Fine Arts Center receives donation from Greenville MOD to explore architecture
October 21, 2024
Greenville MOD (gvIMOD), a local organization working to celebrate and preserve mid-century modern and contemporary architecture, is again making a difference in the lives of future architects through a $5,000 donation to the Architecture Program at the Greenville County School District’s Fine Arts Center (FAC).
This is gvlMOD’s second donation to the program, following a $5,000 donation in 2023 to help cover the costs of the program’s field trips. This year’s donation will go toward program expenses.
Made up of architects, business owners, and Greenville residents, gvlMOD is dedicated to modern (current) and mid-century (built between World War II and the 1970s) residences and buildings. Its mission -Conversation, Education, Preservation- seeks to create awareness of local mid-century and modern buildings, provide and promote education about these structures, and help preserve significant properties from the era.
Since 2019, it has held a successful annual tour of mid-century and modern homes in conjunction with AlA Greenville and Wilson Associates Real Estate. The donation comes from the proceeds of those sold-out tours, in which FAC Architecture students and faculty have played an active role.
“The Architecture program at the Fine Arts Center is informed by the buildings in and around Greenville, and the FAC has been a part of the volunteer efforts associated with the tour from day one. By giving back to them, we feel like we’re contributing to the future designers who will inform Greenville’s evolution,” Evan Mann, gvlMOD President said.
The Architecture program began in 2013 with a partnership between the Greenville County School District, The Fine Arts Center, private donors, and Clemson University. It is a first-of-its-kind high school program that introduces students to the study of architecture and gives them a unique opportunity to achieve up to eight credit hours in Clemson University’s School of Architecture.
There are 44 students registered in the program’s studio classes for the 2024-25 school year. “Our students come from across the county with various backgrounds,” Architecture Department Chair Catherine Smith said.
Students engage with various media to explore architecture and architectural design as part of their studies. To that end, program expenses may include books, drafting tools, model-making
materials, drawing implements/materials, large format printing costs, and display materials for gallery exhibitions. This applies to all students in the department, Smith said.
For more information on gvlMOD, visit https://gvimod.com/or follow @gvlmod.
For more information on FAC, visit https://www.fineartscenter.
About The Fine Arts Center
The Fine Arts Center, established in 1974, is South Carolina’s first public high school dedicated to creative, visual, and performing arts. It offers a pre-professional arts education with programs in architecture, creative writing, dance, filmmaking, music, theatre, and visual arts. Known for its rigorous training, the center has earned regional and national recognition for its excellence. Students often gain admission to top colleges and win prestigious awards. The Fine Arts Center remains committed to fostering creativity, respect, and resilience in its dynamic and inclusive learning environment.
For more information, visit fineartscenter.net.
