Arts enhance our lives

Twyla Tharp, a famous American dancer and choreographer, is quoted in her book, “The Creative Habit,” as saying “reading, conversation, environment, culture, heroes, mentors, nature – all are lottery tickets for creativity. Scratch away at them, and you’ll find out how big a prize you’ve won.”
You have certainly won the lottery if you and your children have had opportunities to enjoy and participate in arts and cultural events and programs. The ongoing mission of the Lancaster County Council of the Arts is to enhance the quality of life in Lancaster County through arts education and programming, to form community partnerships for promotion and support of the arts and to serve as a resource center for the arts.
One of the joys of working in the nonprofit sector is that you are engaged in supporting a mission that is meaningful and motivational. Unlike the for-profit sector, where the mission is clearly to earn profits for the owners, nonprofit staff members are working for the good of the community. Our mission and the programs that support it are deeply personal to the staff and board as it represents what we want to offer and accomplish for all in our community.
With that in mind, here are our missions and programs for June that we have planned for our community, with your support and our gratitude:
Arts and Sciences Camp
Four week-long camps are offered from 9 a.m. to noon each day for elementary-age children who want to have great fun and learn to expand their imaginations and creativity.
We have some terrific courses and talented instructors already lined up. The dates and locations are: July 9-13 at Covenant Baptist Church in Lancaster; July 16-20 at Tabernacle United Methodist Church in the Buford community; July 23-27 at First Baptist Church  in Kershaw and July 30-Aug. 3 at Pleasant Hill United Methodist Church in Indian Land.
The cost is $60 for LCCA members and $75 for non members (early registration ends June 15 – it is $25 extra after that date). Registration forms are available at the Springs House and on our website, www.lccarts.net.  
Thank you to our church partners, Founders Federal Credit Union, City of Lancaster/Performing Arts Series, Duke Energy, Fred Brackett Enterprises, Nutramax Laboratories, the Stevens Foundation, Indian Land Rotary Club, Lancaster County School District and the Lancaster County Community Foundation. Additional camp sponsorships are welcomed to fund camp scholarships and supplies.
New Cultural Center
The official open house for the new Cultural Center at the Olde Presbyterian Church on Gay Street in Lancaster was held Sunday, June 3. Visitors were amazed at this completed historical preservation project.
S.C. Water Media Exhibit
Don’t miss the newly installed Traveling Water Media Exhibit, sponsored by the S.C. State Museum, at the Springs House, 201 W. Gay St., Lancaster. These beautiful, original water media paintings will be up the entire month of June. The Springs House galleries are open to the public during office hours and by appointment.
LCCA annual meeting June 21
The LCCA annual meeting is at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, June 21, at the Springs House. We will celebrate our events, programs and corporate sponsors for fiscal year 2011-12: Founders Federal Credit Union, City of Lancaster/Performing Arts Series, Duke Energy, Fred Brackett Enterprises and Nutramax Laboratories. The business meeting and reception is open to the public.
‘Aladdin Jr.’ set for July 19-22
“Aladdin Jr.” is the children’s musical sponsored by the Community Playhouse of Lancaster County and directed by Elaine Reese. The shows are at Stevens Auditorium at the University of South Carolina Lancaster at 7 p.m. July 19, 20 and 3 p.m. July 21, 22. Advance tickets will available at the Springs House.
Arts. Take part.