A farewell from Melissa

Hi, everyone. I hope you are looking forward to the warmer temperatures as I am - they're just around the corner, right? It seems like winter and cold temps have been here forever. I am ready for spring and know you are, too!

It is bittersweet, but I wanted to let you all know I have resigned my position as Simpsonville Arts Center manager with my last day being March 4. When I took this job almost two years ago, my goal was to get the Arts Center up and running and create a lively vibrant place for the performing and visual arts in the Simpsonville community. I am very proud that I can check those boxes—but it wasn't just I. I want to give a shout out to the FABULOUS group of volunteers, in-resident studio artists, variety of production companies using the spaces, talented guest artists who've exhibited in the Lobby Art Gallery and City of Simpsonville Community Relations Specialist Justin Campbell, who helped me promote "What's Happening at the Arts Center."

The City is moving the former Special Events Coordinator Lisa Everidge into the newly created position of Cultural Arts & Events Director with the Arts Center as her home base. I am confident she will continue the momentum and growing success of the Arts Center. You will still see me around as I am on the board of the Simpsonville Arts Foundation (SAFI) and will continue to help elevate the arts in Simpsonville! Mark your calendars for SAFI's Spring into Arts Fest on May 4 on Hedge Street, the Thursday night FREE concerts at CCNB Amphitheatre at Heritage Park in May and June and the ever-popular OKTOBERFEST on Oct. 18 in Burdette Central. Big things are happening in the Simpsonville Arts community !

Thanks for coming along with me on this journey. You are simply the best!

M. Sturgis