HARTSVILLE, SC (August 17, 2021) -- SC Humanities recently awarded a $10,000 grant to implement the “South Carolina Civil Rights Monument Project” coordinated by Coker University Assistant Professor of Art and sculptor Jasmine Baetz and Coker Assistant Professor of Communication Jennifer Heusel.

The Coker faculty are leading university students and community members from Hartsville and Orangeburg in creating four sculptures about the history and narratives of South Carolina Civil Rights activism, particularly by students, that will be installed outside the Cecil Williams Civil Rights Museum in Orangeburg.

The sculpture creation occurred during two “community making days” this summer during which participants heard from speakers like Cecil Williams about the history of the Civil Rights movement in South Carolina and the importance of art commemoration while contributing to the creation of the monuments.

The sculptures are planned to be unveiled during a program in Fall 2021 featuring a panel discussion about history and art.