Growth of Arts Center brings variety of cultural arts

by Melissa Sturgis, Arts Center Manager

The Simpsonville Arts Center has experienced since it opened nearly 18 months ago an impressive increase in the use of the Arts Center space by performing arts groups and organizations, bringing a variety of cultural arts to Simpsonville. My goal when I accepted the Arts Center manager position was to make the Simpsonville Arts Center the locus of the vibrant performing and visual arts scene in Simpsonville, and we have done just that in less than two years. Below is a review of the programming and events that have put the Simpsonville Arts Center on the map:

• Clark Nesbitt's No Dreams Deferred Productions Unlimited  is creating opportunities for the Black community to participate in theater with productions in the fall and winter and spring 2024.
  

• The Greenville Concert Band's 90 musicians will be entertaining the community with a free "Chillers and Thrillers" Halloween Concert with a costume parade included on October 27th.
  

• The Professional Equity Theatre Company, The Warehouse Theatre is bringing a production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" to the Arts Center auditorium stage for middle schoolers on November 6th.

• Hartworks Theatrics is successfully establishing itself as a new nonprofit performing arts organization on the Arts Center auditorium stage where the company will host "Melodies under the Mistletoe: A Simple Christmas" on December 19th. With tickets selling fast, the success is clear.

• Cornerstone Ballet, located in downtown Simpsonville, has performed the classic ballet "Coppelia" and will present the debuts on the Arts Center stage of "The Nutcracker" on December 9th, 15th and 16th,  and then "Snow White" in April 2024.

• Chautauqua Historical Presentations have included visits by Mark Twain and author of the classical novel Frankenstein Mary Shelley. Picasso is coming on February 9th 2024.

• The English Theatre Arts Company is presenting the ballet "Sleeping Beauty" on May 11th  2024.

• The Greenville Symphony Orchestra will perform at the Arts Center on May 18th 2024.

• The Simpsonville Area Chamber of Commerce held a "Business After Hours" event in the Arts Center lobby and hosted a class for Golden Strip Leadership in 2023.

• Women of Upstate Alliance held in 2023 a "Business After Hours" meeting in the Arts Center Lobby.

• Art exhibitions by local and award-winning artists rotate every 6-8 weeks in the Arts Center Gallery.

• A large variety of art classes and workshops are available for children and adults.

The question is not whether the Simpsonville Arts Center has been successful — the question is just how successful is the Arts Center going to be.

Melissa