College of Charleston Arts Management Program

Today we are proud to feature the Arts Management Program’s SCHOOL OF THE ARTS SCHOLARS. These students earned a cumulative GPA of 3.7 or higher and are recognized for their academic excellence. This year, eleven students earned this honor:⠀
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Lilliana Cameron⠀
Laura Edwards⠀
Timothy Kelly⠀
Eli Major-Wright⠀
Meagan McMahon⠀
Anka Milenkovic⠀
Asa Perryman⠀
Gabriella Plyler⠀
Stephanie Tanzi⠀
Emily Tran⠀
Laurel Trzeciakiewicz⠀
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We will highlight these students in our stories today, so be sure to check those out for details about their accomplishments! Congratulations, everyone! We’re so proud of you!

College of Charleston
College of Charleston - School of the Arts

College of Charleston Arts Management Program's cover photo

Today we celebrate the recipients of our OUTSTANDING STUDENT AWARDS! These awards are given to graduating seniors recognized by Arts Management faculty as those who have demonstrated a commitment to the field of arts management. This includes acts of leadership, peer mentoring and exchange, innovation, and/or service to artists, arts organizations, and the Arts Management Program. This year, twelve students were selected for this honor:⠀
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Charlotte Basala⠀
Jessica Bauguess⠀
Megan Eney⠀
Ruby Gonzales⠀
Gretchen Hertel⠀
Eli Major-Wright⠀
Abigail Nisbet⠀
Asa Perryman⠀
Tiffany Potter⠀
Emily Tran⠀
Carly Valdez⠀
Ian Wright⠀
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We will highlight each student in our Instagram stories today, so be sure to check those out for more details about our awardees' accomplishments! Congratulations, everyone! We’re so proud of you!

College of Charleston
College of Charleston - School of the Arts

Today’s highlight is the recipient of the JULIE JETT ARTS MANAGEMENT CITIZENSHIP AWARD. This very special memorial award was established in 2004 in honor of an outstanding graduate of the Arts Management Program who tragically passed away shortly after graduation in 2003. The Arts Management faculty and Julie’s parents instituted this award to recognize one student each year who embodies the characteristics that Julie was recognized for: a student who has made significant contributions to the College and the community through the field of arts management. We are pleased to announce that MILLER ARANT is this year’s recipient.⠀
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Miller has dedicated his college career not only to achievement in the classroom but also to service of his fellow students and community. His impact is most significantly felt on the Arts Management Program’s student-run record label, 1770 Records. Miller has been involved with the organization since his sophomore year and became co-president of the group in his senior year. In that time, Miller dedicated his free time to helping fellow students learn skills like music promotion and graphic design and to helping local musicians access opportunities for live performances and music releases. His legacy will be the deeply embedded connections he built between aspiring musicians and students at the College with the broader music community in Charleston that have helped to create learning opportunities for students in the Arts Management Program. Congratulations, Miller! We are so proud of you!

College of Charleston - School of the Arts
College of Charleston

We are honored to announce that BETH ALEXANDER is the recipient of this year’s DR. NORTON M. SELTZER PRIZE FOR ARTS MANAGEMENT. The recipient of this award must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher and should exhibit the positive characteristics of Norton Seltzer such as compassion, kindness, humility, and willingness to share knowledge with others.⠀
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Beth is a double major in Arts Management and Studio Art with a minor in Art History. She completed internships at City Gallery and Lulie Wallace, and she has volunteered with the art auction at Redux Contemporary Art Center. Beth’s work has been shown in the Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art's Young Contemporaries 2019 Exhibition, she was a member of the Leadership CofC Cohort, she studied abroad at Burren College of Art in Ireland in Spring 2018, and she was selected for an Artist Services apprenticeship with Spoleto Festival USA. She hopes to relocate to Asheville in the fall and acquire a position in the field of arts management while researching and applying to graduate programs. Beth says that she is “extremely passionate about the equal availability of arts education to everyone,” and she one day hopes “to help create and fight for better arts education policy throughout the country.” Congratulations, Beth! We’re so proud of you!

College of Charleston
College of Charleston - School of the Arts

Every year, we are honored to present our top students with awards at a ceremony hosted by the School of the Arts. Since we are unable to gather in person this year, we will highlight our awardees on social media every day this week, starting with the recipient of our DEAN’S EXCELLENCE AWARD. The recipient of this award must be a graduating senior, have a GPA of 3.0 or higher, have demonstrated excellence in academics and/or the creative arts, and have engaged in service activities while a student at the College of Charleston School of the Arts. This year, we are pleased to announce that LAUREL TRZECIAKIEWICZ is the recipient of the Dean's Excellence Award in Arts Management!⠀
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Laurel is a double major in Arts Management and Dance. She worked as the Arts Administrative Intern at the South Carolina Children's Theatre, and she was accepted for the very competitive internship in Special Events Development at Jacob's Pillow. During her time at the College, she volunteered at the Association of Performing Arts Professionals (APAP) conference in New York and served as a peer facilitator for Cougar Excursion. She is a recipient of the School of the Arts Clarence Award, serves as the Arts Management representative for the Dean's Student Advisory Council, was a Peer Facilitator for a First Year Experience course, performed in a total of 10 main stage performances, and served as the secretary for Dance Alliance for two years. After graduation, she plans to apply for the Graduate Certificate in Arts and Cultural Management here at the College. Congratulations, Laurel! We’re so proud of you!

College of Charleston - School of the Arts
College of Charleston
College of Charleston Theatre and Dance

Our Alumni Spotlight Week concludes today with words from Arts Management alum, Gage Baxter '15, who is the Major Gifts Officer for the Belmont University Performing Arts Center and the College of Music and Performing Arts in Nashville.⠀
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"Fellow Cougars, ⠀
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Wishing you all best of luck on your exams during these uncertain times. Please know that alumni all over the country are rooting for you. ⠀
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To the graduating seniors: You all are resilient and certainly understand the Greek phrase inscribed at Porter’s Lodge, "Know Thyself” better than anyone. While your final semester has been challenging, your hard work matters, and will set you apart as you close your undergraduate chapter. We are inspired by your work ethic and ability to bat down any obstacles, viruses included, that come your way. Finally, we look forward to welcoming you as College of Charleston alumni very soon.⠀
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Good luck, and go Cougars!⠀
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Gage"

Today's words of encouragement are from Arts Management alum, Kiana Kim '15. Kiana is the Director of Production at the Charleston Gaillard Center.⠀
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"We are all creatives in this industry we've chosen to be a part of. We share a love for art, partnership, and most importantly community. In this time of uncertainty, please know that you are not alone in your fears or anxieties. Remember that this pandemic has not taken away our ability to empathize. Check in with your loved ones frequently. Check in with yourself frequently. As a community of creatives, I know we all have it in us to progress and overcome the obstacles ahead of us. ⠀
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"I encourage you all to dream. Invest in your ideas and don't be afraid to share them. Arts organizations around the world need your creativity and your ideas! Take advantage of this time and reach out to organizations you're interested in. Research the careers you maybe see yourself in and ask questions! Ask yourself, "What is the dream and how do I get there?" Invest in relationships and your network will grow! One of the greatest pieces of advice I received while I was a student was to invest in each other. Your classmates will be your biggest advocates when you graduate! You'll celebrate together when you land that dream job or you'll lift each other up when life takes an unexpected turn. Take time to get to know your professors, and if you're lucky enough, they will be a mentor and a friend you'll cherish for life.⠀
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“As a former student of The College and an alumni of the Arts Management Program, I know many of you are in the same position I was being a full-time student, working, interning, AND volunteering. I know it may feel impossible to balance it all, but don't forget to cherish this time of growth! You got this! Rooting for you all and know that I am in your corner! Lots of love -- Kiana"

Today's words of encouragement are from Arts Management alum, GP McLeer '10. GP is the Mayor of Fountain Inn, SC, and the Executive Director of the SC Arts Alliance.⠀
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"Don’t lose focus y’all! Regardless of where you are in your collegiate journey, use this time to do four things:⠀
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1) Observe: Watch what is happening to the industry right now. Take note of how artists and creative companies pivot, or don’t pivot.⠀
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2) Tune Your Voice: In this digital world, you have the ability to work on defining your voice to the outside world (corporate world or personally). Build that personal website, work on the resume, push out some content on your unique takeaways during this time. ⠀
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3) Network: Just because the coffee shop isn’t letting you come inside, or happy hours are only happening in your home doesn’t mean you have to stop networking. Folks are more comfortable than ever right now “meeting” and talking virtually. Expand your network during this time as best you can, because, recession or not, you’ll have to lean on that network after graduation.⠀
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4) Get Creative: As you’re watching how this industry reacts to this global pandemic, find avenues for innovation and creative solutions. There will be a demand for the industry to pivot long term - whether it's making operations go digital, or finding ways to monetize digital engagement in the arts. Use your voice and your network and maybe you’ll find a unique opportunity for yourself. ⠀
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And don’t forget to find a creative outlet for yourself during this time! ⠀
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Stay strong, Cougars and let us know how we can help!"

Today's words of encouragement are from Arts Management alum, Tyana Woodard '18! Tyana is currently employed at General Assembly Artist Management (Music Industry).⠀
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"Hello Cougars! I hope you are enjoying your time at the College of Charleston. I know sometimes things get tough and you wish you were done already, but please slow down and take it all in. This time goes by so fast, so work hard but take time to make great memories! I was a first time college student, working almost full time while enrolled in school full time and participating in internships, and I know many of you are in that same position. I know first hand how overwhelming it can get, and I just want you to know you’re going to get through this, and you and your family are going to be so proud in the end! Keep pushing! Sending you lots of love and positivity!"⠀
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(This photo was taken backstage at the legendary Apollo Theater! Tyana says that this was "an opportunity that came from my job in the field I love and with the degree I worked hard for!")

In lieu of our originally scheduled in-person alumni panel tonight, we will be sharing some words of encouragement from Arts Management alumni every day this week! First up is Joshua Bristow '19, who works as the Development and Marketing Associate for The Yard in Martha's Vineyard.


"No one would have thought that the entire world would have flipped upside down like it's done now. This has only added more weight to the life of a student. I try to take an online dance class or work on some choreography, just to get outside and emote physically. Surprisingly, it's one of the few things keeping me sane! Whatever your creative practice is, the world needs your art now more than ever before.


“Post-graduation plans may seem bleak, but I would recommend taking this time to work on your resume and prepare for when the world, and more specifically, the arts industry, returns to normalcy. During my last semester at The College, I regularly met with my professors and the Career Center to help prepare myself for the professional world. Also, take this time to expand your network! Reach out to organizations, people in your network, and the members of your current community to learn more about what you hope to do when you graduate. I am always happy to talk with anyone and connect them with other people within my performing arts community. Take it day by day and we'll get through this -- together."

Joshua is also using this time to take some free online courses: an Arts and Culture Strategy course from UPenn and a Introduction to Computer Science course from Harvard. Courses like these can help fill your time after CofC classes are over and are a great addition to your resume!

COVID-19 Relief Fund to Give $10 Million to Artists

https://www.artforum.com/news/covid-19-relief-fund-to-give-10-million-to-artists-82702

artforum.com A coalition of more than twenty national arts funders has launched an emergency relief fund that will provide millions of dollars to artists struggling financially in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States, which has more than 400,000 confirmed cases of the virus. The Andrew W. Mello...

[03/16/20]   As per the directive from the College of Charleston and recommendations from DHEC and the CDC related to Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), our event planned for Monday, March 23, IN THE MIX: A Conversation with Ranky Tanky will be postponed until further notice.

If you have an Eventbrite ticket already, it will be honored at a future date. We will be in touch with more information as we are able to confirm details. Thank you for your patience and flexibility during this time.

This week is Arts Advocacy Week! Dr. Kate Keeney and a delegation of Arts Management students represented the College of Charleston at the South Carolina Arts Summit in Columbia. On Thursday, they joined over 100 advocates at the Statehouse to meet with legislators and speak with them about how to support the arts in 2020.
College of Charleston

Join Arts Management Alumni Chelsea Riley tomorrow for the Blackbaud social media takeover! Go over to our Instagram to check it out!

Celebrate the College of Charleston’s 250th anniversary by making a gift to the Arts Management Program on CofC Day!
https://cofcday.cofc.edu/campaigns/arts-management #CofCDAY! #CofC250 College of Charleston Giving

The Post and Courier

Congratulations, Ranky Tanky! 🎉🎈🎊

Ranky Tanky won in the Best Regional Roots Music Album category for its sophomore release “Good Time.”

College of Charleston - School of the Arts

We're cheering on Ranky Tanky for a Grammy win today! The band includes College of Charleston alumni Clay Ross '98, Quentin Baxter '98 and Kevin Hamilton '95 + talented musicians Quiana Parler and Charlton Singelton.
Visit grammy.com starting at 3:30pm (EST) to stream the premier ceremony where the award for "Best Regional Roots Music Album" will be announced at approximately 4:30pm.
#rankytanky #cofcalumni

College of Charleston Giving

CofC Day is less than one week away. Check out cofcday.cofc.edu for a sneak peak!

CofC Day, our first 24-hour day of giving, is only one week away. Are you ready? Check out cofcday.cofc.edu to get a sneak peek of the fun!

In Fall 2019, adjunct Arts Management instructor Lori Kornegay curated the exhibition Nature / Nurture, which opened on November 8, 2019 and will run through January 11, 2020 at the Jones Carter Gallery and TRAX Visual Arts Center in Lake City, SC. Nature / Nurture highlights the work of seven artists, focusing on pieces that explore – through form, material, subject, and concept – our complicated, interdependent relationship with the natural world. Whether through still-life painting or landscape photography, a focus on natural materials, or use of animals and plant life as subject matter, these artists utilize nature as a relatable vehicle for communicating ideas and emotions and building forms which can connect with the viewer on a universal and, at times, primal level. The work in the exhibition grapples with the unique connection we each have with the natural world and reveals discoveries embedded in that bond. Artists featured in the exhibit include Clay Burnette, Michael Cassidy, Craig Crawford, Adrian Rhodes, Jeff Rich, Joe Walters, and Fletcher Williams I. Photos courtesy of Lori Kornegay.
@ College of Charleston