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As you can no doubt tell, much of Emrys’ history can be told in the account of its collaborations. In its twenty-five year history, Emrys has never owned brick and mortar real estate. That is not to say, however, that it has been homeless. Emrys resides in many venues in the City of Greenville—in its museum, its theatres, offices, businesses, its library, warehouses, stages, schools, churches, restaurants, on its streets and in its parks. Emrys believed that partnering with others in the community with common aims and goals was the way that a small but dynamic group could best use its resources.
One especially fruitful partnership has been with the Greenville County Museum. Emrys anniversary celebrations take place there every five years. At this festive season, the Greenville County Museum presents the work of an outstanding woman artist in exhibition. Her work is also featured in a handsome catalogue that includes the Emrys Journal for that year and for which Emrys assumes a share of editing and financial responsibility. Director Tom Styron, curator Martha Severens, and their staff also have made the museum’s lovely setting available for numerous poetry readings, musicales, and dance events. Emrys has returned the favor with seven important gifts to the Museum’s collection.
Emrys has teamed with the Greenville Symphony multiple times. The Peace Center has provided another successful partnership opportunity for Emrys on numerous occasions. In 1993, for example, Emrys featured a concert by acclaimed opera diva Leontyne Price.
The partnership that Emrys and the Warehouse Theatre enjoyed over many years proved highly beneficial to both organizations. In one form of collaboration, Emrys would buy out the house for a production and realize a tidy profit from ticket sales to a theatre gala, with proceeds earmarked for scholarship funds. Among those occasions were The Dream Keeper Speaks: The World of Langston Hughes (1990); Dancing at Lughnasa (1996); Master Class (2000); Collected Stories (2001), Sada (2010) and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolfe? (2011).
Several events have taken place at the Greenville County Library and Greenville Technical College. Other collaborations include the Fine Arts Center, the City of Greenville, the Governor’s School for Arts and Humanities and the Metropolitan Arts Council.
Because Emrys’ history is so entwined with the community, Emrys has always considered its celebrations and festivals to be gifts to the many people and institutions who have contributed to its success—who have helped make Emrys a Child of Light.
Available for purchase under Emrys Journal tab
Excerpted, with updates, from Emrys in Full Flower, A Quarter Century of Memories, 1983-2008, by Jo Ann Walker, this book is a well-written and enjoyable account of our history. It is available under the Emrys Press navigation tab.