Ten at the Top to hold Culture Counts regional forum – January 24th

• At the Chapman Cultural Center
• Event to include unveiling of Upstate Arts & Culture Assets Maps as well as discussion on Value of Arts & Culture in Economic & Community Vibrancy

Ten at the Top (TATT), an organization created to enhance economic vitality and quality of life across the Upstate by fostering collaboration and strategic partnerships, will hold the first Upstate Regional Forum of 2018 on January 24th from 3-5 pm (reception to follow) at the Chapman Cultural Center in Spartanburg. The theme of the forum is “Culture Counts” and will include the unveiling of the Upstate Arts & Culture Interactive Assets Maps as well as a keynote presentation by Anthony Radich, Executive Director of the Western States Arts Federation.

The Upstate is home to a large number of organizations, venues, programs and events focused around arts & culture across the 10-county Upstate region. Through the work of volunteers from within the Ten at the Top Community Vibrancy Task Force, the organization has developed a comprehensive inventory and interactive asset map highlighting more than 1,200 organizations, venues, programs and festivals. The maps, which are housed on the Ten at the Top web site through the Google platform, include directions, web site links and other information to help identify and locate the many arts & culture efforts across the region. Ten at the Top has previously developed similar interactive maps for outdoor recreation, child well-being services and senior services across the region.

“Arts & Culture play a critical role in growing both the community and economic vibrancy of the Upstate,” said Ten at the Top Executive Director Dean Hybl. “This regional inventory and the interactive maps provide a tool that residents interested in discovering our arts programs and venues can easily and comprehensively see what we have across the Upstate and then locate the programs that are of interest.”

Highlighting the role of arts & culture as an economic driver will be the presentation from Radich, who as the executive director of the Western States Arts Federation oversees an organization that supports the cultural community within a 13-state region.

The program will also feature a panel discussion on Arts as an Economic Driver moderated by Jennifer Evins from the Chapman Cultural Center and in addition to Radich will include Anne Craig, Executive Director of the Greenwood Arts Center, Ken May, Executive Director of the South Carolina Arts Commission, Allen Smith, President & CEO of the Spartanburg Area Chamber of Commerce and Tim Todd, Executive Director of Discover Upcountry.

The Culture Counts Regional Forum will be held from 3-5 pm on January 24th at the Chapman Cultural Center in Spartanburg with a networking reception featuring local entertainment to follow. Spartanburg Water is the Presenting Sponsor for the event, which is part of the Upstate Regional Forum Series presented by BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina. There is a $10 cost for the event and advanced registration is requested. You can find more information and register through the Ten at the Top web site (www.tenatthetop.org).