Art Center of Kershaw County reports facility upgrades, programming and executive director Dolly Patton to retire

The Art Center of Kershaw County told the county council Tuesday that recent renovations and programming expansion followed matching county support, state grants and private donations; the center’s executive director, Dolly Patton, also announced her retirement at the end of the month.

Renovations and funding Patton described renovation work across the Art Center campus: Americans with Disabilities Act–compliant restroom upgrades, replacement of failing windows, parking-lot resurfacing and new, ADA‑compliant doors and access for the Bassett and Daniels education buildings. The center received a $500,000 state legislative appropriation the director said, and county matching funds helped secure and complete several projects. Patton said some small remaining projects will be finished in July.

Programming and community impact Patton described a busy season: the fiftieth anniversary celebrations, restored youth education programs (Arts Arising and York Street Players), gallery shows, concerts and a sold-out run of Hairspray. She highlighted partnerships with the Kershaw County School District and other local funders to operate Arts Arising, a roughly $90,000 program that subsidizes children's participation.

Director’s retirement Patton told councilors she will retire at the end of the month after four years at the center and thanked the council and partners for support. Several council members expressed appreciation for Patton and for the center’s role in youth education and economic development.

Ending Patton invited council members and the public to continued theater, gallery and education programming; she said the center will continue to seek volunteers and donations.