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November 17, 2011
Be a pART of it…seriously
The word “engagement” has become a buzz word in the arts world. Organizations tout it as a core part of their programming and experts declare it a necessity for any arts performance/exhibition. “You need to engage the audience,” is what they all say.
Well there’s a reason – for arts organizations, engagement doesn’t mean pure attendance, it means understanding and support. And we here at the Mauldin Cultural Center have taken “engagement” seriously as we planned out our new programs which we announced last week – we’ve even incorporated “engagement” into our very being – our slogan, “be a pART of it“.
Our three new programs for 2012 – theatre on the side, Railroad Concert Series, and START HERE – are rooted in our want to be a truly community-based organization. We’re not here to just put on some shows and show some artwork. We’re here to change the community for the better. In fact our mission statement puts “enhancing the quaility of life Mauldin” as the ultimate goal, by using the arts. But to make an impact on the community, we have to rely on what makes up the community – its people…YOU.
“be a pART of it” is much more than just a slogan to us. It is the guiding principle behind all that we do here at the MCC. It reminds us constantly that we are a part of the community and that the community is a part of us. To every community member, we hope that you see it as a call to action. We not only need you to be a part of our organization, we really do WANT you to be a part of it. We’re not joking. For an example, this is how we came up with our new programming.
The Railroad Concert Series sprouted out of our Summer Concert Series. The concerts are all focused on making quality music and quality musicians a part of the Mauldin community. We believe that you shouldn’t NEED to travel more than 20 minutes to experience quality music. But beyond that, we wanted to highlight some of the immense talent that is already a part of Mauldin. Every single band performing in our Winter & Spring concerts are already members of our Upstate community. They live next door to us and eat at the same places we do. While we will be bringing some bands in from around the region/nation/world (just wait till you see our first summer show…yeah, we’ve already booked it…no, we’re not telling you), our focus is bringing Mauldin together to enjoy great music.
START HERE, our arts education program, is entirely community-based. All of our teachers live in Mauldin or neighboring cities. Our previous students have all been involved in Mauldin some way or another. All of our teachers have had experience teaching their respective art form all over the country and have chosen to make their next mark at the MCC. Our classes are open to everyone, regardless of whether you live in Mauldin or Alaska, but we’ve started this program for Mauldin. It is very important to us to have teachers from Mauldin and the surrounding area since it is the Mauldin community they will be instructing.
theatre on the side, our dinner theatre series, was started because, well everyone told us we should do it! You all asked for it, so we’ve given it to you! But beside the fact that this program was one of the most requested programs (even from our competitors who can’t do dinner theatre in their facilities), we wanted to make sure we kept it rooted in Mauldin. Every production will feature local actors, dinner from a Mauldin restaurant and will be performed in the same room many previous performances were given in Mauldin over the 75 year history of our facility. But we’re not forgetting our role in bringing quality art to Mauldin – all of our plays are unique and compelling and cover issues not addressed in your typical production of “Annie” or Shakespeare. All of our productions are focused on themes that are complex in nature and are meant to highlight the nature of a community rather than paint a picture of a fantasy land. Our first show for instance is about a childhood friendship and what happens when adulthood and reality collide with youthful expectations (not your typical plot line). While our summer show will be specifically for children and by children, our first show in 2012 and our fall show for 2012 (again..yes, we’ve chosen it…no, we’re not telling you) are perfect examples of how we look to impact the community.
And we’ll do all of this while making it affordable to the Mauldin community. Our classes are all $100 and under (many for just $10/hr or less) and our performances (dinner & special seating excluded) are FREE!
Through our new programs, we look to prove that we are truly a pART of the Mauldin community. But that doesn’t mean you’re off the hook just yet.
We want to make sure that YOU play a part in all of this. It’s easy for you to do! At the very least, come to a performance or take a class. The best way to be a pART of our organization and your community is to pARTicipate. Join us for one or all of our new programs. And if you want win a special place in our heARTs, consider making a charitable donation to us. We want to keep our prices low and our quality high, but that takes money.
We’re here for you guys, and we hope you’ll be there for us.
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September 22, 2011
From the Director
- George Patrick McLeer Executive Director
Walls are being painted, lights are being installed, boulders are being placed, grass is being laid out, dirt is being moved and pavement is being…well, paved. We’re pretty busy around here nowadays. Two construction projects are underway – one to completely change our outdoor landscaping and another to revamp our auditorium space to better accommodate performances and events.
As more people notice bulldozers in our front lawn, we are constantly asked this one question:
So what’s the overall plan for this place?
So let me answer that for you…
First off, something to note is that the “Mauldin Cultural Center” is both a physical building and a nonprofit organization. The nonprofit, of which I am the executive director, manages all events that occur in the facility, which is owned by the City of Mauldin. The City and the “MCC” work together daily towards the same goal to develop the building into a budding arts venue for the citizens of Mauldin and the Upstate. That’s how we work at our core.
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Facility Nonprofit
But getting back to the original question – the ‘plan’ for this place is simple at its heart – to enhance the quality of life in Mauldin through the arts and to develop the original school building into a venue that can carry this out. How are doing this? Here’s a run down:
Programming:
Without getting into too much boring logistical, legal, and adminstrative jargon – we are constantly on the lookout on what to offer here and how to do it. We’ve added a summer concert series (two years running), host over 1,000 people every month, numerous private rentals, even more business meeting rentals and a number of classes. But overall our goal is to offer the general public something they can’t get anywhere else. You can always go to the Peace Center and see a concert, or go to Fountain Inn for a musical or go downtown Greenville to a gallery opening – but we’re developing programming for 2012 that you can’t get there.
Because of construction and the fact that November is a pretty slow month for our classes and rentals and December typically gets packed with private parties, we are holding off on major new programming until 2012. But it is well worth the wait. Things to look forward to include monthly concerts and/or performances, local artist exhibits, a wide array of classes, workshops, a theatre series, our summer concert series (in a new amphitheater), and some public art projects.
Through innovative programming and unique offerings we will create a creative atmosphere in Mauldin that will bring people together, help identify a community and create some great art.
Batik Painting class…when’s the last time you took one of those?
Shared Goals with the City of Mauldin:
Mauldin, SC has never really had a ‘downtown’ unfortunately. Many cities in America have a defined ‘Main Street’ that the city centers itself around. Due to the trends related to the mills, railroad and Upstate development, Mauldin has grown with the times and not around an anchor. Mauldin has always been a great place to live and work and has grown tremendously over the years and the Mauldin Cultural Center is poised to help create that anchor to keep the growth consistent.
Developing a community center that revolves around the arts has always been a trend in the US, but is only recently being used knowingly and willingly – and it works. Some area examples are Fountain Inn, Greenwood and even Greenville – all have knowingly used the arts to spark economic development and create a thriving downtown area. Mauldin and the MCC look to do the same. With the additions in our landscaping and improvements to our auditorium and previous work done to other rooms, we have provided Mauldin with areas to gather, learn and celebrate. We are also working to raise close to $2 million to completely renovate our Auditorium space (beyond current minor fixes). This includes a new front entrance, lobby, green room, stage, advanced lighting/sound, display areas, terrace and other phases of landscaping (see below).
In the future, our growth will spur other growth in the community- from restaurants to boutiques to galleries, the goal is to use the Cultural Center as a catalyst for Mauldin’s development.
Auditorium Renovation (long-term). Credit: LS3P
In brief, this is the plan for the Cultural Center. By developing unique programming, we aim to create a destination for the citizens of Mauldin to experience the arts and to spur community development for the future growth of Mauldin.
We hope you will join us in this effort by attending a performance, taking a class or donating to our General Fund (tax-deductible). The Mauldin Cultural Center is here to serve the people of Mauldin, and of the Upstate – so become a pART of it today.
-George Patrick (“GP”) McLeer, Jr
Executive Director
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August 31, 2011
We highly encourage you to read through the list of the top 25 individuals who have the most influence/power in the nonprofit arts sector for 2011. This list is a result of the Western States Arts Federation (WESTAF) and is highly regarded across the country.
This year’s list features someone from South Carolina! The executive director of the South Carolina Arts Allliance, Betty Plumb comes in, not only in the Top 25, but the Top 10! The SCAA plays a huge role in advocating for the arts to our local, state and federal representatives. They played an enormous part in joining together their members and defeating Gov. Haley’s veto of the South Carolina Arts Commission funding we have been reporting on over the past few months.
Congrats to Betty and the entire SCAA organization!
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August, 16 2011
Here are some of the stories we’re following here at the Mauldin Cultural Center:
Portraits Can Get Your Pulse Pounding
New research tracks physiological reactions to viewing artwork – and there’s a connection!
Art & Cultural Diplomacy
Art is universal – every population has its own cultural and means of artistic expression. The US government has used the arts to bridge cultural gaps since the 1950s, but we need to make sure it stays current with modern diplomatic struggles.
NYT article – Saving the Arts in SC
The advocacy effort that ended in a win for arts supporters in SC, became national news through this article in the New York Times. Republicans & Democrats ended up agreeing on overturning Gov. Haley’s veto to completely de-fund & eliminate the SC Arts Commission.
Pop-Up Gallery in NYC, sponsored by BMW
Pop-Up arts experiences are an increasing trend in the art world – from galleries to theaters, art is just showing up everywhere. This project, through teh Guggenheim and sponsored by BMW is a worldwide, six-year project that is starting in NYC. Really cool.
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July 27, 2011
As summer winds down, many are turning their minds to school. Parents are busy planning their tax-free weekend purchases, carpool schedules are being drawn out and kids are planning on what to wear and how to pack their backpack for the all important first day of class, all the while desperately trying to relish the last few weeks of freedom from homework and tests. It is definitely an eventful time.
We can all agree that education is possibly the most important thing in life. Learning how and why the world works the way it does, or how 1+1 can sometimes equal 3 if you do some magic math (thank you, Mr. Thrasher for blowing my eighth-grade mind) is how we discover ourselves and how we fit into this wonderful world. More importantly, as you grow older, you learn that everything has a reason and that everything works together. The more you know about the world around you, the better you can navigate it and reach your goals.
Everyone knows the core subjects in school – and when I speak of school, I mean elementary through high school – Reading, (W)riting and (A)rithmetic. Then you’ve got your History, Science, Foreign Language, and Gym classes. But we’ve left out one, very important class – the Arts (band, dance, visual art, drama).
The role the arts play in education is becoming increasingly important and apparent. Exposing students to art, at any age, is proving to be vital in their future success. Students learn more than just how to play a few songs on their trumpet or how to memorize a few lines of a play – they are learning how to be creative.
You simply cannot ignore the fact the creativity is the root of innovation. If we want our children to grow up and invent the next Facebook or create the cure for cancer – they’re going to have to be creative. Instruction in the arts expands the mind to think of different ways of solving problems, of different ways to tell a story or of different ways to express that which cannot be put into words.
There is a problem though. With the economy the way it is, many states and even those in Washington have cut funding to the education system. We tell teachers to do more with even less and with more students. We tell students to learn about history from books dating back to the mid-90s, when the internet had quotations around its name and when social media was limited to a handshake.
Regardless of the debate on educational funding – the truth is that when funding is cut, the arts are typically the first thing to go. Many people ignore the benefits of the arts to a child’s education. Let’s crunch some numbers:
*Students with high level in arts involvement are less likely to drop out of school by 10th grade than those with low arts involvement (1.4% compared to 4.8%). They are also more likely to be involved in their community and have higher academic achievement. (Arts Education Partnership)
*Research from 1987-1998 shows that young people who ‘practice’ the arts at least 3x a week for 3hrs over a year:
-4x more likely to be recognized for academic achievement
-Being elected to class office 3x more often
-4x more likely to participate in a math and science fair
-3x more likely to win an award for school attendance
-4x more likely to win an award for writing an essay or poem
(Source: Dr. Shirley Brice Heath, Standord University, for Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching)
*Data from the College Board shows that arts students outperform non-arts students on the SAT by an average of 92.5pts over the past 12 years. (not including the newer Writing section, but over the past 5yrs of that being in existence, arts students have out performed an average of 40pts higher in that section). (Source: The College Board, 2010. 2010 College-Bound Seniors: Total Group Profile Report)
*There is also a high correlation to cognitive development and arts students. (Source: LEARNING, ARTS, AND THE BRAIN, The Dana Consortium Report on Arts and Cognition, Dana Press, 2008)
But how does that help my child get ahead later in life? Well US employers have rated creativity/innovation as one of the top five skills that will increase in importance over the next five years. On top of that 56% of employers agree that a college degree in the arts is the most significant indicator of creativity in a prospective job candidate.
The point is folks – the arts matter. They matter in life and they matter in school. So break out those rhythm sticks, recorders, macaroni and Shakespeare – it’s time to learn.
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All data above sourced from Americans for the Arts
If you want to hear more, check out Champions of Change, the White House’s nod to those who change the world in America – Week 15 is dedicated to Arts in Education.
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July 12, 2011
WATCH THIS FIRST!
TEDx Talks – Calgary, Canada 2010. Ben Cameron.
Watch the video first – I have watched it about twenty times and it inspires me still to this day, and it inspired this post.
The Couch. For many it is a refuge. It is a best friend who won’t wake you up from a nap with a text message. It is a family magnet, and a family pet magnet. It is a crucial part of our lives. But to some in the arts industry – it is the enemy. It sucks up potential income like a desert sucks up a spilled 24oz Dasani bottle. It eats our patrons and steals our product. It may be soft and warm on the outside, but on the inside it is cushioning your bottom with our cash.
Who would want to face traffic, parking, noise, the sun, the rain, getting dressed, or even (gasp) other people when you could just sit on The Couch and instead watch other people deal with the outside world while you revel in the happiness that is Orville Redenbacher Butter Popcorn or Mayfield Moose Track Ice Cream. And who would want to go see an opera when you can watch false hopes wilt away on “American Idol”. This was/is a good thing right? Now you can interact with your family via email or Facebook, check up on the local news after it airs, read the newspaper, watch the football game – all within the comfort of your own home. This reality though has made an overwhelmingly large dent in ticket sales to performing arts groups across the world.
The Couch in fact is one of the biggest enemies for those in administrative positions in the arts. How can one defeat the lure of comfort? Embrace it.
The fact is that the arts industry has to realize that the world is in the middle of an audience development reformation. Our audiences are changing, evolving. The technology that is available to them should not be viewed as our enemy. As the video above points out – “The means of artistic production have been democratized for the first time in human history.” People not only have access to a large number of outlets that display art (television, Netflix, DVR, YouTube, etc) but they also now have access to the means by which to create that art. You can now record a movie on your iPhone, upload it to YouTube and become a star. You used only be able to do the same thing if you worked with Warner Bros.
Arts organizations exist to make art more accessible, not to exclude – yet we tend to be anti-anything that allows the audience to access the same art at home. There has to be a change in the arts industry. We have to embrace the technology we once thought robbed us and make it work for us. There are ways to do that – we just have to be willing to change. We have to.
George Patrick McLeer, Jr
Executive Director, Mauldin Cultural Center
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July 5, 2011
Piracy Online = More Profit?
Read Article Here
For millions across the world – music is free. CDs are a thing of the past and iTunes is just a program you spend hours trying to manipulate. When the internet became commonplace in every household, we began to do what we do best – share. We shared stories, news, family photos, chain emails, and ironic cat pictures – we also began sharing music, movies, photography, and much more. Today, you can download the latest hit movie before it reaches the movie store for free and have it forever. You can download the newest record from your favorite recording artist before it hits shelves – for free.
This raises a question though – for people like musicians and actors, the downloading of their material without pay and without permission can be seen as theft. In truth, it is – the person who downloads a Beatles album without paying is taking away income that would otherwise go to the artist behind the music. They also cut out the record company, PR company, music studio, and countless others associated with the pirated work from receiving their pay for their hard work. It’s a huge problem, mounting to a loss in the billions. Yet it seems this problem is here to stay.
This article takes another look at this issue. Looking at the potentiallygained income from online piracy. A new thought has emerged that all of the ‘free’ stuff online, or the ‘knock-off handbags’ being sold on the streets is actually helping in some cases. Many people who are able to sample the work of another person before they commit to a full purchase of the whole product may in fact be more likely to end up purchasing the whole CD from the artist.
Sales in the Ticketing Industry
Read Article Here
We all love a good sale. Getting something for less than it was originally priced just seems to make us happy. But the ‘sale’ originated not as a way to get people in the door – but rather to sell items that were not selling well. As this article mentions – GAP doesn’t just put on a sale because they’re feeling really generous. The same applies to tickets. Many arts centers across the country have special rates on tickets for events – senior, student, member, etc. But they tend to only have a “sale” when either a show is not selling well or a certain type of seat is not selling well.
This article gives two examples of companies (both in NYC) that are using the “sale” to attract younger audiences to the shows that do sell well. They offer tickets as low at $20 to practically any show for people ages 18-35. A “sale” does not have to mean that the product is not worth a full price – maybe a “sale” can mean that your business is more important than the product.
Arts in SC State Budget Update
Read Article Here
Just a quick update from our last blog entry. The South Carolina Arts Commission‘s state funding was on the list of Gov. Nikki Haley’s vetoes (#15 out of 35) last week. The very next day (Wednesday, June 29) the SC House and Senate debated on Haley’s 35 vetoes – determining which ones were going to be sustained or which ones would be overturned.
The MCC is happy to report that Veto #15 – SC Arts Commission was overturned by both the House and Senate. This means that the SCAC will stay alive this fiscal year and will be able to award grants to organizations across the state. A big thanks to all who contacted members of the SC Legislature and also a big thanks to the South Carolina Arts Alliance for their work in alerting the public and for making it easy for the public to contact their local representatives. Also a congrats is in order for SCETV – who also faced numerous vetoes that were overturned by both the House and the Senate.
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June 27, 2011
Welcome to “a pART of the story”! In a weekly post we’re calling “In the News”, we bring to you articles from around the web that relate to the arts and some of the issues facing the industry in today’s world.
State Budget & SC Arts Commission
Read the Story Here
As the State’s budget nears the finish line before being enacted into law, there is one more major hurdle to cross – governor vetoes. The State House and Senate have both completed and passed a balanced budget for the next fiscal year and it now heads to Gov. Nikki Haley’s desk for final approval. In that process, she has the right as governor to line-item veto any component of the budget through June 28th. From there the vetoes go back to the House to be overturned and then have to be overturned by the Senate, if both entities wish to do so, by a 2/3 majority vote.
In her first State of the State Address earlier this year, Gov. Haley surprised many across the state when she stated, “The reality is the role of South Carolina’s government in the year 2011 can no longer be to fund an Arts Commission at a cost of $2.5 million.” The specificity of her remarks shocked many in the arts industry in the state and across the country and sparked a state-wide advocacy effort to keep the South Carolina Arts Commission [SCAC] alive in both the House and Senate budgets. The efforts were successful, cutting only what Ken Mays, the Executive Director of the SCAC, has called a “manageable” 6% from the SCAC budget for next year. Yet, Gov. Haley has made it clear over the past two months that if a budget arrives on her desk that includes funding for the SCAC, that she will veto it.
To the arts community, the SCAC is much more than a vital granting organization, it represents our state government’s support of over 78,000 employees in the cultural industry across the state and the support for many arts education programs in many state public schools. The main issue with the expected veto is that the budget Gov. Haley has on her desk is already balanced. There is no deficit in FY2012’s budget. There is no financial need to trim any more from the state budget. This proposed budget already includes a 6% cut in state funding for the SCAC – down to $1.9million (this includes other federal stimulus money that expires next year).
We at the MCC urge you to read the newsletter linked above from SCAC Executive Director Ken May and to contact your local State House Representatives and Senators to overturn the expected veto. This is one of the most pressing matters in the arts industry right now for SC. If the SCAC is eliminated, SC will become the only state other than Kansas to not have a state arts agency.
Do I Clap Now? How About Now?
This article covers something that we here at MCC find interesting – applause. The unwritten rules on applause can be very confusing depending upon where you are and what you’re seeing. At a rock concert for instance, you clap when the the guitarist nails a 3 minute solo, but at an symphony concert you do not, under any circumstances (unless you enjoy awkward stares) clap between movements. The latter example can be very confusing for a newcomer to a symphony, changes in movement feel just like the end of a song – it can be confusing and can alienate a newbie, causing them to rethink purchasing another ticket. The same goes for some theatrical performances – does one clap after an amazing musical number if the song was a very tragic, emotional piece that leaves the audience stunned, or is the point of the song to make the audience silent and thoughtful? And you don’t just walk into a gallery and start clapping at random paintings…
This article doesn’t necessarily give an answer, but provides a very good point of view into to the bewildering action that is applause.
Arts, by the Numbers
Read the Article Here
Americans for the Arts (AFTA) is the national advocacy organization for the arts. This organization does a lot of work to present the arts to newcomers, community members, civic leaders and political leaders. One avenue by which they do this is through research. This article presents some of the annual research highlights pertaining to the arts including its role in education, the economy and other areas. Links in this article can direct you to to further research statistics – or you can contact us here at the MCC for more information, we have their research on hand to give to you whenever you need it!
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June 25, 2011
Note From the Mayor
The arts are an integral part of a healthy community’s life and development. The range of options that residents are able to choose from, “after work”, help define the quality of their lives and bring out another side of defining yourself. Max Heller’s passing prompted Joe Riley [Mayor of Charleston SC] to comment on Mayor Heller’s [Greenville SC] influence on supporting the arts in Greenville which, in large part, lead to the revitalization of both communities. We enrich ourselves and our community by participating in and supporting our own cultural arts efforts. We all need to truly be a pART of the story in our community.
Don Godbey
Mayor (2007-2011), Mauldin SC
a pART of the story 
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