Coastal Carolina University will host an evening of music, art and literature to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the South Carolina Arts Commission on Friday, Nov. 3, at 6 p.m. in the James J. Johnson Auditorium. The event is free and open to the public, and a reception will follow.

This celebration honors artists from Horry and Georgetown counties who have earned funding awards through the S.C. Arts Commission over the past five decades, including CCU faculty members as well as regional recipients. Honorees have been recognized through the Artist's Fellowship Award, the Elizabeth O'Neill Verner Governor's Award or the Jean Laney Harris Folk Heritage Award. The event will also recognize arts groups and community institutions that have earned funding grants from the commission.

CCU was selected to host the event for having a higher number of faculty awards from the S.C. Arts Commission than any other college or university in the state.

Awardees, including more than a dozen CCU faculty and community artists, will read from and perform their original works of poetry, prose, music and folk culture. An art exhibit of pieces by honored artists will also be on display.

"When the SC Arts Commission approached me about hosting a 50th year anniversary celebration, I didn't hesitate," said Amy Tully, associate dean of the Thomas W. and Robin W. Edwards College of Humanities and Fine Arts and associate professor of music. "We live in an era and a region where fine and performing arts organizations demand constant defense from their donors and our own government. Yet over the past 50 years of the S.C. Arts Commission, we discovered that Coastal Carolina University has had the most faculty in our state to be awarded funding, fellowships and grants for creative and artistic projects. It was only natural that we host an event on our campus to honor our current, late and emeritus faculty award winners, but also to highlight the numerous arts organizations in Horry and Georgetown counties that, with continued and generous support from the SC Arts Commission, can contribute to our cultural and economic community."

The Johnson Auditorium is located in Room 116 of the E. Craig Wall Sr. College of Business Administration at 119 Chanticleer Drive E. on CCU's main campus. Parking is available in lot R, outside the Brittain Building and adjacent to the Wall Building; for more information, visit coastal.edu/safety/parking.

For more information, contact Tully at 843-349-2352 or atully@coastal.edu.