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Reflection on the 2020-2021 School Year
This past school year has been one of the most challenging of our lives in so many ways. Yet we have expanded our thinking, learned, adapted, and made things work. With meetings reduced to seeing each other in little blocks on our computer screens in our new virtual world, we continued to find ways to continue to connect and support each other.   
 
Nowhere was this better seen that with Joint Arts Administrators Institute. In the past, JAAI sessions have been wonderful in-person events that have brought us together to meet have an opportunity to collaborate and network with colleagues across the state in person. This could, of course, not be the case this school year.
 
Instead, we moved to a virtual format. As a result, there has been a bit of a disconnect, a lack of the camaraderie that comes from meeting in person and sharing hugs and smiles. Yet I would argue that in many ways, JAAI has flourished despite these tough times. Overall, we ended the year on a positive note, encouraging each other, getting to know each other better, and hopeful for a better year to come. 
 
In the coming school year, I am hopeful that we can also do more to expand our connections with each other, increase our membership and attendance, and see what we can do to collaborate with other important stakeholders across the state. We are certainly open to your suggestions and very much appreciate your support!
 
Sincerely,

Denisse A. Santos
VPA Coordinator, Charleston County School District
Chair, SC District Arts Coordinators Committee 
Palmetto State Arts Education
PSAE's Annual Arts Education Conference
Resilience!
October 10-12, 2021

Palmetto State Arts Education is excited to host the 2021 Professional Development Conference, “Resilience,” and is now taking session proposals. The conference will be held virtually October 10-11 and in-person on October 12 in Columbia.  

Over the past year, educators have had to summon their energy, creativity, and flexibility to conquer the obstacles that they face as they continue work to educate and nurture their students.  

Share your insights, successes, and challenges with your peers by being a presenter at PSAE’s Conference! If you are a teacher, administrator, teaching artist or vendor please consider submitting a session proposal today!

Bradley D. Wingate
VPA Director, Greenville County School District
Chair, Conference Committee
Palmetto State Arts Education
Advocate for your school, administrators, and supporters with PSAE Awards
  • Ray Doughty Arts Integration Award
  • SC Arts Administrator of the Year Award
  • SC School of Excellence in Arts Integration Award
  • SC STEAM School of Excellence Award

Nominations are due August 13, 2021

Cindy Riddle
Asst. Superintendent VPA & GT, Spartanburg One
Chair, Awards Committee
Palmetto State Arts Education
South Carolina Arts Commission
Presenting Arts Grow SC: Learning In and Through the Arts
On July 29th the South Carolina Department of Education and South Carolina Arts Commission announced a $20 million partnership to help public schools throughout the state address pandemic related learning loss with proven, arts-based learning initiatives.
This partnership, since titled Arts Grow SC, will support three years of arts education grants, programs, professional learning, and other initiatives rooted in innovation and evidence-based practices. Arts Grow SC will allow the SCAC’s team of professionals and network of partners to:
  • help schools and teachers fill learning loss gaps in the arts,
  • use arts integration to remediate core subject areas,
  • and provide summer and afterschool learning opportunities that leverage the arts in schools throughout the state.
 
To drive this important work, the Arts Commission is hiring an Assistant Grants Coordinator, a K12 Arts Education Coordinator, an Arts Industry Director, and an Arts Learning Director. Applications for these positions are due on Sunday, August 22nd.
Catherine Ntube
Specialist for Arts Organizations and Education
South Carolina Arts Commission
1026 Sumter St, Suite 201
Columbia, SC 29201
(803) 734-8694
South Carolina Arts Alliance
Advocacy Updates
A busy year, that isn’t quite over, in the Legislature resulted in some huge wins for the arts this year. The continued bipartisan support for the arts in the Statehouse was felt this year as the arts looked to not only find relief from COVID-19’s disastrous impact on the field financially, but also look forward into recovery in both community arts and arts education. 
$3.5 Million Increase in State Budget

Between $2 million in one-time funding for COVID Relief Grants and a $1.5 million increase in recurring funds for annual grants, the arts saw a jump in funding in the state budget for FY2022, which began July 1. Of particular note, the $1.5m increase takes the per capita grants funding for the arts in South Carolina up from $0.69 to $0.97. 

$20 Million for Arts Education

We know you’ve heard about it, and also have read about it in this newsletter. But we wanted to make sure you knew that thanks to your continued advocacy over the years - decades even - this funding was secured to drastically impact arts education for the better in South Carolina. Read our take on the milestone investment here.

On the Radar

> AccelerateSC is set to release its recommendations on how to spend $2.5 billion in federal relief funding in South Carolina in August, with a potential to provide funding for nonprofits across the state.
> The Legislature will return to Columbia later this Fall to work on the final appropriation of the $2.5 billion referenced above, as well as tackle redistricting
> SC Arts Advocacy Week will be February 7-11, 2022, with the SC Arts Summit taking place in Columbia February 8-9. Mark your calendars!
George Patrick "GP" McLeer
Executive Director
SC Arts Alliance
P.O. Box 865
Fountain Inn, SC 29644
864.314.0712
Arts in Basic Curriculum Project
Are you Ready?
As shared by SCAC, on June 29, SCDE announced its historical investment in arts-based learning for SC students, which included building on the successful legacy of ABC Project. As a result of expanded reach and resources, I am thrilled to announce that ABC Project will be hiring! As part of Arts Grow SC, ABC Project will expand its programs department beyond the school model. Additional Program Specialists will join ABC to develop a comprehensive programmatic approach that will include individual teacher leadership development and someone to work with district leadership to ensure equitable access to learning in and through the arts in all learning environments. 
Although few details about Arts Grow SC have been released so far - there will be unprecedented opportunities for teaching artists, arts educators, and arts integrators to help fulfill this promise to SC students over the next three years. Opportunities will be varied and it will take contributions from our entire arts and arts integration community to make the most of the moment. Are you ready to help make the most of this moment? To stay up to date on Arts Grow SC and receive real-time alerts on opportunities, download the ABC mobile app. Available for iOS and Android, search for Arts in Basic Curriculum

Full instructions are available at: https://www.abcprojectsc.com/overview/documents-links/

I hope you will feel compelled to be part of this moment and help the Arts Grow SC educational learning landscape for the future.
Kim Wilson
ABC Project Director
Arts in Basic Curriculum Project
105 McLaurin Hall, Winthrop University
Rock Hill, SC 29733
803.323.3010
South Carolina Department of Education
Now Hiring!
The South Carolina Department of Education is seeking an Education Associate for the Visual and Performing Arts. Application period closes August 10, 2021.
South Carolina Governor's School for the Arts and Humanities
The Governor's School and SC Afterschool Alliance partner to bring arts resources to more students across the state
The Office of Outreach is excited to offer our 2021 Virtual Teacher Retreats: Making Connections! The following two sessions will be offered free of charge via Zoom on June 17-18, 2021.
As part of the SC Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities mission to serve as a resource to teachers and students in South Carolina, the Office of Outreach offers a comprehensive and ever-growing series of programs designed to bring together artists, educators, community organizations and students. We are happy to announce that we have expanded our programming through a unique partnership with the SC Afterschool Alliance.   

The SC Afterschool Alliance—which connects and supports over 1400 afterschool and summer programs throughout the state—raises awareness, increases sustainability, and promotes the importance of quality afterschool and summer learning programs. Through our partnership, we will enhance the arts education offerings of these network programs by providing virtual and backpack-style resources created by the Governor’s School.
 
In April, we saw this partnership in action during a field trip to the Edisto Rose Gardens. Students in the Orangeburg Area Boys and Girls Club explored nature through an artist’s lens while painting and drawing what they saw in their new nature journals. It was wonderful to see students outside and off screens during their spring break!
Do you have artistically talented student who could benefit from pre-professional arts training?

Applications for our 2022-2023 school year and summer programs will be available online soon! 

Carol Baker
Director of Outreach and Community Engagement
SC Governor's School of the Arts and Humanities
15 University St.
Greenville, SC 29601
864.282.3729
Arts Access South Carolina
Celebrate. Learn. Share.

The first of four meetings for the newly developed ARTS ACCESS South Carolina (AASC) ADVISORY PANEL gathered on Monday, July 26, celebrating the 31st Anniversary of the Americans Disability Act (ADA).
Fourteen diverse, creative participants from every corner of SC convened to CELEBRATE, LEARN, & SHARE their interest in serving populations limited in arts experience and gave a renewed sense of purpose and commitment to AASC. As we approach our 35th year of serving people with disabilities, we continue to “cast a wider net” in order to leverage resources and be more inclusive, diverse and equitable in our practices. If you are interested in joining AASC in this planning process we welcome more participation in the next three meetings, please contact us. 
Call for Artists

Each year AASC offers training opportunities for artists interested in working in our programs, workshops, festivals, in-school residencies and with community service organizations. Training includes overall history and mission of AASC; how to conduct yourself in schools as a professional artist; creating lesson plans that correlate with school curriculum; how to identify schools in your area that contract with teaching artists; how to market yourself as an artist; and networking with other AASC teaching artists and master teaching artists. Contact us if you’re interested. Additional info will be available in late September 2021.
Call for "NEW IMPROVED" Residencies & More: August 2021 - May 2022

ARTS ACCESS South Carolina (AASC) will deliver arts education services to students who qualify for special education in South Carolina. The arts education services will include the NEW IMPROVED SERVICES: week-long residencies, workshops, afterschool programs, evening classes, and festivals. Programs will be offered in the following formats: virtual, hybrid and/ or face-to-face. Programs are provided in partnership with the SC Arts Commission and the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Activities can be inclusive or self-contained. Interested schools/educators must contact Executive Director, Julia M Brown-DuBose at 803.734.0445 or e-mail [email protected].
Julia Brown-DuBose
Executive Director
Arts Access South Carolina
c/o SC Arts Commission
1026 Sumter St., Suite 200
Columbia, SC 29201
803.734.0445