HISTORY OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA ARTS ALLIANCE
In 1979, the South Carolina Arts Commission's (SCAC) Director, Rick George, and staff coordinator, Jay Williams, arranged a meeting with several arts council directors from various areas of the state. A group of eight met at Table Rock State Park to discuss how an alliance could be formed with the South Carolina Arts Commission which could help the local arts councils. In late 1979, an organization was formed and named the South Carolina Alliance of Community Arts Agencies. By-laws were ratified in 1982, stating the purpose of the corporation to be the promotion and development of cultural activities in South Carolina. In 1985, the South Carolina Alliance of Community Arts Agencies was renamed The South Carolina Arts Alliance, Inc. (SCAA).

Originally designed as a vehicle for networking among a small group of arts council administrators, the Alliance developed over the years into a much more broadly-based organization whose members are arts administration professionals, artists, educators, business and community leaders. The Alliance is committed to advancing the arts and arts education in South Carolina initiating communication between its arts constituency, elected officials, and policy-makers, assuring that the arts always have a voice. Through technical assistance, we assist arts organizations to strengthen their administrative skills and better serve their communities.

Goals of the organization include:

• cultivating a statewide environment in which arts can flourish
• stimulating economic development through the arts
• encouraging quality arts education
• eliciting business participation
• creating jobs in the arts industry
• advocating for arts-related funding with state and national legislators

The SCAA has played a key role in promoting the "Arts in Basic Curriculum" Project in South Carolina. It also regularly conducts a needs assessments and gathers information in order to serve as a resource to local arts agencies. The Alliance offers consultancies and workshops on a variety of topics to new and emerging arts organizations. Working in conjunction with the South Carolina Arts Commission with the aim of supporting the Commission's growth, development, and service to its constituency, the Alliance co-sponsors a statewide conference on the arts, legislative advocacy activities and other initiatives in technical assistance and support. Public awareness campaigns are another on-going part of the work of the SCAA. One of the most successful, still producing lively responses is the "Put Your Heart in the Arts" media blitz.

The first SCAA President was Ellen Dressler, currently executive director of the Office of Cultural Affairs with the City of Charleston. She was followed by:

• Bobbi Wheless - Greenville
• Buddy Johnson - Chapin
• Diane Abbey - Charleston
• Aubrey Bowie - Camden
• Nancy Howell - Lancaster
• Vicki Cook - Rock Hill
• Cassandra Baker - Spartanburg (was not able to take office due to illness)
• Diane Abbey - interim
• Ernst Hesterberg - Salem
• Susan Harper - Camden (1994-1996)
• Dr. Roy Fluhrer - Greenville (1996-98)
• Everett G. Powers - Spartanburg (1998-00)
• Charles (Charlie) W. Boswell - Orangeburg (2000 - 2002)
• Kimberly H. Spears – Anderson (2002-2004)
• Michael W. Haga – Charleston (current)

In 1985, the Alliance hired a part-time coordinator, and a full-time director. Due to a lack of funding, the position was discontinued after six months. In 1987, Kay Teer was hired as a paid, part-time project coordinator through a grant from the SCAC and its Arts in Basic Curriculum (ABC) Project until her resignation. In October 1989, Betty Plumb was contracted through the Alliance to build, maintain and coordinate the arts education advocacy network as well as a network for state arts funding on a half-time paid position. In September 1991, she was contracted as project coordinator of a technical assistance initiative to rural, underserved local arts agencies through a second grant from the SCAC on a half-time paid basis. On February 24. 1994, the SCAA Board of Directors voted to change her title to Executive Director as she serves as full-time, paid staff.

During the FY of 1995-96, the SC Arts Alliance applied and received it’s first direct grant from the National Endowment for the Arts in the amount of $17,000 (over two years) for a new technical assistance initiative called the Outreach Network Technical Assistance Program (ON-TAP). The project was to establish a Peer Advisory Network of outstanding arts administrators who have been trained as consultants to their peers across the state, and continues today. On May 7, 1996, the South Carolina Arts Alliance received the official Governor's Award for the Arts in the category of Out-standing Arts Organization, the 1996 Elizabeth O'Neill Verner Award.

The South Carolina Arts Alliance continues to be an effective statewide assembly for the advancement of the arts and arts education in South Carolina. It draws a wide variety of arts organizations into a community of effective advocacy and credibility with service to its constituency.