Sumter County Gallery of Art

The Sumter Gallery of Art (SCGA) is a non-profit, community-based institution with a mission to present and promote the visual arts, to increase the knowledge and appreciation thereof, and to provide visual art and art education opportunities to Sumter, Clarendon and Lee counties - an extensively rural, economically depressed, region of the state. It shall be an institution dedicated to enhancing the quality of life of our community no matter the zip code.

We offer culturally diverse exhibitions by local, regional, national & international artists. The gallery offers a variety year round classes for children and adults including our 6-week Summer Art Camp.
Over the past 20 years, the Gallery has worked hard to serve our community in ways that increase creative opportunities for ALL the citizens of Sumter. Community outreach is central to our mission:
• The SCGA Art Camp Scholarship Fund provides scholarships to kids who otherwise could not participate in Summer Art Camp for financial reasons. This past summer we awarded scholarships to over 20 children.
• Partnership with the HYPE (Helping Youth Pursue Excellence) afterschool program for at-risk youth in South Sumter, now in its 18th year. SCGA goes off-site to provide art instruction & all materials once every 5 weeks during the school year for ~300 children at 6 sites. 5 years ago we began serving rural Community centers to make art w/Senior citizens
SCGA art table is a popular fixture at all City/County festivals: Festival on the Avenue, Iris Festival, Esteam Festival, Art in the Park

70% of what we do is FREE - admission, artist talks, spoken word events & opening receptions

Testimonials

"The Sumter County Gallery of Art is one of the best exhibition spaces in the state." ~ Ken May, Former Executive Director, SC Arts Commission
"The gallery is my placement this year for the Sumter Junior Welfare League & I have so enjoyed volunteering at the gallery! Second Saturday's are tons of fun for children! My little girl wanted to have her birthday party there this year. The "arty party" was wonderful! It was "Frozen" themed and they had so much fun." -Erin Burke.
Norman Rockwell in 2021