Find Your Self

Non-Profit Organization These programs are supported by the South Carolina Arts Commission, which receives funding from the National US Postage Endowment for the Arts PAID Augusta, GA Permit No. 23 find yourself 122 Laurens Street SW Aiken, SC 29801 803.641.9094 FALL 2021 Why support Aiken Center for the Arts In 2020, Aiken Center for the Arts board of directors met to instructors. Our belief is that everyone in our community create a new three-year strategic plan. Driven by our renewed should have access to the arts. We are constantly seeking new mission statement “to inspire and educate by providing unique ways to inspire and educate. We offer financial assistance visual and performing arts experiences for all ages” the through scholarships to qualified children and adults. Your leadership pledged to make programming more inclusive and support could be used to assist with providing this opportunity accessible. This lens is applied to decisions that foster greater for everyone to participate regardless of financial ability. diversity and bring exhibits that support inclusive learning. Music instruction is Exhibitions in our main always popular and gallery set the tone each six enjoyed. Our Aiken Youth weeks with nine exhibitions Orchestra and ensemble annually. Partnering is comprised of students programming with the art representing multiple age has provided opportunities groups. This is a program to make the Galleries more where we frequently need synergistic. A portion of Aiken Youth Orchestra to rely on scholarship. Your your support will be used donation includes support for instruction and student assistance to ensure that diverse in our Strings program, which is offered throughout the year, artists and subject matter including 8 weeks of summer programming. Good Morning Art are represented. Support facilitates the exhibit design, execution and promotion, as well as assist staff in developing engagement programming. Another high priority area to benefit from support is the Good Morning Art program for our youngest friends. This is a no cost program designed to enrich young minds through art; having conversations and creative experiences will result in new discoveries and vocabulary. It is open to Aiken Head Start 4k students in one session and to the public in another session each exhibition. School tours bring Aiken County students into our space to experience current exhibitions. Arts education is an Author Dr. Curry at Wagener-Salley High School area where the Arts Center engages a diverse Community Engagement is of paramount importance to the population and encourages ACA and we achieve this through multiple channels. Our goal varied interests. We offer of quality instruction in each classroom leads us to recruit one -time workshops, diverse teachers who are excited about reaching specific age weekly classes, and camps in groups. We believe the teacher sets the tone for the classroom. a variety of arts disciplines By investing in quality educators, we are creating a safe place taught by professional where all students are invited to participate. ACA partners Summer Art Camp Page 2 Session 1 Sept 14 - Oct 22 Session 2 Oct 18 - Nov 19 FALL 2021 with community groups and organizations to bring arts native, as she works with the Arts Center to create virtual programming to underserved groups at little or no cost. From movement and music programming for those with Alzheimer’s presenting artists and ideas both emerging and established and dementia. Ms. Brown engages participants via Zoom in our art exhibits hung every six weeks, to engaging Aiken using fundamental movements, conversation, singing, and County School students with a guest author sharing his music, stimulating both the body and the brain and providing a family’s empowering journey from 1830 to 1960 to enrich our rewarding and meaningful experience. All free to participants. students knowledge of African American history right here in Aiken County, to connecting local artists with community members through a range of art classes offered throughout the year; ACA believes in the power of the arts to bring together disparate groups for the well-being of the community. Special Needs Art and Music Camp and Karen Brown connects with a resident of Westminster Memory Care via Zoom Workshops are open Without external funding, we to students would not be able to afford to offer from age these experiences to our community. 4 through The diversity in our arts and Art and Music Camp for Special Needs adult culture program enables us to be living with a place where residents of Aiken physical and or cognitive disabilities. In 2021-22 the ACA and the surrounding communities offered two weeks of summer camps for these students along from all backgrounds and interests with six workshops throughout the year, free to participants. have reason to be together. It has Franklin Delgado, teaching artist ACA strives to cultivate the talents of all area students who to do with providing ACCESS and supporting the cost of enter our classrooms. Making the Arts Center a place for all operations to provide low-cost or free programming. Access to happens when we create accessibility to arts programming and the creative process opens doors and opportunities for persons exhibitions. These programs would not happen without support. of all ages and economic positions to become involved. Your support provides the Aiken Center for the Arts the operational Joy in the Journey is an on-going creative and meaningful support it needs to provide quality instruction, to introduce the program that connects Aiken residents living with Alzheimer’s community to an expansive world provided by the arts, and to disease and dementia with a therapist who works with them to bring economic well-being through support of and investment create an original painting. These beautiful works of art are in the arts. then placed on display in the ACA galleries and made available for purchase. When in person sessions are not possible, we keep the spirit of our Joy in the Journey program alive with Karen Caroline Gwinn Brown, retired Dance Theater of Harlem dancer and Augusta Executive Director Donate at aikencenterforthearts.org Aiken Center for the Arts 122 Laurens St. SW, Aiken, SC 29801 (803) 641-9094 aikencenterforthearts.org Page 3 Coming this Fall: Horse Around Aiken Discover some of Aiken’s amazing treasures through “Horse Around Aiken”! Aiken Center for the Arts is partnering Aiken’s equestrian history with our famous Horseplay horses in a project entitled “Horse Around Aiken.” It provides an interactive map and informative videos for all participants to navigate Aiken to learn about the Horseplay horses, the artists who created them, and to discover the historic sites where they are located. It addresses our mission by drawing local families and visitors to experience art at work through visiting life-size painted horses located at historically significant sites. Horse Around Aiken is a self-guided treasure hunt where people follow an interactive map housed on the Aiken Center for the Arts (ACA) website. Upon arrival at each site there will be a scannable QR code enabling visitors to watch a video of the history of the horse, the artist and the historic site. Visitors would begin and end their journey in downtown Aiken at Aiken Center for the Arts. Our mission is to inspire and educate by providing unique visual and performing arts experiences. We believe a treasure hunt that invites visitors to experience historic Aiken, to appreciate the artists’ talent, and to recognize our rich equestrian history meets that mission. Our famous Horseplay horses have been in the community since 2004 when they were created to raise funds for the ACA. They have become landmarks in the community and the stories of their creation have been lost. This project will breathe new life into the Horseplay horses and educate a new generation of followers. The Horseplay sites are well recognized and include the Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame and Museum, Hopelands Gardens, the Train Depot, the Amentum Center for Performing Arts, SRS Museum, and others. This is a well designed concept and provides a free and educational art experience for all ages. It creates an engaging website space, it pays homage to our area artists, it appreciates our historic roots and it brings guests to our galleries and classroom spaces in the Center. Throughout our 49-year history as a nonprofit community arts center we have searched for opportunities to celebrate the rich history of our unique city and to integrate stimulating and educational art experiences for residents and visitors to enjoy. We believe the Horse Around Aiken Treasure Hunt does exactly what we are seeking to offer. For those visitors that complete the interactive map adventure, they will be invited to collect a special take-away gift that is awaiting them at the Aiken Center for the Arts. Get ready this fall as we celebrate our local treasures through Horse Around Aiken! Available November 1 Map artwork by Nanette Langner Angela Hale, freelance journalist, interviews Dr. Fowler, artist, for one of the “Horse Around Aiken” videos. Page 4 Session 1 Sept 14 - Oct 22 Session 2 Oct 18 - Nov 19 HAPPENINGS STORIES FROM A BIG CHAIR This fall at Aiken Center for the Arts, we will be telling stories from a big chair…and About you are invited. Join us as we share perspectives, build points of connection, and reoccuring unearth the wisdom and inspiration amongst us. Each evening, storytelling will be accompanied by wine paired with the theme of the evening as host Gary Finnan events guides us through an evening of storytelling. Wine courtesy of Solovino. SFBC is a perfect fit for all people who are excited to engage with the power and craft of storytelling.

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