Chapman Cultural Center: Partner Organizations

There are currently eight “Partner Organizations” that make up The Arts Partnership of Greater Spartanburg. Each of these organizations represent, promote, and hold expertise in a cultural discipline, be it visual art at large, local visual art, dance, local history, theatre, science, music, local folk art, or musical theatre. For the most part, each of these organizations operate independently, setting their own creative direction, developing programs, and conducting day to day business. However, as a collective, these Partners come under that administrative umbrella of “The Arts Partnership.” This administrative entity oversees the upkeep of the Chapman Cultural Center, raises funds for the Partners in the form of yearly allocations, heads up an extensive community-wide educational program, and promotes/markets the facility, which offers community programs not specifically spearheaded by one of the Partners. Very often, through creative collaboration, two or more of Partners will come together on special projects, such as live performances. The Arts Partnership has created localized synergy at the Chapman Cultural Center in downtown Spartanburg.

The Arts Partnership of Greater Spartanburg is proud to serve as the central driving force in our community’s dynamic cultural life. Over the last twenty years, The Arts Partnership has become the fourth largest arts organization in South Carolina. In 2008, more than 614,000 people participated in events we supported. Our interactive educational programs in art, science, and history serve more than 46,000 students in the schools of Spartanburg County. And our new Chapman Cultural Center provides the premier venue for established performing arts groups and the launch pad for exciting new cultural series and initiatives. Our annual goal is to raise $1.2 million that provides operating support for nine cultural organizations. Currently our average grant represents 37% of the yearly budget for the following cultural institutions:

    Artists's Guild of Spartanburg
    Ballet Spartanburg
    Carolina Foothills Artisan Center
    Spartanburg Art Museum
    Spartanburg County Historical Association
    Spartanburg Little Theatre & Spartanburg Youth Theatre
    Spartanburg Science Center
    The Music Foundation of Spartanburg