50 Most Influential
Executive Director
Before becoming Metropolitan Arts Council’s executive director in January 2006, Greenville native Alan Ethridge had served as director of marketing and development since January 2004. He did not replace himself upon taking the higher position and has performed the duties of both roles since.
Under Ethridge’s leadership, MAC has exceeded the past year’s fundraising goal each year, and in 2016 its endowment surpassed $1 million. His cumulative fundraising total is $15 million, all of which is sent back into the community, fairly and responsibly, to more than 1,300 artists and almost 60 arts organizations.
Further credited to Ethridge is his diligence in creating cohesion among the regional arts stakeholders. When he began as executive director, 80 artists were participating in Greenville Open Studios; there are now more than 130. Nearly half a million people have visited Greenville artists and purchased more than $2.8 million in local art.
After federal funding ended for the SmartArts program in Greenville schools, Ethridge’s nearly single-handed efforts not only sustained the program, but enabled it to expand from just two schools to more than 60 and opened the possibility of grant funding to every public school teacher in Greenville County.
In addition to his MAC duties, Ethridge serves on the boards of VisitGreenvilleSC, Artisphere, the Greenville Chamber of Commerce, and the Greenville Tech Department of Visual Arts.
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