Art Bench Project

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Since its inception, the Cultural District Advisory Board (CDAB) has sponsored several projects that celebrate the art, culture and history of the Beaufort region.

In 2019, the CDAB launched an ambitious art bench project that aimed to create functional (and needed) art that also showcased themes important to Beaufort. Six benches, sponsored by various organizations and painted by local artists, were situated around the Cultural District. 

They include:

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Sponsor: Beaufort Digital Corridor
Artists: Jess O’Brien, Aaron Miller, Shawn Hill, Shelley Barratt, Brian Canada
Theme: Plug in
Location: Corner of Carteret and North streets
Sponsor: Beaufort County Black Chamber of Commerce
Artist: Omar Patterson (photo at top of page)
Theme: Low Country Dreaming
Location: Corner of Bladen and Duke streets
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Sponsor: Lowcountry Habitat for Humanity
Artist: Linda Silk Sviland
Theme: Seeking to put God’s love into action
Location: Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park		Sponsor: National Reconstruction Era National Park
Artist: Ginger Noah Wareham
Theme: United when the impossible suddenly became possible
Location: Corner of Craven and Scott streets
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Sponsor: Santa Elena History Center
Artists: Frank Anson, Tom Van Steenbergh, Sandy Dimke, Lynne Darling
Theme: Beaufort’s earliest history and heritage
Location: Courtyard at Bay and Bladen streets
Sponsor: University of South Carolina Beaufort
Artists: Mary Ann Ford and John Rodriguez; master builder Greg Rawls
Theme: Beaufort College – Rich Heritage of Education
Location: Entrance to Center for the Arts


A number of other benches have been added since 2019.