The Chapman Cultural Center is more than just a DESTINATION.
The Chapman Cultural Center provides cultural leadership for Spartanburg County through its mission of developing, strengthening, and promoting the arts, humanities and sciences throughout the community. The Center, which was constructed in 2007, is home to 8 independent non-profit organizations, including several museums, and boasts over 350,000 annual visits.
As our local arts agency, the Chapman Cultural Center provides major funding and support for many of Spartanburg’s arts and cultural organizations. Their educational programs serve more than 40,000 public and private school students throughout Spartanburg County, with residencies by professional artists in the practices of music, dance, visual arts, literature, media, theatre, and crafts.
The Chapman Cultural Center’s Community Grants Program is open to all of Spartanburg County and awards up to $5,000 per applicant whether it be individual artists and non-profits or government agencies. Mediums supported include performing, visual, literary, crafts, and folk arts. The grants are awarded quarterly and are funded in part by the South Carolina Arts Commission, which receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts and the John and Susan Bennett Memorial Arts Fund of the Coastal Community Foundation of South Carolina.
Most recently, the Chapman Cultural Center and Hub City Writers Project have partnered to create a nine-month Southern Studies Fellowship that allows an early career-writer and early career-artist to study and immerse themselves in the culture of the South. The fellows relocate to Spartanburg, to work on a collaborative project involving research, creating, teaching, and travel. This year’s fellows, writer Morgan Thomas and artist Ben Winans, will participate in educational community service projects and collaborate with academic scholars to gain a better understanding of Southern culture.
The Center hosts over 350 events a year and is currently planning for their FREE Spartanburg Soaring Kite Festival in Barnet Park on October 9, 2021. Chapman Cultural Center launched the community-wide initiative in 2014 to encourage creativity, promote healthy outdoor activity, and build civic pride. Spartanburg Soaring! uses kites as a common theme to engage others in cultural curiosity and encourage active play across the city. Enjoy exciting activities at the kid’s zone, makers market, food vendors, community organizations, in addition to the kite flying.
Expanding access to the arts in Spartanburg.
The Mayfair Art Studios, located on the west-side of town, is a division of Chapman Cultural Center that provides an affordable unique place where amateur and professional creatives can thrive. Located at the former Mayfair Mill no.1, the repurposed mill is also home to the Arcadia Station Lofts and stays true to the old mill’s former textile roots. The creative hub hosts events and free classes and workshops to engage with the community through First Fridays, a free graffiti mural park, exhibits, and professional creative studios available to lease.
Want to learn more about Chapman Cultural Center, its partners and how to support the arts in Spartanburg? Visit their website!
