Eskridge Tri-ART Series celebrates 30 years of inspiring children through performing arts

For 30 years, the Bill and Donna Eskridge Tri-ART Series has welcomed students from across the Upstate into the Brooks Center for the Performing Arts to experience the transformative power of live performance. What began as an idea for greater accessibility to the performing arts has grown into a beloved tradition that has introduced more than 300,000 young people to the wonder of professional theater, dance and music. Many of these students attend rural and underserved schools; many are seeing live performances for the very first time.

Celebrating the 30th Anniversary

The Brooks Center for the Performing Arts celebrated the 30th anniversary of the Tri-ART Series on Thursday, September 25, with the launch of the 2025–26 Tri-ART season, two sold-out performances of The Math Maniac. A celebratory luncheon followed to honor the Eskridges and all the donors who have contributed to the Tri-ART endowment. The milestone was an opportunity for joyful reflection on three decades of memories and recommitment to the program’s mission to inspire the next generation.

“Over 311,000 people have benefitted from the Tri-ART series over the past 30 seasons. That is 311,000 different ways to look at performing arts, 311,000 ways to see how performing arts can open a child’s mind and heart,” said Catherine Hughes, Executive Director of the Brooks Center. “It is remarkable to think about the children who were so moved by one performance that they built careers in the arts. But equally important to Bill and Donna Eskridge’s vision for this program are the children who will never set foot on stage themselves, but who remember the excitement, beauty, and extraordinary moments at a Tri-ART show.”

Benjamin Thomas, a 16-year-old student who has attended Tri-ART performances his entire life, shared how his life has been transformed by the experience.

“When I was four, I saw violinist Benjamin Beilman perform through Tri-ART, and I’ll never forget how he inspired me to want to play the violin myself. His encouragement to ‘never give up’ has stayed with me, guiding my journey from school orchestras to now performing with the Anderson Symphony Orchestra,” said Thomas.

After Benjamin expressed his gratitude to the Eskridges for their pivotal role in his journey to becoming an accomplished violinist, his sisters honored the couple by presenting them with flowers and a commemorative book celebrating the past 30 years.

In celebration of Tri-ART’s successes, the Brooks Center announced a campaign to increase the Eskridges’ endowment to $1.5 million to safeguard the future of the program and expand the impact of the Eskridges’ gift. If you would like to learn how to support the Bill and Donna Eskridge Tri-ART Series, please contact Alma Garcia, Director of Development for the College of Arts and Humanities at [email protected], or Click Here to give.

The Story of Tri-ART

Tri-ART began as the vision of former Marketing Director of the Brooks Center Claudette Alexander-Thomason, who imagined an outreach program that would connect the Brooks Center with local students and schools. The series became reality in 1995 when Tri-ART launched under the leadership and dedication of Alumni Distinguished Professor Emeritus Chip Egan, Senior Lecturer of Theatre Carol Collins, and Professor Emerita and Former Director of the Brooks Center Lillian Harder.

In 1997, after learning about the Tri-ART Series and its funding needs, Lake Keowee residents Bill and Donna Eskridge made a visionary gift to start an endowment for the program, ensuring future generations’ access to the arts in perpetuity. The endowment supports the visiting artist fees and operating costs, allowing Tri-ART to flourish as a beacon of creativity and inspiration. Through the Eskridges’ support, hundreds of thousands of young people have been invited to imagine new possibilities, experience the thrill of live performance and see themselves reflected on stage.

“We knew it was necessary to expose children to the arts to open their minds, stimulate their imaginations, and enrich their lives. We believe an education in the arts is an education for a lifetime.”

Bill and Donna Eskridge

2025–26 Tri-ART Season

The 2025–26 Tri-ART Series continues this season with an exciting and diverse lineup of music, theater, dance, and more. Each performance is carefully selected to provide both captivating entertainment and meaningful educational experiences for students and teachers alike.

Tickets for Tri-ART performances are available to public, private and home schools. A child or children must accompany all adults attending a Tri-ART performance. For more information about the current series or to reserve tickets, please visit clemson.edu/brooks or contact Tri-ART Coordinator MaryJo Jeffries at 864-656-7787 or [email protected].