Page 98 - Florence County, SC Florence County 2032: Connecting Our Past, Defining Our Future

Existing County | Cultural Resources

Ten years ago, art changed Lake City. In turn, Lake City made its own mark on the art world. ArtFields, simply by
existing, challenged many notions of how contemporary art has traditionally been displayed and appreciated.
Through its success, it rewrote the rules by breaking down barriers between the people of a small Southern town
and artists from the South. Today, many know what we’ve always believed to be true: Art can, and should, be
experienced by everyone. And Southern art, and Southern artists, are something special.
ArtFields started in 2013 with a simple goal: honor the artists of the Southeast with a week’s worth of
celebration and competition in the heart of a traditional Southern small town. The competition and exhibition
offers over $145,000 in cash prizes. The winners of two People’s Choice Awards are determined by the votes of
people visiting ArtFields; a panel of art professionals selects all the other awards, including the $50,000 Grand
Prize and $25,000 Second Place award.
Up to 400 works of art will be on display in locally-owned venues, from renovated 1920s warehouses and
professional art spaces such as Jones-Carter Gallery and TRAX Visual Art Center to the library, the history
museum, the Ronald E. McNair Life History Center, restaurants, boutiques and other shops. During ArtFields,
what was once one of South Carolina’s most prosperous agricultural communities becomes a living art gallery as
we recognize, celebrate and share the artistic talent of the Southeast.
-Artfields Website

Florence County, SC | Comprehensive Plan pg. 97