October 10 -12, PSAE held our annual arts integration conference, Resilience, and kicked off our second season of virtual programming. Day One and Two were virtual while Day Three was in-person. The content from the first two days is available now as on-demand video, and the content from our in-person day is currently being edited and will be available as on-demand in the coming weeks.  

We are excited to announce that this year-long event is part of a new initiative, Arts Grow SC.* This enables PSAE to be able to offer the year-long virtual portion of the event free of charge. Participation in this online platform will provide you with access to a statewide arts education collaboration. Working with our partners (ABC, SCAEA, SCDA, SCTA, SCMEA), the virtual platform will offer a “one-stop” source for workshops focusing on arts education, both for those interested in arts integration as well as arts specialists. With content being added throughout the year, be sure to bookmark our website and check back for updates!

* The One Stop Workshop is supported by Arts Grow SC, which is funded by the South Carolina Arts Commission and the South Carolina Department of Education through American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary Schools Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER) funds.

On January 1, 2022, applications for the 2022 Rising Stars Piccolo Spoleto Series will be available. In its 14th year, the series gives young artists the opportunity to participate in the high-profile venue of Spoleto USA Festival through its affiliation with Piccolo Spoleto.

On July 29th the South Carolina Department of Education and South Carolina Arts Commission announced a $20 million partnership, titled Arts Grow SC, to help public schools throughout the state address pandemic related learning loss with proven, arts-based learning initiatives.

To be the first to know about Arts Grow SC updates, please visit artsgrowsc.org to sign up for the e-newsletter.

The South Carolina Arts Commission is thrilled to announce two new hires to join the arts in education network: Kimberly Washburn Motte as Arts Learning Director and Amanda Noyes as K12 Coordinator. Both will begin their new positions November 17. 

Kimberly comes to the Arts Commission from the Florence County Museum of Art, where she has served as Curator of Education since 2012. An artist herself, Kimberly is also a former visual art teacher, having taught across the K12 spectrum in Darlington County. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Art Education from Francis Marion University. Kimberly’s work at the agency will focus on a continuum of learning in and through the arts – from enrichment with very young learners through creative aging experiences.

Amanda joins the Arts Commission after having served as a Disability Resource Coordinator at the University of South Carolina since 2018. She received her Bachelor’s in Fine Art and Psychology from Hope College in Holland, Michigan and her Master’s in Art Therapy from the School of Visual Arts in New York City. In addition to her work at UofSC, Amanda has worked as an Art Therapist, Pre-K Teaching Assistant, and Art Instructor. Amanda’s work at the agency will focus on learning in and through the arts in K12 environments.

To sign up to learn more, visit the artsgrowsc.org website. Additionally, ABC Project will be in attendance at all arts education association conferences. Please stop by our booth and learn more about how to connect and contribute to the various initiatives of Arts Grow SC. 

In 2018, the Governor’s School’s Office of Outreach collaborated with Williamsburg County School District to create a pilot program called Spark! Inspiring Tomorrow’s Readers Through Drama. During the summer, third-grade students attending the state-mandated Read-To-Succeed summer program were exposed to drama principles, in addition to their reading requirements, to assist in reading engagement and motivation. 

Now, we are very happy to announce that we have received a three-year, $3.7 million partnership grant for Arts Grow SC Spark! This expanded program is supported by Arts Grow SC, which is funded by the SC Arts Commission and the SC Department of Education through American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary Schools Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER) funds. It will provide intensive drama services for third graders and enrichment drama services for K-2nd and 4th-5th-grade students during the academic year in schools across the state. The program continues to support summer Read to Succeed camps as well. 

If you are a drama teacher or drama teaching artist, we are looking for qualified candidates to fill positions. Please visit our website to learn more and apply.