and will have work available for purchase in their studio. Each artist will be onsite to meet and greet visitors to the Center.
The Center will participate in First Friday each month and will offer an “Art Experience” for children and adults for a nominal fee. Reservations are required for each event. Sign-ups will be online or at the Center’s reception desk.
The first exhibition will be available to the public until May 22nd and the next exhibit will open in early June.
In the summer of 2016, the Center plans to offer eight weeks of summer art camp for children.
Greenville Center for Creative Arts is a non-profit organization established in 2014 to provide a central place that will serve the needs of the Upstate of South Carolina in the visual arts. It’s stated mission is to collaborate with the community to provide classes, exhibit space, and a place to cultivate art appreciation and enjoyment for people of all ages, ethnic diversities and economic circumstances.
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