A Letter from the Cultural Arts & Events Director

Hi, I'm Lisa Everidge, and I'm the Cultural Arts & Events Director for the City of Simpsonville, which gives me the distinct honor of overseeing the Simpsonville Arts Center. First and foremost, I could not be more excited for the bright future of our Arts Center! After two successful years of becoming the place to be for the visual and performing arts in the Upstate, the Arts Center will continue to grow and realize its potential.

My family and I moved to Simpsonville in 1999 and immediately fell in love with the area. As an example of life coming full circle, my daughter joined the Children's Theatre not long after we moved. Now I will have the pleasure of working with amazing theatre companies, for whom I have much respect because as the parent of a child involved in theater, you see firsthand how much time, effort and money go into a production.My time with the City of Simpsonville began when I joined the Parks & Recreation Department in 2009.

In 2013 I became the City's Special Events Coordinator, which plans, manages and oversees the City's special events as well as oversees events by members and organizations of the public. Events planned and managed by the Special Events Coordinator include the Daddy Daughter Dance, Memorial Day Ceremony, The Great EggVenture, Halloween at Heritage Park and Breakfast with Santa, to name a few. The Special Events Coordinator position has prepared me for my new one by understanding the logistics of event planning but more importantly working with people, which is what I love most about working for the City of Simpsonville. I love the free events that we host, and I love to see the joy in families. The adage, "If you do something you love, then you'll never work a day in your life" is certainly true.

After starting the position of Cultural Arts & Events Director in March, I am even more confident than before that the Simpsonville Arts Center will thrive as a place for the public to enjoy visual and performing arts, fantastic programming by artists and the City and spaces for public use, including the historic gymnasium for which renovation work is happening now! Whether a musical, art exhibition or private event by a family or business, the Simpsonville Arts Center has much to offer members of the public.

When I am not working, I enjoy spending time with family. I have three sweet grandchildren whom I love spoiling! I love to read, travel and of course shopping!

Thank you for your support of the Simpsonville Arts Center and Parks & Recreation programming. We could not do it without you.

Lisa Everidge