Good Afternoon! I have fantastic news! Well sort of - yes, in the fact that it makes me happy and no, in the fact that this is the same decision I came to as a 21 year old and have now looped back around to it 11 years later....  I HAVE TO BE A PART OF MY COMMUNITY'S ARTS PROGRAMMING!!! As a volunteer, as an employee, as an employer, as an intern, or as an artist. I just know that this is something I have been passionate about since I was a pre-teen and it hasnt ever left me. It faded for a few years, when I thought I couldnt make a good enough living this way, but I have to find a way to be a part of this again.

With all of the craziness going on with the veto of funding for the Arts Commission and how deeply I have felt about it, even though I'm in GA and its "not my cause anymore and not my business" I just can not help but feel so impacted by this.

Earlier today I sent out these emails. First to all my friends who live in Columbia.

Hey everyone!

As I'm sure you have heard, seen on the news and throughout Facebook and Twitter, Gov Haley vetoed the funding for the Arts Commission (along with other very important SC organizations that need money too!) and there is a rally tonight at the State House grounds for the Arts Commission.

See article below from cnbc.com http://www.cnbc.com/id/48197820 and also see youtube.com search "The Arts - South Carolina" for an amazing video by ShoutFire Brands.

I'm in GA now and couldnt get the afternoon off work to be there for the rally. I want to go, I need to go, but I can't! I'm writing all my Columbia folks to ask to please attend this rally! The representatives needs to see how important the arts programming is to the state. As a former employee of the Arts Commission and a former adolescent who participated in the arts programming of my tiny hometown, I know first hand how dedicated the employees are, what it takes to pull together an arts program and how much they sacrifice to stay on top of the hardships they face everyday to find more money that already isnt there to keep these programs afloat. Please please please, support this cause.

And also if you arent sure what exactly the Arts Commission does, or funds or supports, check out http://www.southcarolinaarts.com/ for more information.

Remember when those Artists in Residence would come to your 2nd grade art class? Yup, thats the Arts Commission.

Remember when your hometown had festivals? Yup, thats the Arts Commission.

Remember when your town hall had art shows because there were no galleries in your small town? Yup, thats the Arts Commission.

Remember when your aunt or uncle or family friend who was an artist needed a grant to fund their next show, or find a place to have an exhibit, or announce an upcoming show, or to get in touch with programs to help them become a part of the Arts Community? Yup, thats the Arts Commission!!!!!

And I'm going to pull on some heart strings now... as I know most of you have children... don't you want to give your children the most diversified, completely rounded, creatively gifted world possible?

See how important arts programming is to our state!? Please please please support this cause!

Thank you!!!

carly

Then after thinking about it, I sent this one to the rest of my address book of friends who live in the state of SC:

Hey there!

I sent this email out earlier today to my friends in Columbia, SC to raise awareness and support for the rally tonight at the State House for the Arts Commission. While the SCAC is located in Columbia, it affects and serves the entire state. And it occured to me that I havent heard of anything else going on in retaliation against this veto outside of Columbia. What is going on in Greenville, Charleston, Gray Court, Laurens?? If there isnt anything being done - be the one to start it! Please!

I know I'm in GA now, but there is nothing right now that I could feel stronger about. And I wish I could be there tonight to support my former employer, but I cant. And it breaks my heart! Please do whatever you can to help this cause!