Greenville’s Metropolitan Arts Council Supports Arts in All Forms
Sponsored by: Metropolitan Arts Council, Greenville, SC
Greenville, South Carolina, is full of creativity that contributes to a bourgeoning arts scene – from visual and performing arts to literary arts and even arts education. The Metropolitan Arts Council (MAC) exists to support individuals, organizations and schools through grants, resources and advocacy.
“We’re a financial granting agency for the arts in Greenville, supporting every discipline,” says Alice Ratterree, director of marketing at MAC. “But we also like to think of ourselves as Greenville’s ‘visitor center’ for the arts. We help people get involved in the community, whether as a supporter or as an artist.”
The backbone of MAC is its quarterly grants program. Funds are awarded to individual artists, arts organizations and schools to help expand programs and ensure the arts remain a significant factor in Greenville’s cultural fabric.
In 2024, over $600,000 in grants were awarded. These funds are vital to the community, but grants are just one of MAC’s offerings. Located in downtown Greenville at 16 Augusta Street, MAC is open to visitors Monday through Friday, operating as an information hub for local arts and hosting a gallery featuring exhibits by local artists.
Sample the Arts with the ARTcard
“Our goal is to inspire the enthusiast to partner with us in sustaining Greenville’s arts culture, and the most popular gateway to that is the ARTcard,” says Ratterree. For a $50 donation, patrons can receive a buy-one, get-one-free ticket to seven partnering organizations: Centre Stage, Greenville Chorale, Greenville Symphony Orchestra, Greenville Theatre, Peace Center, South Carolina Children’s Theatre and the Warehouse Theatre. “The ARTcard is a great way to sample Greenville’s major performing arts venues while knowing your donation goes directly to supporting the arts.”
A few other MAC programs include SmartARTS, which trains teachers to incorporate arts-integrated units in Greenville County schools; Flat Out Under Pressure, a 24-hour competition challenging visual artists to create a piece in one day; and First Fridays, where galleries are open to the public from 6 to 9 p.m. the first Friday of each month.
“Our largest visual art event is Greenville Open Studios. Held each November, it’s a primary tourist draw and continues to grow,” says Ratterree.
Over 150 artists open their studios to visitors who can watch them work, purchase art and ask questions. In 2024, more than 27,000 people visited 157 artists, resulting in $434,748 in sales and commissions.
Alan Ethridge has been executive director at MAC since 2006. “The growth of MAC over the past 20 years coincides with Greenville’s growing tourism industry and the major growth of our entire geographic area,” he says. “It’s predicated on the civic pride that Greenvillians have in the city’s amazing array of cultural amenities. Our arts community is more vibrant than those in much larger cities, and that’s something we’re really proud of.”
Support the Arts in Greenville
Artists, Greenville citizens and visitors can learn more about the programs and resources MAC offers or support Greenville arts with a donation by visiting greenvillearts.com or by calling 864-467-3132.