City forming Performing Arts Foundation

The City of Abbeville is in the process of establishing the Abbeville Community Arts Foundation.

Abbeville City Council at its Sept. 8 meeting passed first reading on an ordinance establishing the foundation, which is envisioned as a board that would facilitate community-oriented theatrical events in the Opera House in tandem with the "professional oriented events of the City of Abbeville's community development department."

According to the ordinance, the foundation is being established by City Council, with the intent of making a transition into a 501c3 organization with its own set of bylaws.

It will be a committee which will develop a mission statement and "act as another engine for economic and cultural development in the City of Abbeville."

The Foundation will serve as "the primary holder of theatrical events in the City of Abbeville's Opera House venue."

The Foundation board will consist of 11 members, seven of whom will be appointed by City Council, and the remaining four members will be ex officio members made up of the following individuals -- a designated Abbeville City Council Manager, a designee of the Abbeville County School District and a designee of Erskine College.