Nominees: Davis Audiology, nominated by Greenville Theatre; Fuel, nominated by The Warehouse Theatre; Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI), nominated by Greenville Chorale; Piedmont Natural Gas Company, nominated by South Carolina Children’s Theatre; Salem Media Group, nominated by Centre Stage; Stark RFID, nominated by Artisphere; Wyche, P.A., nominated by Greenville Symphony Orchestra

Nominees: BMW Manufacturing Company LLC, nominated by The Warehouse Theatre; Clemson University, nominated by Artisphere; Kyocera AVX, nominated by Greenville Symphony Orchestra and Greenville Theatre; Southern First Bank, nominated by Centre Stage; Woodlands at Furman, nominated by Greenville Chorale; The Westin Poinsett, nominated by the Peace Center

Nominees: Ronny Dillard, nominated by Greenville Theatre; Joy Easterling, nominated by The Warehouse Theatre; Cynthia Eckel, nominated by Centre Stage; Barbara Gulley, nominated by Greenville Chorale; Diane Perlmutter, nominated by Greenville Symphony Orchestra; Erin Swann, nominated by Artisphere; Beverly K. Whitten, nominated by the Peace Center

A native of Quarryville, Pennsylvania and a 1953 alumna of Solanco High School, Judi Cassell was an animation artist throughout her career. She worked extensively as a cel xerographer for the last several decades. Her major credits include the films FernGulley: The Last Rainforest, Adventures in Dinosaur City and Rover Dangerfield. Working on many Walt Disney projects, Judi also animated the television series Widget, the World Watcher and Denver, the Last Dinosaur. Judi received the Certificate of Merit Award in 1992 at the 21st Annie Awards, presented by the International Animated Film Association to honor outstanding achievements in the field of animation. This award was in recognition of her service to the art, craft and industry of animation.

Judi was also the lead animator of Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol, a 1962 television special. One of her original acetate cel compositions for this special was recreated in 1997 and sold through Van Eaton Galleries in Sherman Oaks, California. Throughout her career, Judi served as a mentor to younger artists, inspiring them to pursue their artistic interests in the art of animation.

This award was established in her memory in 2021 by her niece and nephew, Kris and Steve Cassell. The recipient of this fellowship is Sunny Mullarkey McGowan.

Sunny Mullarkey McGowan is a fine artist residing in Greenville, South Carolina. Growing up in the Lowcountry of SC, Sunny now resides in the Upstate of South Carolina with her husband and three children, where she is active in the local artist community. Sunny has been a Teaching Artist with The TD Center for Arts Integration since 2018, when she received the Carrie and Skip Gordon Emerging Teaching Artist Award. In addition to creating her fine art pieces in her studio located in the arts district of the Village of West Greenville, she also paints murals and signage, as well as teaches printmaking.

This annual award recognizes the outstanding artistry and educational practice of one exceptional Greenville artist who impacts and inspires the lives of students through his/her work in local schools. This award includes a scholarship to attend a national professional conference with a focus on both the arts and education. The 2021 recipient is Judy Klein.

Judy attended Case Western Reserve University where she received a B.A. in Theatre Arts. Upon graduation, Judy began her professional career as an Acting Intern with The Cleveland Play House. Since then, she has performed in Regional Theaters as well as acting in film, video and commercial opportunities. As a voice actor, Judy has a particular love of voicing animation and children’s literature. In 2008, she joined the SmartArts Program of MAC and has taught in over 40 classrooms with 28 different schools in the Greenville County School District. Judy is also a South Carolina Teaching Artist enjoying bringing the wonder of drama to children everywhere!

This award recognizes a Greenville artist who shows great promise in his/her artistic and educational practice to impact and inspire the lives of students. This award includes a scholarship to attend a national professional conference with a focus on both the arts and education. The 2021 recipient is Shay Black.

As a SmartARTS Teaching Artist, Shay Black is both a poet and visual artist. Originally from Greenville, she is the owner of Shay Black Expressions of Everything Art, LLC. She received her BFA in ceramics and sculpture from Converse College in 2012. Her love to create has extended to multiple mediums (acrylic, oil, mixed media, metal) and poetry. She’s committed to using her art to help others who are struggling with grief, depression, anxiety, social injustice and self-doubt. Through her work with Wits End Poetry, Speaking Down Barriers, SmartARTS and artists in multiple mediums, she has encouraged others to inspire the world around them and to be the best versions of themselves. Shay is a three-time slam member of Say What slam team of Greenville. You can find her on all social media platforms as @iamshayblack and website,

iamshayblack.com.

This award recognizes the outstanding artistry and educational practice of one exceptional Greenville minority artist who impacts and inspires the lives of students through his/her work in local schools. This minority artist will lead a Cultural Competency workshop at the 2022 Prisma Health SmartARTS Education Institute as part of SmartARTS’ commitment to inclusion and diversity. The 2021 recipient is Johnny C. Weaver.

A SmartARTS Teaching Artist, Antonio Mack, aka Johnny C Weaver is an educator, poet, actor, and youth mentor from Spartanburg, SC. He is a current basketball coach and educator at Southside High School, and a former coach for Spartanburg District 7, Spartanburg Prep, and the City of Spartanburg. He currently serves as a board member for Wits End poetry and is a Spoken Word artist that travels the country performing.

The Carl R. Blair Educator Award is given annually to an arts educator to honor of the life of professor, arts advocate and outstanding visual artist Carl R. Blair. The 2021 recipient is Dr. Anne Matthews.

For 28 years, Dr. Matthews has served as a dedicated music educator. The last 20 years of her career were spent at Greenville Middle Academy. She has been honored as a Greenville County Top 10 Teacher of the Year, a National Board Certified Teacher and a master teacher in honors orchestras throughout Greenville County. A native of Charlotte, Anne received her B.A. in Music from Meredith College, her M.A. in Education from Western Kentucky University, and her Ph.D. in Education from the University of South Carolina.

Dr. Matthews retired at the end of the 2020-2021 academic year, and she conducted the last strings performance of her career on May 4, 2021 at Greenville Middle Academy. Prior to her retirement, she commented, “I make it a point to bond with each student by appreciating individual interests outside the classroom. Whether they cheer for a certain team, have a dog or practice karate, students feel more appreciated, valued and work harder when you take the time to share their interests both in and outside the classroom.”

Daniel Hwang, a former student and currently enrolled Eastside High School commented, “Dr. Matthews was such a good teacher. She was the best at pushing everyone to achieve his/her best potential in strings and cared about every one of her students. She really knew how to connect to the class as a whole and created a fun atmosphere where everyone could learn. She has definitely been one of the best teachers I’ve ever had.”

In 2016, we said goodbye to one of our most dedicated and loyal supporters – Ann C. Sherard. She had been a mainstay of support for MAC and its many programs and services. Ann was always concerned about ensuring that the younger generations were involved and engaged in the arts. Many times she would ask us, “That’s a great idea, but how are you going to involve the young people?” Ann was very excited about the MAConnect program for young professionals that was established in 2014. We are pleased to name our Young Supporter of the Arts Award in her honor. The recipient of the 2021 Ann C. Sherard Young Support of the Arts Award is Stacey Kitchens.

A native of Asheville, North Carolina, Stacey graduated from the Terry College of Business at the University of Georgia. She loves raising her three daughters with her husband, Gray, in Greenville. Stacey served on the Board of Directors of the South Carolina Children’s Theatre (SCCT) for over ten years and as Secretary for much of that time. She has also served on the programming and special events committees, especially working on the annual fundraising auction for SCCT’s major event, Caribbean Crush. Stacey has appeared on SCCT’s mainstage twice alongside her family, and she has enjoyed working backstage on many occasions. Her commitment to SCCT has been virtually unparalleled. Currently, Stacey is Business Manager for Gray's practice, Kitchens Endodontics. She is a major volunteer at Greenville High School and at Buncombe Street United Methodist Church.

Born and raised in Greenville, Ellis attended public schools and graduated from Greenville High School. She fondly remembers working as a volunteer in high school with Harriet Wyche, Betty Stall, Judy Cromwell and Bobbi Wheless as the Greenville Arts Festival got its start in the old Textile Hall building downtown. After a twelve-year absence, first with college where she got her B.A. in Theatre Arts from Randolph-Macon Women’s College (now Randolph College), and then living in California and New York, Ellis moved back to Greenville. She immediately got involved with the RiverPlace Festival in its early phases and has been involved with the Art in the Park festival, the Peace Center and its POPS program, the South Carolina Children’s Theatre, the South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts & Humanities (the Betty Farr Endowed Fund), The Warehouse Theatre (notably the Upstate Shakespeare Festival) and MAC (SmartARTS program) among other non-profit arts and service organizations.

Ellis is committed to ensuring that children of all ages and backgrounds have access to the arts, and she has steadfastly supported many organizations that focus on children’s cultural welfare. She also feels we in the Upstate are fortunate to have such caring arts agencies that not only offer much to our artists and art lovers, but also have excellent and accessible outreach programs. We look forward to working with Ellis for many years to come.