New Arts Group Seeking Members, Ideas

The newly-formed Arts Council of Pickens County aims to supports the arts and artists in the area, and to create new arts events.

The Arts Council held an organizational meeting last week. The non-profit's mission is the promotion and advancement of the literary, visual and performing arts in the area.

“Our reasoning for forming the group is there's really not a network in Pickens County of artists and performers, where you can get together, develop plans to have festivals, and get support from the community,” said Suzanne Goodman, one of the council's organizers. “It's really hard as an individual to go out and get the community to support what you're doing. If you have a group, then they're much more likely to support it.”

Goodman, Amanda Gunter and Vicki Ciplickas were on the planning committee for the inaugural Fall for the Arts Festival, when that event's primary sponsor dropped out.

The three women wanted the festival to go on, and began exploring their options, Gunter said.

“All three of us are very passionate about the arts and had put so much work and so many hours into planning this thing, we couldn't even fathom canceling it,” she said.

The women found that it would be much easier to put on such a festival if they had a non-profit organization over it.

They partnered with the City of Easley and the Easley Farmers Market and others for the festival, which was a big hit, drawing a large crowd to Old Market Square.

They then decided a separate non-profit would be needs for future events and endeavors, and the Arts Council of Pickens County was born, Gunter said.

A vibrant arts community is important, she said.

“This area is growing,” Goodman said. “If it's going to be really successful like Greenville or Anderson, we need a good, strong arts community.”

“We want to get art out in the public eye,” Gunter said.

“It just makes for a better community,” Ciplickas said. “There's some great potential to see the arts grow here.”

The council will meet once a month on the second Monday of the month at The Starving Artist Cafe.

Membership is open to artists or artisans who have a strong desire to see the arts flourish in Pickens County, residents who strongly support the arts in the community and students with a passion for the arts who wish to assist the Arts Council with their mission.

Having students involved in the council gives those students some real-world, hands-on experience in the arts, which may help them with their career choices.

“It's a good opportunity for them,” Goodman said. “It'll be a good eye-opener for them, we think.”

Membership dues are $60 a year.

“That money will go toward festivals, publicity, promotion of the club, trying to get everything to grow” Goodman said.

She said the council hopes to development discounts and deals to share between other Arts Council members.

The group will also be a wonderful networking tool for artists and performers, Goodman said.

“I'm a member of another statewide dance organization, and it's really great to have that resource, to network when you need something,” she said.

That network will also allow members to promote their events, projects and work.

Originally the group was to be called the Easley Arts Council, but they decided to expand.

“We don't want to become exclusive like the groups in Greenville,” Goodman said, adding that some Upstate groups have “a monopoly” on performing. “We want to become an inclusive group.”

Gunter agreed. “We want to be inclusive of everyone in our community.”

She said the council also wanted to include Powdersville.

“The majority of people in Powdersville have an Easley address,” Gunter said. “It's our goal to include as many people in our community as possible, to make it an outreach for our entire county.”

Future projects include putting on a spring Arts festival and special events and performances.

“We would like to bring in guest artists and performers into the county,” Goodman said. “We would like to be able to sponsor a jazz band to come in and perform … or a painter to come in and offer free lessons.”

For more information about the Arts Council of Pickens County, visit their Facebook page ator contact Goodman at sgoodski@aol.com or Gunter at amanda.gunter61@gmail.com.