Forces of Philanthropy: Metropolitan Arts Council

Metropolitan Arts Council

Website: greenvillearts.com

Address: 16 Augusta St., Greenville, SC 29601
Phone: 864-467-3132

Facebook Handle: facebook.com/macartscouncil
Instagram Handle: @macartscouncil

Established: 1973
Number of Employees: 4.5
Geographic Service Area: Greenville County

Funding Sources

• Private sources
• City of Greenville
• Greenville County

Mission Statement

The Metropolitan Arts Council stimulates and supports artistic expression and broadens appreciation and enjoyment of the arts to enrich all residents, artists, cultural organizations and communities of Greenville County. MAC provides funding and other vital services to individual artists, arts organizations and arts-education programs. These initiatives have a profound impact on the economic wellbeing of the community.

Impact

In 2024:

• MAC awarded $604,053 to individual artists, arts organizations and schools through its grants program.
• The 157 artists who participated in Greenville Open Studios earned $434,748.
• Flat Out Under Pressure, MAC’s annual 24-hour visual arts challenge, drew 138 submissions and awarded prizing totaling $6,000 to 11 artists. This program provides for the placement and service of eight recycling bins in downtown Greenville, featuring artists’ winning works.
• The SmartARTS program placed 170 artists in 42 Greenville County district schools to teach as part of the district’s arts-integrated curriculum. MAC has funded more than 850 arts-integrated units for the district since 2002.

Leadership

Board of Directors

Chris Fincher, chairman
Michael Cooper, vice chairman
Anne Woods, secretary
Sandy Watkins, treasurer
Kelly Odom, past chairman
Full list of board of directors: greenvillearts.com/about/board-of-directors

Fundraisers and/or Events

• Downtown Alive
• Greenville Open Studios
• Flat Out Under Pressure
• First Fridays
• SmartARTS
• Quarterly Grants Program
• MAConnect
• The Dolly F. Pardi Gallery at MAC
• Centre Stage Gallery
• MAC Annual Meeting at the Peace Center Gunter Theatre

Volunteer Opportunities

Call for available volunteer opportunities.

Giving Opportunities

MAC accepts gifts to the organization, its endowment and SmartARTS through its website or by sending a check to the office. For a donation of at least $50, MAC provides the donor with the ARTCard, valid for buy-one-get-one-free tickets at partnering performing-arts venues.