Fine Arts Center’s 50th Anniversary Celebration stuns at the Peace Center
April 15, 2025
The Fine Arts Center’s 50th Anniversary Celebration took center stage at the Peace Concert Hall on April 10, 2025, delivering a moving tribute to five decades of excellence in pre-professional arts education. Presented by The Spinks Family Foundation, this event was the largest performance ever hosted by the Fine Arts Center, selling nearly 1,500 tickets and featuring 200 performers, including students, alumni, and staff.
The student-driven showcase highlighted the Fine Arts Center’s programs, including digital filmmaking, concert and contemporary dance, creative writing readings, chamber and jazz music ensembles, theatre performances, percussion, vocal solos, and a visual arts and architecture exhibition.
A highlight of the evening was the induction of four distinguished alumni into the inaugural Fine Arts Center Hall of Fame. The honorees included:
FAC 50th Anniversary Hall of Fame
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Marcus King (Class of 2014), Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter
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Rory Scovel (Class of 1999), acclaimed comedian, actor, and writer
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Kelly Hall-Tompkins (Class of 1989), renowned violinist
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Jan Woodward, distinguished and beloved Fine Arts Center dance educator
The evening began with a VIP reception at Genevieve’s, where donors, alumni, and community leaders gathered to celebrate the milestone and reconnect with the Center’s past and present.
“We are so proud to celebrate 50 years of empowering young artists and preparing them for successful futures,” said Fine Arts Center Director Vee Popat. “This evening was not just about looking back—it was about launching forward with purpose and pride.”
The public is invited to attend the closing reception of the FAC Alumni Art Exhibition today, Friday, April 11, from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Fine Arts Center. The exhibition features the work of 92 Fine Arts Center alumni.
About The Fine Arts Center
The Fine Arts Center, South Carolina’s first arts high school, prepares dedicated students for 21st-century careers through rigorous pre-professional arts training in dynamic, inclusive, and collaborative learning environments. Learn more by visiting fineartscenter.net.
