Chapman Cultural Center Recognizes Business Partners in the Arts

At Chapman Cultural Center’s annual Cultural Champions luncheon, Southeastern Printing was recognized as this year’s most appreciated business because of its support of the arts in Spartanburg for more than 30 years and Dr. Sally Dover as Teacher of the Year.

At the luncheon featuring soaring kites and music by Spartanburg School District 1 students Devin Senders and Grace Li, of more than 120 local business leaders, Director of Annual Giving Karen Parrott presented the custom-made green-glass sculpture to Southeastern’s owner Jan Caldwell via Skype.

“This year, Southeastern Printing Company is our 2014 Cultural Champion. Jan Caldwell started working at Southeastern Printing Company when he was in the 10th grade. Now, as owner, he has 12 employees – five of whom are family, including Toni, his beautiful wife, and his granddaughter Courtney.

“Southeastern Printing is truly a partner. They have championed our mission for decades. Southeastern sponsors events here at Chapman Cultural Center, and Jan and Toni are personal donors to the United Arts Fund. Corporately speaking, they have saved all of us hundreds of thousands of dollars by offering in-kind discounts for all the publications that are necessary for our programming, playbills, newsletters, classes, events, outreach and fundraising. Southeastern Printing enables us to be good stewards of the money given by donors. They increase our capacity to extend beyond our boundaries here and stretch our resources well into the community. The arts are non-profits with tight budgets, with streamlined staff, last minute needs, down to the wire, with constant changes and sometimes mistakes, mainly on our part, that they are willing to help us work out.”

In addition to announcing Southeastern’s award, the Chapman Cultural Center Teacher of the Year was announced by Beth Hrubala, Trustee and Chair of the Center’s Education Committee. “Teacher of the Year – Dr. Sally Dover — knew before all the studies came out that creativity and innovative thought can be fostered through the arts. She has been an educator for more than 45 years. She has been involved in gifted education for 30 years. She is an adjunct professor in the graduate program for Gifted Education at Converse College. Dr. Dover organized well over 420 weeks of professional artist residencies in all seven of District 6’s elementary schools through our Arts Education program.”

“In education today, I see youngsters who are afraid to try new things because they are afraid that they might fail,” Dr. Dover said. “I also see perfectionists who cannot get past an unsuccessful attempt of a project to try again at achievement. These are just two of the reasons that it is necessary to bring artists to schools. Americans have been known for their spirit of invention, their creativity, and their persistence when challenged. In the age of technology, it is important for us to remember the arts, the language of creativity. Many of our students would not have the exposure to arts, if it were not for Chapman Cultural Center that provides a myriad of opportunities for our students. Not only do we have this exemplary cultural center – home to arts, history, drama, and science, but we have the community support for activities that are provided in the schools. This organization is a primary reason of why Spartanburg is known as a center for the fine arts. Thank you for the recognition today, but thank you even more for the support that you have given me throughout my career in bringing these important tools to the children of our community.”

The attendees were welcomed by Martha “Muffet” Chapman, Chairperson of the Chapman Cultural Center Board of Trustees. “Today, we recognize all the businesses represented in the room for their exceptional involvement with the arts,” she said. “Each of you is a Cultural Champion setting the standard of excellence, enriching your workplace, enhancing education, and invigorating the community.

Chapman also acknowledged the on-going support of the arts by Milliken and Company, which was recently recognized as one of the BCA (Business Committee for the Arts) 10: Best Businesses Partnering with the Arts in America for 2014. “This award recognizes the company’s loyal and very generous financial support and its partnership in developing STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) educational programs. Milliken’s contributions inspire a deeper partnership with the arts and engage and excite students in careers in art, design and science.”

The keynote speaker was Jennifer Evins, President and CEO of Chapman Cultural Center. “Spartanburg is soaring, and the arts are leading the way! In 1994, the business community led the way to create the United Arts Campaign for Spartanburg County. We are now 18th largest United Arts Campaign in the nation. Business leaders are making giving to the arts a business priority.

“For the past 20 years, the business community has contributed over $8.5 million to the United Arts Campaign. We are investing your hard-earned dollars to strengthen our community. Over the last 20 years your investment has produced major results in peoples lives. 200,000 children have been connected to STEM. 8,000 children and adults have taken dance and movement classes keeping them physically fit and creative. It has employed 1,600 musicians and engaged over 45,000 children in learning classical music. 143,000 children have experienced live theatre. 8,000 citizens of all ages have taken art classes. 45,000 children have exposed to local history. Over 1.5 million children have benefited from an Arts Advantage because of our Muse Machine programs and our Artists In Residences! Not only are we improving people’s lives, we are strengthening our City and our County.

“Arts and culture foster beauty, creativity, originality, and vitality,” Evins continued. “The arts inspire us, sooth us, provoke us, involve us, and connect us. But they also create jobs and contribute to the economy. Over 900 creative enterprises are doing business in Spartanburg County supporting thousands of jobs, and the Cultural Center is directly returning $9.2 million dollars to our local economy. We are strengthening our people through education and improved wellbeing, and we are strengthening our community by supporting jobs, economic activity, and cultural vitality.”

The celebration ended with a poem performed by Marlanda Dekine (aka Sapient Soul), Director & Co-Found of Spoken Word Spartanburg. With great depth of emotion, she performed the poem written for the occasion.

“Art Inspired”
by Sapient Soul 2014
(c) 2014

Just yesterday, while at a stop light
I watched as a girl ran with a smile on her face
She had tied a leaf to the end of a string
She was waiting for the wind to acknowledge what she had created
Her patience was pure happiness
She believed something could be created from what many may see as nothing

This girl is an artist

In a split second, I asked myself
“Why do I meld metaphors and imagery with the prayer that a soul will see tomorrow as a screenplay of hope?”
When hope is often burdened with 12 hour shifts and not enough food for kids
Or too many corridors that folks label as the bad side of town

I realized that I too am an artist

This little girl was outside of a home
Two busted windows, glass for grass, no adult in sight
But she thought that she could make this leaf fly
When I saw her, I saw Jean Michel Basqiaut’s first muse for painting
I saw the first page of Tupac’s poetry book being written in real time
The spirits of Lorraine Hansberry, Amiri Baraka, and John Coltrane were laced within that string
She was creating light where there is so much darkness
That is what art is
That is what artists are
Blank canvas to masterpiece
Blank page to poem
Blank stage to performance
Silence to melody
We take the ellipses and make a complete sentence in a world where “ism’s” reign supreme
Art becomes sanity
Beacons in the storms
Safe haven where all come together
Art is soul and there can be no division of spirit
Art is love
This little girl flying a leaf on the Southside of town reminded me of the life lesson in the ink of my pen
Art saves lives

Always.