One tack is to head out for the day, after pinpointing in advance some local exhibitions on offer around town. This has the added advantage of converging the local and global — and often with a healthy short walk.

Jennifer Bartell Boykin has served as the second Poet Laureate of the City of Columbia since 2023. Her four year term ends on December 31, 2026, and she will not seek a second term. “Poetry saved my life and has brought me so much joy and connection,” Boykin said. “I have enjoyed sharing poetry with the city these past four years.”

The 2026 ArtFields festival, one of the largest art competitions in the Southeast, is set to kick off next week in downtown Lake City, bringing thousands of visitors and a major boost to local businesses.

This week, the South Carolina State Museum unveiled its latest acquisition: “Big Percy,” a sweetgrass basket made by renowned Gullah Geechee artist Corey Alston from Mount Pleasant.

This extraordinary piece not only enhances the museum’s folk and traditional art collection but also marks a significant step in preserving and showcasing the ongoing legacy of Gullah craftsmanship in the 21st century.