North Charleston - A great place to live, work or play

Cultural Arts

The Cultural Arts Department was created by City Council in 1979 to plan for and support the arts and cultural activities throughout the community. The staff of the Cultural Arts Department works with a twenty-five member advisory committee composed of citizens from a cross-section of the community. Together they strive to provide programs and services that enhance the quality of life for our citizens and assist in the economic development of our city as a desirable place to live and visit.

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Department Overview:

The North Charleston Cultural Arts Department provides a variety of programs and services that help make North Charleston a great place to live, work, and play. A vast array of multi-discipline arts, cultural, and history initiatives touch the lives of an average of 95,000 program participants each year, with an additional 200,000 people served through public facilities.

Our General Public Programs reach residents and visitors from all walks of life through a variety of free and fee-based activities throughout the year. Examples of these programs include:

• North Charleston City Gallery Exhibits, which rotate monthly
• Dinner Theatre Series for adults
• Children’s Theatre Series
• Ongoing classes and workshops in all arts disciplines
• Musical entertainment and art demonstrations at the North Charleston Farmers Market
• Visual Art and Drama Summer Arts Camps for children ages 5-13
• North Charleston Arts Festival

Outreach Programs are free programs geared to reach our city’s youth, senior citizens, low-income residents, youth at risk, and underserved populations. These programs are generally held on-site in schools and city-owned facilities Examples of these outreach initiatives include:

• Offering music, dance & theatre performances, workshops, and artist residencies for North Charleston schools
• Providing after-school arts enrichment programs in 13 North Charleston elementary schools
• Presenting patriotic music concerts for Veterans
• Supporting schools seeking to obtain state Arts in Basic Curriculum status
• Hosting an Open Studio Workshop, offered free to adults & seniors on the last Tuesday of each month
• Working with the VSA Arts of South Carolina for people with disabilities

Artist Assistance initiatives serve the dual purposes of strengthening the City's quality of life and building a strong foundation for future economic growth. Our facilities are at full capacity and we are experiencing escalating interest as City initiatives move forward to meet growing facility needs. Examples include:

• Providing artists and cultural organizations with: small grants, technical assistance, publicity assistance, affordable/donated space, information sharing, referrals, and studio/production/performance space relocation assistance
• Organizing and hosting an Annual Fine Art and Craft Co-op
• Co-sponsoring the Lowcountry Quarterly Arts Grants partnership with the City of Charleston and SC Arts Commission
• Providing opportunities for artists and fine craft artisans to sell their work at the Arts Festival, Christmas Festival, Farmers Market, and North Charleston City Gallery and Gift Shop
• Providing internships and shadowing opportunities for college students studying the arts or arts administration

Our Economic Development efforts involve active partnering with the community to develop local and regional initiatives to advance tourism and business. Examples include:

• Participating in local and state organizations that aid in the development of arts related businesses
• Working with map companies and the CVB to create residential and tourism maps
• Providing information for local, state, and national publications
• Promoting tourism development and marketing
• Providing program development information as requested for area government entities
• Assisting the local/state film industry
• Providing arts related office and studio incubator spaces
• Working with developers and merchants associations as requested

The department's City History initiatives focus on increasing public knowledge of the area's unique history, tourism development, and working as requested with city officials and contracted professionals on projects related to history, preservation, and aesthetics. Examples include:

• Establishing a City History and Archive Room in the new City Hall and developing an inventory/implementation system
• Incorporating donated historic street markers into a city park landscape
• Assisting various groups that are actively involved in the research, documentation, and appreciation of history as it pertains to our city
• Collecting appropriate photographs, documents, and other items that pertain to North Charleston

The North Charleston Cultural Arts Department is the recipient of the 2000 Elizabeth O’Neill Verner Award for the Arts and receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts, the S. C. Arts Commission, and the corporate community.

NOTE: Larger print size versions of our print materials (flyers, programs, etc.) are available upon advance request. 

City of North Charleston
Cultural Arts Department Long Range Plan
2009-2013

I.  OVERVIEW
The North Charleston Cultural Arts Department is committed to creating a multi-discipline arts initiative that reaches the community through a variety of programs prepared for the general public and visitors.  The department is aided by the members of the North Charleston Arts Advisory Committee in the development of programs and services.  Activities fall into five categories: general public, outreach, artist assistance, economic development and city history.
 
II.   MISSION STATEMENT
The purpose shall be to plan for and support arts and cultural activities throughout the community, to increase awareness of the arts in the community, and to make arts experiences available to the widest spectrum of the community.

III.   LONG RANGE PLAN
A.  COMMUNITY INPUT
GOAL
Fulfill our mission statement of serving the widest spectrum of the community by continuing to strengthen sources of grassroots input through the North Charleston Arts Advisory Committee and other sources in order to develop and maintain community based programs and services.

North Charleston Arts Advisory Committee (NCAAC)
Policy: Maintain the North Charleston Arts Advisory Committee with members who are responsive to community changes, growth, and needs.

Action:

• Continue to fill vacancies on the NCAAC with members who constitute a cross-section of the community.
• Continue to appoint NCAAC members with connections to diverse constituent population groups.
• Assign NCAAC members as needed to work with staff as liaisons with the community.
• Increase planning and implementation involvement by NCAAC members in order to aid staff with growth in programs and services.
• Increase visibility of the NCAAC through involvement and recognition at special events.

Community Contacts
Policy: Strengthen dialog, support and coordination between the North Charleston Cultural Arts Department and community contacts from general population organizations, outreach groups, arts organizations, historic organizations, government, and business organizations.

Action:     

• Continue to work with liaisons and city staff coordinators for youth and senior citizen programs.
• Develop new liaisons as opportunities arise.

B. CULTURAL POGRAMS/SERVICES

GOAL
Provide cultural programs and services which enhance the quality of life for our citizens and assist in the economic development of our city as a desirable place to live and visit through the provision of general public programs, outreach programs, artist assistance and arts initiatives that aid economic development.

General Public
Policy: Plan for and implement a broad scope of multi-discipline art programs and service that reaches all sectors of the general public and visitors.

Action:       

• Continue to evaluate and add/delete general public programs and services based on response from the public, artists, liaisons, arts advisory committee and staff.
• Continue to expand community participatory opportunities through support of community based art guilds/clubs, theater, music, dance, literary and media groups based on community response.
• Provide skill learning opportunities through affordable classes geared for youth   through senior citizens. 
• Continue to expand enrichment opportunities through support of professional performances and art exhibitions add other art forms.
• Develop new programs based on evaluations and expressed community needs.

Outreach
Policy: Make arts accessible to the broadest spectrum of the community through outreach programs.

Action:

• Continue to evaluate and add/delete outreach programs and services based on response from the public, artists, outreach liaisons, arts advisory committee and staff.
• Provide Outreach programs for target populations. Increase service to special outreach groups by means of the Artist-in-Residence Program incorporating all art forms.
• Encourage arts in our schools through fine art competitions with awards.
• Encourage arts education through support of professional youth art series.
• Provide space as requested by teachers/instructors for classes or training.

Artist Assistance
Policy: Assist the development of local art groups and individual artists.

Action:

• Continue to provide art groups/artists assistance through: sub-granting; technical assistance; donated and/or affordable space for art groups/artists to produce and/or showcase their art form. 
• Continue to provide donated and/or affordable space for art groups/artists to produce and/or showcase their art form.
• Continue to provide employment opportunities by using qualified local artists in our programs and provide referrals.
• Increase assistance with publicity through training or actual PSA and Press Release production.
• Facilitate professional art groups/artists seeking training/development in their respective art forms.
• Provide grants/in-kind assistance for qualified art groups or individual artists who want to develop art programs or art services in the city.
• Continue referral assistance for artists working to locate or expand their operations in North Charleston if the city does not own the space they need.
• Increase assistance with publicly through training or actual PSA and Press Release production.
• Expand joint marketing/tourism development opportunities for groups working with the city.
• Facilitate art groups/artist in the production of art forms not common to our area.
• Provide information and encourage the development of housing targeted to artists.
• Co-administer with City of Charleston the SC Arts Commissions Small Grants Program for the tri-county.  Assist with local matching funds.

Economic Development
Policy: Support the City’s economic development efforts to revitalize and develop areas of the City of North Charleston utilizing the arts and history.

Action:

• Continue to represent the cultural arts and city history by serving, as requested, on city, regional or state committees dealing with projects involving economic development, planning and tourism.
• Continue as directed to advance the city’s economic development efforts to revitalize and develop the city utilizing the arts and the city's history including:  city beautification, tourism, farmers market, city marketing, development/redevelopment, Heritage Corridor historic markers and related businesses/residential.
• Continue to promote the City of North Charleston through promotions of cultural and history related activities taking place in various locations in the city.
• Continue to assist arts related businesses which are interested in locating/relocating to the city.
• Work to expand efforts to develop arts related incubator spaces and continue to work with developers and merchants associations and community groups as requested.
• Maintain active staff memberships in pertinent cultural arts and history organizations and coordinate efforts to develop and market the area collectively.
• Support local and statewide efforts, which lead to strengthening the arts and historic industry locally and statewide.

C. HISTORIC POGRAMS/SERVICES
GOAL
Provide historic programs and services which enhance the quality of life for our citizens and assist in the economic development of our city as a desirable place to live and visit through the promotion of North Charleston's history, protection of historic properties, and improved land use and development policies.

Promote North Charleston's Local History
Policy: Preserve the character of historic neighborhoods and districts.

Action:

• Adopt the proposed Olde North Charleston Historic District and Neighborhood Conservation District to preserve the character of the area, and prevent incompatible development.
• Identify additional neighborhoods where historic overlay districts should be established.
• Create an Architectural/Design Review Board to ensure quality design and contextual appropriateness of new construction and rehabs.

Policy: Create a unique sense of place in the different areas of the city.
Action:

• Create unique street signage for each neighborhood.
• Identify development and unique building characteristics to incorporate into design standards for new and redeveloped properties.
• Improve development and design standards along commercial corridors.

Policy: Educate the public of North Charleston’s unique history.

Action: Create a North Charleston Museum to showcase the city’s history and natural environment, as well as to house its historical records and artifacts.

Protect Existing Historic Properties
Policy: Preserve historic structures with historical importance or architectural relevance.

Action:

• Identify historic structures eligible for designation on the National Register of Historic Properties
• Hire an historic preservation consultant to perform an update to the 1995 historic survey

Policy: Encourage adaptive reuse of under-utilized historic buildings

Action: Provide tax incentives for renovation and adaptive reuse of historic structures

Improve North Charleston's Image, Sense of Character, and Physical Aesthetics
Policy: Improve the aesthetic quality of commercial corridors.

Action:       

• Create commercial corridor overlay zones to promote architectural, landscaping, and signage uniformity through design guidelines.
• Increase the area of current roadway overlays to preserve more natural buffer. 

Policy: Create a better 'sense of place' and history throughout the city.

Action:

• Continue to develop 'gateway' entrances into the city with monumental signage and distinct landscaping.
• Add way-finding signage and unique street signage for historic areas/neighborhoods to help promote history.

D. RESOURCES
GOAL
Provide an adequate amount of properly designed and equipped cultural and historic facilities and outdoor venues, funding, and properly trained personnel to house and administer cultural and historic programs and services which enhance the quality of life for our citizens and assist in the economic development of our city as a desirable place to live and visit

Facilities and Outdoor Venues
Policy: Provide a high-quality civic and cultural arts complex that will be a source of community pride.

Action: Continue to move forward with the restoration of the Power House on the former Naval Base. 

Policy: Continue to maintain and develop the number and types of facilities and outdoor venues designed to house a variety of cultural and historic events throughout the remaining portions of the city.

Action:

• Keep city officials informed with program/service growth and community use to establish the need for additional facilities and venues.
• Work to have the city's public buildings and outdoor spaces designed and developed in ways to be utilized for cultural events and reflective of city history where appropriate.
• Continue to use schools, city playgrounds, parks, malls, churches, business districts, and other appropriate facilities.
• Develop joint use/joint funding agreements with schools, county parks, and other appropriate agencies.
• Encourage interested developers to incorporate facilities and outdoor venues as appropriate and provide information to assist them as requested.

Personnel
Policy: Provide an adequate number of trained personnel to maintain and develop cultural and historic programs and services throughout all portions of the city.

Action:       

• Keep city officials informed with program/service growth and community use to establish the need for additional personnel.
• Investigate and develop other sources to augment staff.
• Continue to hire employees with the appropriate training and experience.
• Provide staff development training opportunities in order to enhance professional skills and maximize efficiency.
• Continue to develop appropriate partnering and volunteer opportunities. 
• Expand the use of college interns as appropriate.

Finances
Policy: Provide adequate funding, in-kind donations and related management policies to address the associated costs to maintain and develop cultural and historic programs and services throughout all portions of the city.

Action:

• Keep city officials informed with program/service growth and community use to establish the need for additional funding at the level needed to meet changes in the cost of programs/services, personnel, and operating/facility expenses.
• Investigate and develop funding sources to augment the city's budgets allocations for the Cultural Arts Department: earned income, in-kind donations, corporate support, grants, partnerships, co-sponsorships.
• Continue to evaluate programs and practices to maximize efficiency and eliminate unnecessary waste.