Dear Spartanburg Day School Learning Community,
The air across Skylyn Drive is vibrant with creativity, signaling a moment of significant excitement and forward momentum for the Spartanburg Day School Arts program, centered on the newly dedicated Valerie M. Barnet Theatre. This year, the focus is squarely on Building Community Through the Arts, making every event, performance, and exhibition an open invitation to experience the creativity and spirit of our students. This mission is already being realized, as evening performances, such as those for Sleepy Hollow, have averaged more than 125 guests each night, successfully filling the Barnet Theatre with excitement. Furthermore, the arts continue to serve as one of the strongest bridges between SDS and the greater Spartanburg community, confirming that the arts are an equal partner to academics and athletics in shaping the mind, body, and spirit of our students.
Our institutional commitment to growth and strategic focus drives this forward momentum in community outreach. Sam Mitchell continues to focus completely on her vital role as the Mildred Harrison Dent Endowed Chair and Coordinator of Fine Arts, signaling a commitment to elevate and expand the Arts at SDS. We have witnessed remarkable participation in community-building events, such as this year's Empty Bowls, where over 380 bowls were created across two sessions and 48 guests from outside the SDS community were welcomed onto campus. To manage this growth and streamline our operations, we are now utilizing Eventbrite for all theatre seating and ticket reservations in the Barnet Theatre, which simplifies entry and monitors capacity.
The depth of our program and visible student dedication are evident in numerous current projects and collaborations. Our current exhibition, Wilds Within by Genevieve Strickland, is on view in the Mildred Harrison Dent Gallery. As part of her artist residency, Genevieve has been working directly with eighth-grade art students, guiding them through projects exploring themes of nature and observation, which exemplifies the Dent Difference in action. The closing reception in November will feature both her work and original pieces by our eighth-grade art students. Furthering this interdisciplinary focus, we are thrilled to welcome Marcus Amaker, Poet Laureate of Charleston, on November 4, to lead creative writing workshops with eighth-grade English classes and lecture on his interdisciplinary work as a maker. These diverse opportunities, alongside preparations for the Lower and Middle School production of Annie Jr. in February and the early morning performances of our Jazz band, empower students to explore their interests and passions.
As we continue on our Strategic Path to be the top-tier independent school of the Upstate, the Arts program is central to our success. By engaging students in these immersive, active experiences—part of our overall Learning Lived approach—we are fostering the development of skills necessary for a life well lived. The commitment to expanding our audience and deepening community partnerships reinforces our goal of cultivating graduates who are Purposeful, Confident, and Discerning. We are excited about the progress made and look forward to the continued forward momentum, especially as we partner with Admissions to offer a day in late February/early March for prospective students to participate in auditions and portfolio presentations for fine arts scholarship opportunities. Together, we continue to model the Dent Difference, where art, learning, and community intersect.
Have a great weekend.
Sincerely,
Dave
