A public school has helped turn Greenville into an arts hub

A secretary at the school bought one of her first pieces.

“I’ve been an artist for somewhere around 40 years, and I probably would not be an artist today without the Fine Arts Center,” Greer said.

Violinist Kelly Hall-Tompkins described the Fine Arts Center as a “rare jewel.” She told the school’s 50th anniversary audience that when she attended in the 1980s, just three other cities in America had dedicated arts high schools: New York, Boston and Houston.

Hall-Tomkins — known for her performance as the fiddler in Broadway’s “Fiddler on the Roof” revival — was among the first four artists inducted this spring into the school’s new Hall of Fame, joining King, comedian Rory Scovel and long-time dance instructor Jan Woodward. 

“I have such a deep affection for the Fine Arts Center, and it’s not like I’ve had some time for perspective,” said Hall-Tompkins, who would go on to study at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y. “No, we knew it at the time.”

Collaboration sparks growth

The Fine Arts Center’s diverse student body, admitted by audition, pursues fields that include jazz, recording arts, creative writing, string ensemble, film, design and production, theater and architecture.

The concept that binds these disciplines is “creative design thinking,” said Vee Popat, a jazz saxophonist who has been director of the school since 2019. The school’s faculty work together regularly to produce public-facing performances with their students that frequently blend music, design, recording, lighting and film.

The 50th anniversary showcase, available online, is one example of that collaboration.

“Part of being an artist is flexing and doing what’s called for in the moment,” Popat said.