GREENVILLE CENTER FOR CREATIVE ARTS capital campaigns to follow. After its opening in May, the Center will be ready to welcome students to already-scheduled classes starting May 11 in media including jewelry, sculpture, drawing, painting, and fiber arts. Students may sign up in person or online for classes. For Cherington, who recently moved back to her hometown of Greenville after living and working in Manhattan and Asia, the opportunity to lead such a transformative entity allows her to use her skills in development, public relations, and public policy for an important cause. “Art, and the ability to communicate through art, is of the utmost importance, and it’s so effective in creating community,” says Cherington, who is married to artist Darin R. Gehrke. The couple, along with their 3.5-year-old daughter, are enjoying Greenville and the joy of reconnecting with family and friends. Pictured L to R: Director of Operations Allen Armstrong, Executive Director Cherington Love Shucker, and Founders Rebecca Romanek Johnson, Linda Furman, Don Kilburg, Tracy T. Hardaway, Carrie Burns Brown, Randy Armstrong, Pat Kilburg, Bryant C. Brown and Earle Furman.
25 Draper St., Greenville artcentergreenville.org | 864.735.3948
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There’s a new anchor for the visual arts community coming, and it’s located in the Village of West Greenville at the historic Brandon Mill under development by Pace Burt. The Greenville Center for Creative Arts, comprising two buildings on the site for a total of 77,000 square feet, will offer public art classes for children and adults, private and community art studios, and art exhibits and events when it opens May 1. “When the Greenville County Museum of Art school closed, it created a void,” says Executive Director Cherington Love Shucker. “Our founders saw that access to art-making for everyone is a fundamental need of a healthy community.” The ambitious project has been in the planning for a year, and Cherington credits the strong board of founders for its serious approach to creating the building blocks for an entity that will stand as their legacy for years to come. “They did a phenomenal job in their research and making the case that a Center was needed,” she says. The board, staff and volunteer leaders are mindful as well that the Center will draw 1500 to 3000 students yearly to the historic neighborhood, and contribute to its vitality further by attracting visitors during First Fridays events and Greenville Open Studios sponsored by the Metropolitan Arts Council, as well as other events and exhibits. “The response from the Greenville community has been great. We’ve heard so many say they’re delighted that we’re moving forward so quickly,” Cherington relates, adding that the start-up money has been raised, with
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