ARTS ACCESS
SOUTH
CAROLINA
c/o SC Arts Commission
1026 Sumter St., Suite 200
Columbia, SC 29201
Julia M. Brown-DuBose, Executive Director
(803) 734-0445 / (803) 603-4450
About
ARTS ACCESS SC (formerly VSA South Carolina) is a nonprofit organization that provides children, youth and adults with disabilities quality arts experiences.
ARTS ACCESS SC works to promote quality and accessible art experiences for people with all types of disabilities throughout the state of South Carolina. The organization works with South Carolina artists, educators, arts administrators, health/human and social service professionals to establish inclusive spaces, programs and communities dedicated to the arts and people with disabilities.
Our programs are designed for people with disabilities and foster the attitude that people with disabilities should pursue the arts as a career or recreational pursuit.
ARTS ACCESS SOUTH CAROLINA'S
Board Members
Mr. LaMondre Pough (Richland County)
Chris Hartwick (Greenville County)
Carolyn D. Johnson (Richland County)
1986-2022
Our Partners
For more than 40 years, the agency has worked to make it possible for every citizen in the state to enjoy and benefit from the arts, including those who do not have a lot of money or live in a large city. The Commission's programs and activities fall into three major domains of public participation and service:
-
Artist Development
-
Arts Education
-
Community Arts Development
The Hub & Arts Daily are curated by the SC Arts Commission, and we are always looking for the latest arts news in your area. We would love for you to submit your arts stories.
VSA, the international organization on arts and disability, was founded more than 35 years ago by Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith to provide arts and education opportunities for people with disabilities and increase access to the arts for all.
With 52 international affiliates and a network of nationwide affiliates, VSA is providing arts and education programming for youth and adults with disabilities around the world.
Each year, 7 million people of all ages and abilities participate in VSA programs, in every aspect of the arts – from visual arts, performing arts, to the literary arts.
Currently, these programs are on pause for the 2022 season.
Arts & Education
ARTS ACCESS SOUTH CAROLINA is dedicated to inspiring state-wide students with disabilities through all aspects of the arts (music, dance, theater, painting and more).
Our talented and passionate educators (teaching artists) generously share their knowledge and wisdom with South Carolina students of all ages... empowering them to find their own inner artist... often times leading to lifelong love of the arts and successful careers.
Carter Boucher
An ARTS ACCESS SC teaching artist since 2014, Mr. Boucher produces fine art works in a wide variety of mediums – from oil and acrylic to wood engraving and silkscreening – teaching students from kindergarten to senior citizens.
Our Teaching Artists
Dennis James Breedlove
A former Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Company Member, University of the Arts’ School of Dance, and graduate of Miami-Dade College, Mr. Breedlove has worked with students of all ages as a Teacher and Performing Arts Consultant. Working and living in Florence South Carolina, he is honored to bring his talents to Arts Access South Carolina's students.
Arianne King Comer
A BFA graduate of Howard University, Arianne's work has most recently been showcased at the Smithsonian African American Museum in Washington DC. An Artist in Residence on the Old Navy Base in North Charleston, SC since 2006, Arianne received the UN/USIS grant to study under the renowned Batik artist Nike Olyani Davis in Oshogbo Nigeria, where her passion for indigo manifested. In 2007, she had the opportunity to join The Charleston Rhizome Collective to conduct a textile workshop in batik and indigo at the World Social Forum in Nairobi, Kenya. Arianne is an art consultant, lecturer, teacher, and textile artist.
Anita Dantzler
Ms. Dantzler is a Consultant to the South Carolina Human Affairs Commission's Community Relations Outreach team and is proud to be working with ARTS ACCESS SOUTH CAROLINA.
Eboni Ramm
Ms. Ramm is a nationally renown musician most recently connected to her national (USA) tour entitled Jazz: A Spiritual Journey – consisting of straight-ahead jazz, education, and a jazz poetry workshop. She has been associated with ARTS ACCESS SOUTH CAROLINA for several years.
Bhakti Larry Hough
Bhakti Larry Hough is an accomplished and versatile cultural, creative and mass media artist with extensive experience in the creation, development, management and execution of communications, mass media, and artistic performance endeavors, projects and entities. As a performing artist, he is a contemporary jazz and gospel singer/songwriter, band/choir leader, recording artist, and published poet. Mr. Hough is currently president and artist-in-residence at NewWorld Arts, program director at WLGI-FM (Radio Baha'i) in Hemingway, SC.
Dr. Angelina Peggy Hunt Richter
Dr. Richter has danced professionally all over the world, directed the graduate program in dance education at the University of Hawaii, the dance certification program at Radford University in Virginia and was on the dance faculty at University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and is the artistic director of both Dancing Earth and the UNCG Dance Touring Company (1987-92) that performed for 200,000 children.
Willie Shaw
Will Shaw has over 30 years of experience performing as a professional mime-artist and is affiliated with several entertainment agencies and arts organizations throughout the southeast. Mr. Shaw is very pleased to bring his unique talents and artistry to ARTS ACCESS SOUTH CAROLINA.
Keith Tolen
Mr. Tolen has worked as an art teacher over 25 years at Camden Middle School, working in drawing, painting, printmaking, photography, and more. He is very pleased to be associated with ARTS ACCESS SOUTH CAROLINA.
Zaharah Zaharah
Ms. Zaharah Zaharah has conceived of stunning and elaborate designs – from everyday wear to stage creations. She is very honored to be working with ARTS ACCESS SOUTH CAROLINA.
Thomas Ryan Ward
Thomas Ryan Ward has been a theatrically focused arts educator for over 10 years, working throughout all of North and Central America. Mr. Ward is honored to have worked with ARTS ACCESS SOUTH CAROLINA on a variety of projects with students of all ages... creating original plays, musicals, poetry, and children's books.
C.O.T.T.A.G.E. Industries
A truly unique and noteworthy creation of ARTS ACCESS SC is our C.O.T.T.A.G.E. Industries℠ concept... a highly important way for individuals with disabilities to turn the various skills they acquire through our projects into sustainable career opportunities. Several success stories have been achieved throughout our 20 plus years... with more certain to come. Check back for our latest positive stories!
SM
Project R.E.A.L.
Project R.E.A.L.℠ is a creative, career-exploration collaborative targeting students with disabilities led by ARTS ACCESS SOUTH CAROLINA. Executive Director, Julia Brown, works to bring established regional artists into schools for short-term residencies – during which students, with intellectual and developmental disabilities, experience creative careers. Successful residencies have allowed students with disabilities to explore traditional, coastal-basket weaving, visual arts, theater arts, musical arts, and others.
SM
ARTS ACCESS SC
at Hilton Head Island High School
March 1-25, 2022