Event
Artist Homecoming 2026
Oct. 8 - 9, 2026 | Join us for a special two-day gathering celebrating South Carolina’s creative community and connecting artists, cultural leaders, and arts supporters from across the state.
Event Dates
Thurs., Oct. 8 & Fri., Oct. 9, 2026
The South Carolina State Museum invites you to Artist Homecoming 2026: Elements of Craft
Join us for a special two-day gathering celebrating South Carolina’s creative community and connecting artists, cultural leaders, and arts supporters from across the state.
What to expect:
Celebrate the opening of In the Making: Contemporary Craft from South Carolina with a special preview reception. As a part of Handwork 2026: Celebrating American Craft, a nationwide initiative led by Craft in America, this juried exhibition showcases the work of 12 South Carolina- based artists working in fiber, ceramics, wood, metal, glass, mixed media, and other fine craft traditions. Guests will enjoy an early look at the exhibition while celebrating the breadth, innovation, and vitality of contemporary craft practices across the state.
Fri., Oct. 9, 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. | $10 per person, free for students & Museum members
Artist Homecoming: Elements of Craft will bring together artists, curators, arts administrators, and craft supporters from across the state of South Carolina for a full day of conversation, connection, and celebration.
The special day will feature:
Panel conversations:
- State of the Arts in South Carolina
- The tradition and future of sweetgrass basketmaking
- Handwork 2026 South Carolina Curators
Artist-led walkthroughs of In the Making: Contemporary Craft from South Carolina
Interactive activities
“Yearbook” inspired photos
For questions, contact: artisthomecoming@scmuseum.org or 803-898-4947.
Ticket Information
Reception is no charge, but RSVP is encouraged.
Activities on Fri., Oct. 9, are $10 per person, free for students and Museum members
Get Tickets
We have a room block reserved at Tru by Hilton Columbia Downtown for October 8 - 10, 2026. Booking your room is simple, just select "Book a Room" to receive your group's preferred rate.
Book Your Room
This project is funded in part by the South Carolina Arts Commission which receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts.
A special thanks to our Artist Homecoming partners, the Columbia Museum of Art and the Columbia Design League.
Schedule of Events for Friday, Oct. 9
9:00 a.m. | Welcome Remarks | Vista Room
Amy Bartow-Melia, SCSM Executive Director & Paul Matheny, SCSM Chief Curator & Director of Collections & Curatorial Affairs, and Maia Payne, SCSM Art Curator
9:15 – 10:15 a.m. | State of the Arts | Vista Room
This opening panel brings together curators and arts leaders to reflect on the ‘State of the Arts’ in South Carolina, including arts engagement, administration, collecting strategies.
Moderated by Paul Matheny and featuring Joelle Ryan-Cook, Deputy Director of the Columbia Museum of Art; Tabitha Ott, Executive Director of 701 Center for Contemporary Art; Brittany Taylor-Driggers, Director of Campus Collections and Galleries – USC Lancaster
10:30 – 11:30 a.m.| Sweetgrass Basket Making in South Carolina| Vista Room
This panel explores the history, future, and global connections in sweetgrass basket weaving, one of South Carolina’s oldest handcraft traditions.
Moderated by Dr. Ramon Jackson and featuring Herb Frazier, Journalist & Author; Nikita Wigfall, Sweetgrass Weaver, Presenter; and Amadu Massally, cultural bridge-builder, storyteller, and community leader
11:30 –– 2:00 p.m. | Lunch & “Yearbook” Photos | Gervais Room & Huger Room
Lunch is provided, along with professional headshots.
2:00 – 3:30 p.m.| Carefully Crafted: Exhibitions of Handwork 2026 | CMA | Vista Room
Art curators discuss their Handwork 2026: Celebrating American Craft exhibitions and engaging art and craft audiences in South Carolina.
Moderated by Maia Payne and featuring Sade Ayorinde, Curator for Columbia Museum of Art, Stephen Criswell, Director of Native American Studies – USC Lancaster; Elizabeth Ramos, Co-founder and Creative Director of the Indie Craft Parade; Harriet Green, Visual Arts Consultant and Former Director of the South Carolina Arts Commission.
3:30 – 4:30 p.m. | Artist Walkthrough of In the Making | Lipscomb Gallery
In the Making artists, including Jim Arendt, Kristy Bishop, Clay Burnette, Katy Cassell, Bill & Pam Clark, Jessica Downs, Matt Garton, Bill Harris, Christine Tedesco, Jennifer York, and Valerie Zimany, lead conversations about their work and field questions in the Lipscomb Gallery.
4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.| Happy Hour | Planetarium Lobby
An opportunity to engage with panelists, artists, and fellow participants with interactive activities, drinks, and light bites.
This project is funded in part by the South Carolina Arts Commission which receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts
