S.C. Arts Commission designates state’s 13th cultural district in Summerville

The South Carolina Arts Commission announced that a downtown portion of Summerville was designated by its board of commissioners as the 13th South Carolina Cultural District

The proposal for the Summerville Cultural District received unanimous approval. It joins districts in Beaufort and Bluffton, which was just approved for recertification, to give the Lowcountry region three cultural districts.

Since 2000, Summerville has grown the fastest of South Carolina’s large- and medium-sized municipalities. It blends Southern traditions with a rapidly evolving cultural landscape aided by its growth. Joining long-time residents are an influx of new residents who are frequently military families stationed nearby, retirees, young professionals, and families with school-aged children, young families. Their collective rising interest in the arts is making the Dorchester County town an artistic destination despite its proximity to significant cultural offerings in nearby Charleston.

“Certifying Summerville’s cultural district will bring value to the many creative elements in the area but also highlight the impact that arts, culture, and design make on the growth of the city. Being dedicated to the South Carolina Cultural Districts program will help Summerville as it connects individuals to the community, and provide resources to help it develop and thrive,” SCAC Public Art Coordinator Harvee L. White said.

The new Summerville Cultural District is four city blocks, with side-by-side blocks on either side of South Main Street. Local artists, musicians, photographers, and craftspeople live and work throughout the district, often sharing their work at markets, exhibitions, and community events. There is also a growing number of professional artists and arts educators who call the area home.

“Downtown Summerville has been a vibrant hub of culture, art, and history for decades. From the Flowertown Players to Sculpture in the South, and from the Public Works Art Center to the beautifully manicured parks, our town is proud to be officially designated as a Cultural District by the South Carolina Arts Commission. We hope this designation invites others to come and enjoy the beauty and hospitality of our greatest asset, the talented people who live, work, and play here,” Mayor Russ Touchberry said.

On the Third Thursday of every month, streets in the downtown area shut down for a festival that draws more than a thousand people in support of musicians and artisans. Within the district, there are also dozens of free public music events through Community Music Collective, Summerville DREAM, and the Summerville Orchestra and over a dozen theater productions from the Flowertown Players. Art is hung and available for sale in over a dozen spaces in the district, and book signings and readings occur at Main Street Reads and nearby Timrod Library.

Public Works Arts Center supports artists with open-mic poetry nights and more than 18 visual art exhibition openings annually that feature more than 500 artists—including an “open to all” community show. Artist studios are located at Public Works Art Center and the newly opened Art on the Square, and classes can be taken at Public Works Art Center; Nailed it DIY Studio; Fancy Fingers Piano Studio; and People, Places, and Quilts; all of which are within a block of one another.

“As Summerville continues to invest in public art, cultural programming, and creative spaces, this milestone affirms that our downtown is a place where artists can thrive, residents feel connected, and visitors leave inspired, Parks and Recreation Director Amy Evans said. “This progress is the result of strong collaboration and a shared vision across our cultural partners and community stakeholders.”

A strong community interest in creative expression and a deep appreciation for the role of the arts in community-building is expected to result in additional formal arts organizations, and town is seeking applicants to serve on its recently formed Cultural Arts Commission.

About the South Carolina Cultural Districts program

Legislation ratified in 2014 by the state General Assembly authorizes the SCAC to grant official state designation to cultural districts. The legislation specifies the following goals of this program:

• attract artists, creative entrepreneurs and cultural enterprises to communities
• encourage economic development
• foster local cultural development
• provide a focal point for celebrating and strengthening local cultural identity

The SCAC defines cultural districts as strollable geographic areas with a concentration of cultural facilities, activities, and assets. They are easily identifiable and serve as centers of cultural, artistic, and economic activity. They frequently have galleries and artist studios, theaters and other live performance venues, public art, museums and arts centers, and arts schools in addition to non-cultural attractions like parks, restaurants and bars, and other commercial activity.

“More and more cities and towns are putting creative placekeeping and placemaking at the heart of economic development, growth, arts programming, and livability. The South Carolina Arts Commission is happy to welcome its 13th cultural district, and we congratulate Summerville on their achievement. As the program grows, we are eager to work with more places who recognize that arts and creativity are vital to moving their communities forward,” SCAC Executive Director David Platts said.

About the South Carolina Arts Commission

The mission of the South Carolina Arts Commission is to expand access to the arts and foster 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.