Arts can enhance a city in many ways — from fueling the local economy and cultural scene to offering an outlet for creativity to simply improving the quality of life for residents.
Just ask Newberry, which began its arts program in 2014 in a small space — basically a hallway and one classroom building. The community response was tremendous, and the Newberry Arts Center has now expanded repeatedly to meet the growing demand.
“The City of Newberry not only saw the popularity of the arts program, but also saw how it served the community in many positive ways,” said Marquerite F. Palmer, director of the Newberry Arts Center. “Engaging in the arts brings people together who would not have otherwise met. This helps to grow a stronger community, as people learn about others who are from different backgrounds.”
The NAC grew first to a larger spot in downtown, where it stayed for several years as it added programs. But as the interest grew, the city looked for a permanent home where programs could flourish. It found it in a Main Street property, built in the late 1950s, which served as a grocery store and later a newspaper office.
That expansion moved NAC programming from 3,000 to 16,000 square feet, Palmer said.
“Finally, NAC could offer larger classes so we did not have to turn people away. We can also offer many classes at the same time, something we only dreamed of doing before,” she said.
Once the city purchased and refurbished the building, Palmer said it was “reborn like a chrysalis into a butterfly …. Once the old facade was peeled away it transformed into a modern and beautifully inviting place where many more people could take part in creating, learning and growing through the arts. Our city manager, Jason Taylor, says that ‘this building once fed our bodies, then it fed our minds and now it feeds our souls.’”
The center offers classes and workshops in many art mediums: drawing, oil, pottery, sewing, quilting and watercolor. There are free community art activities along with art classes and summer camps led by professional artists. The center hosts the three-day South Carolina Clay Conference each February, featuring nationally recognized clay artists.
Since moving to the new building in January 2026, program participation is on track to more than double by the end of this year.
Funding came from accommodations and hospitality taxes, the city’s economic development set-aside funds, its general fund and a state appropriation. The center also is helped through CREATE Newberry, a 501(c)3 formed in 2020 to raise funds for scholarships to NAC classes and programs. As the art programs grew, CREATE began providing funds to pay for guest artists and to offset the cost of more expensive classes.
During renovations of the new building, Palmer said, “it became clear that CREATE would need to provide the funds to purchase all the art furniture, equipment, chairs, stage and many other items needed in the building. In September 2025, CREATE began a capital campaign with a goal to raise $712,000 to provide everything needed inside the building as well as create an engaging plaza area with sculptures and seating in front of the building. A mural will soon be going up on the building, also provided through the capital campaign.”
The Arts Center of Greenwood also found its home by renovating and reusing an old building. Greenwood’s Federal Building was constructed around 1909 – 1911, and was originally used as a post office and federal courthouse. Various tenants used it in the late 20th century. In 2006, after a community-driven major capital campaign, the historic building reopened with 25,000 square feet of space for the arts.
The center includes gallery space, a ceramics studio, resident artist studios, classrooms, a courtyard garden and a visitor center. It offers seasonal art classes, camps, workshops, lectures and tours.
For Sylvia Martin, executive director of the Arts Center of Greenwood, the center helps create a strong sense of identity and pride while helping make Greenwood “a vibrant place to live, work and visit.”
“Having grown up in Greenwood and spent years creating and leading programs at the Arts Center, I’ve had the privilege of seeing how deeply the arts can touch people’s lives,” Martin said. “Our arts center is more than a place for art. It is a gathering place where neighbors come together, young people discover their creativity, local artists find a voice, and our community celebrates diverse people and stories.”
Greenwood also was helped by its selection as one of the state’s 12 cultural districts by the SC Arts Commission. The designation gave Greenwoodan opportunity to build on what it had created, while partnerships between local businesses and artists have flourished.
Martin said the renovation of the Arts Center became a catalyst for revitalization throughout Greenwood.
“Once we made that investment, it helped build momentum for the renovation of [Greenwood’s] museum and [community] theater, and eventually the improvements to our Uptown streetscape,” she said. “Today, you can really see the impact.”
In Mauldin, a cultural center was the first step toward creating a true city center, said Gina McAtee, the city’s cultural and tourism manager. Although well located near major highways, Mauldin has historically lacked a traditional downtown.
In 2003, the city purchased a building that had housed both Mauldin High and Mauldin Elementary schools, with plans to develop the Mauldin Cultural Center. It became the hub for the city, she said.
The center is home to community groups, arts education programming including classes in painting and pottery along with guitar, piano, ballroom dancing and voice. The center also houses the Public Art Trail, the Mauldin City Singers and the Mauldin Theatre Company. The city’s festivals and events take place at the amphitheater behind the building.
The cultural center is funded by the city, operating under the Community Development Department. A staff of four full-time and two part-time employees oversees the facility, events and theatre program, McAtee said.
Community partnerships are also key, with the center building relationships through festivals and theatre programs. Outside of sponsorships, ticket sales from theatre performances serve as a primary revenue source. Now in its 10th season, the Mauldin Theatre Company is producing six main-stage productions and additional performances each year.
The center works closely with the Greater Mauldin Chamber of Commerce, housed onsite, as well as many local businesses and organizations.
“We believe partnerships should be a two-way street. While collaborations help us grow our programming, they also allow us to give back to the community we serve,” she said. “We donate theatre tickets and summer camp vouchers to local nonprofits and fundraisers, have partnered with local food banks to donate food and reduce waste following our annual BBQ Cook-Off, and collaborate on community-wide toy drives, clothing drives and other charitable efforts.”
McAtee said cities looking to start a city-sponsored arts center should seek input and listen to their community, even on something as simple as booking a band.
“We've booked new bands for our concert series just because our community suggested them and the response to that is overwhelming,” she said. “We then establish a great rapport with our residents and get to bring them something they enjoy. After all, everything we do is for the community.”