S.C. Arts Commission announces four staff members

Artist development, arts industry and communications roles filled

The South Carolina Arts Commission began 2025 with full teams serving artists and arts organizations and its communications needs after adding four new members to its staff.

“The addition of these four arts professionals greatly increases the Arts Commission’s capacity to serve our 700-plus grantees and other constituents. Each person has a unique blend of talent and experience that will help them succeed in their new role. We are fortunate to welcome them on our team,” SCAC Executive Director David Platts said.

Serving South Carolina’s artists (#SCArtists) as they seek assistance with grants or capacity building is McKenzie Drake, who joined the artist development focus area last fall as artist development coordinator. She is an arts administrator and artist based in Charleston. She has worked with artists from the southern U.S. and previously held roles at the University of Texas at Austin and the Mississippi Museum of Art. Drake earned a Master of Fine Arts in painting from the University of Texas at Austin and holds a bachelor’s in art and political science from Rhodes College.

The arts industry focus area helps arts organizations in South Carolina, and other arts providers, have the necessary resources to deliver diverse arts experiences throughout the state. In addition to managing a robust grant portfolio that includes critical operating support, it supports collaborations between arts providers and funders on the local, state, and national levels.

• Chris Scudder joined the SCAC Jan. 2 as arts industry director. Most recently he worked as development director at the Lancaster County Council of the Arts. He also worked as the grants and stewardship manager at the Reynolds House Museum of American Art in Winston-Salem, North Carolina; was a grants officer at the Columbia Museum of Art; and was director of development for corporate and foundation relations at the University of South Carolina. He holds a bachelor’s degree in art history and political science from USC.
• In late 2024, the SCAC welcomes Hailey Yasinski as arts industry coordinator. Yasinski joined from the Charleston Symphony Orchestra as education and marketing coordinator. She has also worked for the Gibbes Museum of Art as a museum engagement specialist and the College of Charleston music department as orchestra manager. Hailey earned a bachelor’s degree in arts management and a master’s degree in public administration from the College of Charleston.
• The SCAC communications team provides public information and promotes agency initiatives like grants and programs as well as #SCArtists, arts organizations, and arts experiences for residents and visitors. Joining the team Jan. 2 as the SCAC’s first multimedia manager is Johnathan Rabon, who is responsible for increasing storytelling capacity through video. Rabon most recently worked as an integrated marketing producer at WLTX in Columbia. He has worked as a media and facilities specialist for the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation and as a production assistant at Prime and Prim Studio of the Arts. Johnathan earned a bachelor’s degree in digital media and cinema from Columbia International University.

The SCAC is currently seeking applicants to fill a customer service role on its grants team. Applications for assistant grants coordinator are open until Friday, Jan. 17, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. ET. More information is available from the SCAC website: https://www.southcarolinaarts.com/about-the-scac/jobs/.

About the South Carolina Arts Commission

The mission of the South Carolina Arts Commission is to promote equitable access to the arts and support the cultivation of creativity in South Carolina. We envision a South Carolina where the arts are valued and all people benefit from a variety of creative experiences.

A state agency created by the South Carolina General Assembly in 1967, the SCAC works to increase public participation in the arts through grants, direct programs, staff assistance and partnerships in artist development, arts industry, arts learning, creative placemaking, and folklife and traditional arts. Headquartered in Columbia, S.C., the SCAC is funded by the state of South Carolina, by the federal government through the National Endowment for the Arts, and other sources. Visit SouthCarolinaArts.com or call 803.734.8696, and follow @SCArtsComm on Facebook, Instagram, and X for #Arts4SC and #SCArtists content.

View this and other SCAC news on The Hub: https://www.scartshub.com/