An Update From the Director of the Mauldin Cultural Center

Walls are being painted, lights are being installed, boulders are being placed, grass is being laid out, dirt is being moved and pavement is being…well, paved. We’re pretty busy around here nowadays. Two construction projects are underway – one to completely change our outdoor landscaping and another to revamp our auditorium space to better accommodate performances and events.

As more people notice bulldozers in our front lawn, we are constantly asked this one question:

So what’s the overall plan for this place?

So let me answer that for you…

First off, something to note is that the “Mauldin Cultural Center” is both a physical building and a nonprofit organization. The nonprofit, of which I am the executive director, manages all events that occur in the facility, which is owned by the City of Mauldin. The City and the “MCC” work together daily towards the same goal to develop the building into a budding arts venue for the citizens of Mauldin and the Upstate. That’s how we work at our core.

But getting back to the original question – the ‘plan’ for this place is simple at its heart – to enhance the quality of life in Mauldin through the arts and to develop the original school building into a venue that can carry this out. How are we doing this? Here’s a run down:

Programming:
Without getting into too much boring logistical, legal, and adminstrative jargon – we are constantly on the lookout on what to offer here and how to do it. We’ve added a summer concert series (two years running), host over 1,000 people every month, numerous private rentals, even more business meeting rentals and a number of classes. But overall our goal is to offer the general public something they can’t get anywhere else. You can always go to the Peace Center and see a concert, or go to Fountain Inn for a musical or go downtown Greenville to a gallery opening – but we’re developing programming for 2012 that you can’t get there.

Because of construction and the fact that November is a pretty slow month for our classes and rentals and December typically gets packed with private parties, we are holding off on major new programming until 2012. But it is well worth the wait. Things to look forward to include monthly concerts and/or performances, local artist exhibits, a wide array of classes, workshops, a theatre series, our summer concert series (in a new amphitheater), and some public art projects.

Through innovative programming and unique offerings we will create a creative atmosphere in Mauldin that will bring people together, help identify a community and create some great art.

Shared Goals with the City of Mauldin:

 Mauldin, SC has never really had a "downtown" unfortunately. Many cities in America have a defined ‘Main Street’ that the city centers itself around. Due to the trends related to the mills, railroad and Upstate development, Mauldin has grown with the times and not around an anchor. Mauldin has always been a great place to live and work and has grown tremendously over the years and the Mauldin Cultural Center is poised to help create that anchor to keep the growth consistent.

Developing a community center that revolves around the arts has always been a trend in the US, but is only recently being used knowingly and willingly – and it works. Some area examples are Fountain Inn, Greenwood and even Greenville – all have knowingly used the arts to spark economic development and create a thriving downtown area. Mauldin and the MCC look to do the same. With the additions in our landscaping and improvements to our auditorium and previous work done to other rooms, we have provided Mauldin with areas to gather, learn and celebrate. We are also working to raise close to $2 million to completely renovate our Auditorium space (beyond current minor fixes). This includes a new front entrance, lobby, green room, stage, advanced lighting/sound, display areas, terrace and other phases of landscaping (see below).

In the future, our growth will spur other growth in the community-from restaurants to boutiques to galleries, the goal is to use the Cultural Center as a catalyst for Mauldin’s development.

Auditorium Renovation (long-term). Credit: LS3P

In brief, this is the plan for the Cultural Center.  By developing unique programming, we aim to create a destination for the citizens of Mauldin to experience the arts and to spur community development for the future growth of Mauldin.

We hope you will join us in this effort by attending a performance, taking a class or donating to our General Fund (tax-deductible). The Mauldin Cultural Center is here to serve the people of Mauldin, and of the Upstate – so become a pART of it today.

-George Patrick (“GP”) McLeer, Jr
  Executive Director

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