Jen and Kathleen at Wakefield's Octoberfest in 2019

Dear SCAA Community,

​On behalf of the SCAA Board of Directors, it is with the utmost respect and gratitude that I announce that Kathleen Carland will change roles at SCAA. She will be stepping down as Executive Director and stepping into a role focusing on development and grant writing. We are also simultaneously thrilled to announce the promotion of Jen Ferry from Associate Director to Executive Director.

Kathleen began as our Executive Director in February 2017 and has worked collaboratively with the Staff and Board (including 3 different Presidents) on many accomplishments large and small ever since. 

During 2017 and 2018, the exterior painting of both buildings and window restoration was completed. Kathleen takes special pride in seeing that the stone steps into the rear entrance of Helme House were reset at a reasonable height, according to code, with railings added for all stairways on the property. It only took 95 years, but Kathleen made sure to get that done!

Because Kathleen believes passionately that the arts are meant to be shared with the community, in 2018 she spearheaded the creation of a community mural funded by the Rhode Island Foundation, which was dedicated and hangs in the stairwell of the Peace Dale Library. Community outreach continued with a collaboration with the South Kingstown Library providing arts education to students in the summer of 2020. And later, with the help of a RISCA (RI State Council on the Arts) grant, we matched SCAA art mentors with South Kingstown high school seniors via Zoom to complete their art focused senior projects during the pandemic.

Every bit a careful steward of SCAA’s historic buildings, Kathleen oversaw a myriad of mundane yet essential repairs and related upkeep. More exciting, though, was an early 2021 gallery renovation that opened windows sealed shut for fifty years. This change transformed the look and feel of our space and the climate was drastically improved with the installation of a new air conditioning system in the Helme House galleries.

​Kathleen also champions our continuing efforts toward more inclusion and accessibility. We now have a Scholarship program that will offset the cost of our programs and help make them more widely available. Some long-needed and ambitious accessibility and other essential upgrades are now underway in the Studio Annex thanks to Kathleen’s tireless efforts and largest grant yet, a $128,500 Cultural Facilities Challenge Grant from RISCA. Kathleen will work closely with Jen toward the completion of this project which will include helping to raise the 100% match.

Perhaps my personal favorite role Kathleen has played has been as the Ringleader of the bandits for our most recent two record-breaking, pandemic-era Art Heist events, one virtual and one plein air. I hope and suspect we have not seen the last of such a cunning crime lordess.

Closing this wonderful leadership chapter also means opening a new, very promising one. In addition to being a talented artist and graphic designer, Jen has a strong background in advertising and arts administration. She also recently completed a Master of Arts Leadership and Cultural Management degree at Colorado State University’s LEAP Institute for the Arts.

​Kathleen puts it best, “What pleases me most is that I am leaving the SCAA in capable and creative hands with Jen Ferry as the Executive Director. Jen knows the organization so well and is a dedicated colleague who brings so much value to this arts community. Her special talents enhance the operations of the SCAA in countless ways, and she will usher in many new opportunities. My greatest hope is that she will receive the same special support that I have.” Rest assured, the Board offers Jen our full support and look forward to the creative work ahead. 

​Join us in supporting Kathleen and Jen and the Staff during this transition year.

Sincerely,

---

​Lynne Moulton
SCAA Board President

Buy and Sell Art

Members can drop off artwork to be sold in our gallery store and receive 70% of the purchase price.

Exhibit your Art

Come visit our current exhibit and see our next call for art. We're open to the public 1-5pm Wednesdays - Sundays. 

Learn Art

Registration is open for  classes in all mediums. Check our classes by start date to see the full schedule. 

Our COVID Safety Plan of Action

Policies - 
Updated March 2022

SCAA is following the RI Department of Health's  Covid's guidelines and the latest updates will be found on this page. Policies may change according to evolving scenarios.

We are  open normal business hours of Wednesday–Sunday from 1-5pm.  Our primary mode of communication is emails to info@southcountyart.org.


Exhibits and Gallery Visits - Masks Optional
Our 2022 exhibit schedule is here. Public Openings resumed March 2022.  Masks are optional at openings and when viewing the art in our exhibits.

Office and Exhibit Hours - Masks Optional
Exhibits are free and open to the public during our open office hours Wednesday - Sunday from 1-5 pm.

Read our FY 2019-20 Annual Report that details all we've done this past year.

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​Mask Policy for Classes
We hold painting and mixed media classes in our gallery or our new Paint Studio (renovations completed in April 2022). Masks will be optional beginning with our Spring 2022 session.  The only exception to this policy is if teachers require masks in their particular class. Since December 20, 2021, masks  have been required for all classes unless everyone in the class is comfortable without them.
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Air Purification for studios and classes
The SCAA has purchased  Blue Air air purifiers for our  classroom spaces and our pottery studio. Each purifier has a clean air delivery rate of  five times an hour. Mitigation reduces risk but does not eliminate risk. 

We have sanitizers and wipes for everyone to use.  We have always been a place for artists to use their art making as a retreat to relieve stress, relax and freely express themselves.  If you have any questions, or concerns, please do get in touch with us. 

 On behalf of the entire South County Art Association Team, we appreciate everyone being flexible
and continuing to work together with us and we thank you for choosing our nonprofit arts organization to support. 
 ​Please contact us by email at any time.  info@southcountyart.org.