Views from the Park Bench The next few issues of SCRPA magazine will feature Views from a Park Bench. This feature will highlight retired directors or recreation professionals that have been in the field for 10+ years and have them share advice, compare agencies then to now, or simply tell their story. We hope you enjoy reading and perhaps learn some things from these well-versed perspectives.
Brenda Oliver Columbia Art Center By Brenda Oliver After 10+ years, I am retiring from my position of the Program Coordinator for Columbia Art Center. For me, this is a time of reflection. When I started at this position, Columbia Art Center was just a small community pottery studio. My overall goal was to make it much more. First, I had to have a vision. My vision and goal was to make it not only to stand out in the community, but to excel at meeting the needs of the community. I looked at the facility and realized its potential down the road. I had to set 5 to 10 year goals and assess the community needs. We started by adding painting and mixed media programs, which brought in a whole new group of participants. Then, we added one of our biggest outreach programs called Creative Journey. This is a program specifically for veterans that gave us national recognition. We were also able to maintain our contact with Fort Jackson and work with active duty military families and their children with special needs.
My next goal was to move the Columbia Art Center to a new location that would provide us the space for our programs to grow and blossom. After a few years of searching, we found an amazing new facility. The next stop was to find additional staff, specifically someone who could help with this vision and bring more artists and types of arts to the community. These steps were carefully followed over the course of 10+ years and the facility is better for it. It now functions as a well-developed site that can more than adequately meet the needs of the art community. I would counsel anybody who is currently in the position I was originally, to think of these steps and take positive steps towards change. Everything is now in place for the Columbia Art Center to continue the phenomenal growth. As I retire on July 30, I have a large feeling of accomplishment at what was completed over the years and feel confident that I am leaving the program in good hands.
I have a large feeling of accomplishment at what was completed over the years and feel confident that I am leaving the program in good hands. • www.scrpa.org 8 SOUTH 8 SOUTHCAROLINA CAROLINA Recreation Recreation andand ParksParks • www.scrpa.org
