April 8, 2026

YORK COUNTY ARTS NEWS

Featured News

37th Annual Juried Competition | Call for Artists

Center for the Arts

121 E. Main Street, Rock Hill

The Arts Council of York County presents the 37th Annual Juried Competition at the Center for the Arts. The Juried Competition is open nationally to artists 18 and older. Only original work, created in the last two (2) years, and not previously shown at the Center for the Arts, Dalton Gallery is accepted. All forms of media are eligible, including video. Limit four (4) pieces per artist.

SUBMISSION DEADLINE

Sunday, May 17, 2026

ARTIST NOTIFICATION

Friday, May 29, 2026

EXHIBIT DATES

June 22 - July 25, 2026 | Dalton Gallery

SUBMIT YOUR WORK

Youth Art Class |

Mixed Media Fusion

Center for the Arts | Edmund D. Lewandowski Classroom Gallery

121 E. Main Street. Rock Hill, SC

CLASS DATE

Monday, April 13, 2026

CLASS TIME

5:30 - 6:30 PM

Go beyond the basics by experimenting with advanced collage and acrylic techniques to build unique, richly textured artwork. Discover new ways to express yourself by blending bold colors with paper elements.

Taught by the talented Ida Mae Irby, these classes are designed for young artists to explore a variety of techniques and mediums in a fun, supportive environment. Middle & High School-aged students will develop their skills and leave with their own amazing creations.

Classes are on-going, but students are welcome to enroll at anytime. Supplies are provided by the Arts Council.

Literary Competition Public Reading & Awards Ceremony

Center for the Arts | Dalton Gallery

121 E. Main Street. Rock Hill, SC

CEREMONY DATE

Thursday, April 9, 2026

CEREMONY TIMES

5:30 - 7:30 PM

The Arts Council of York County Literary Competitions highlight the best in short stories and poetry from across the Southeast United States; and the Youth Literary Competitions highlight the best in short stories and poetry by students enrolled in K-12 programs from across York County, SC.

ARTS NEWS

LOCAL

Pearl Fryar, iconic Bishopville topiary artist, dies at 86

by Riley Edenbeck

Image credit | Robert Behre

BISHOPVILLE — Pearl Fryar, a renowned topiary artist who gained broad recognition thanks to a 2006 documentary, has died at 86, according to the former artist-in-residence who oversaw the four-acre garden Fryar spent years cultivating.

Michael Gibson, the artist who took over the Pearl Fryar Topiary Garden from his...

NATIONAL

High School Students from Across Nation to Compete in Poetry Out Loud National Finals

by National Endowment for the Arts

Image Credit | City of North Charleston

Washington, DC—After months of competitions in classrooms and communities nationwide, the 2026 Poetry Out Loud National Finals will take place April 28–29 in Washington, DC. Reciting poetry from an anthology that celebrates...

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QUICK LINKS

ACYC Website

Underexposed Film Festival yc

Arts Calendar

ACYC Events, Creative Partners, and Artist & Affiliate Members

CALLS FOR ARTISTS

April 10 | Call for Artists: Co-op Principles of Art Competition | York Electric Cooperative, Inc. | more info
April 17 | Call for Artisans: Ag + Art Tour | Ag + Art Tour, Clemson Cooperative Extension | more info
April 30 | Call for Nominations: 2026 Local Heroes | Freedom Walkway Committee | more info
May 17 | Call for Artists: 37th Annual Juried Competition | Center for the Arts | more info
May 31 | Call for Nominations: Ben Ardrey Volunteer Award | Center for the Arts | more info
May 31 | Call for Nominations: Business & The Arts Award | Center for the Arts | more info

EXHIBITS, CLASSES, RECEPTIONS, & EVENTS

March 27 - May 2 | The Soft Encroachment, works by Ian Welch | Dalton Gallery Exhibit, Center for the Arts | more info
March 27 - May 2 | Faltered Pathways, works by Brooks Stevens | Perimeter Gallery Exhibit, Center for the Arts | more info
April 9 | Literary Competition Public Reading & Awards Ceremony | Center for the Arts | more info
April 10 - May 2 | WCCS Art Show, works curated by Gina Thomas | Lewandowski Classroom Gallery Exhibit, Center for the Arts | more info
SOLD OUT: April 11 | Adult Art Class | Painting with Acrylics for Everyone | Center for the Arts | more info
April 13 | Youth Art Class | Mixed Media Fusion | Center for the Arts | more info
April 13 | ACYC Lunch Date | Center for the Arts | more info
April 16 - 25 | Come-See-Me | Greater Rock Hill | more info
April 20 | Youth Art Class | Mixed Media Fusion | Center for the Arts | more info
April 20 | Visit York County's Taste of Tourism | York County Government Center | more info
April 25 | Monthly Artist Meetup | Center for the Arts | more info
April 25 | Open Mic Night | Center for the Arts | more info
April 25 | Sketching Stories: Blue Prints to Adventure | Center for the Arts | more info
April 27 | ACYC Lunch Date | Center for the Arts | more info
May 2 | Adult Art Class | Historic Buildings in Pen and Watercolor | Center for the Arts | more info
May 4 | ACYC Lunch Date | Center for the Arts | more info
May 9 | Adult Art Class | Paint Like Rembrandt | Center for the Arts | more info
May 18 | ACYC Lunch Date | Center for the Arts | more info
June 1 | ACYC Lunch Date | Center for the Arts | more info
June 8 - 10 | Summer Art Camp | Let's Get Messy - Paper Mache Sculpting | Center for the Arts | more info
June 15 - 17 | Summer Art Camp | Let's Create Cakes | Center for the Arts | more info
June 15 - 17 | Summer Art Camp | Magical Forests & Woodland Creatures | Center for the Arts | more info
June 22 - 24 | Summer Art Camp | France & The Arts | Center for the Arts | more info
June 22 - 24 | Summer Art Camp | Printmaking for Children | Center for the Arts | more info
June 25 | Annual Celebration | Center for the Arts | more info

For more arts events in York County, visit the online arts calendar

Arts Council of York County

(803) 328-2787

arts@yorkcountyarts.org

yorkcountyarts.org

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Headquartered in the Downtown Rock Hill, SC Cultural District.

Support for this project is provided by the SC Arts Commission (which receives funding from the National Endowment for the Arts), Rock Hill Accommodations Tax Grant Fund and the ACYC Annual Fund. For visitors information including lodging, contact Visit York County at visityorkcounty.com.