HISTORY
Carolina Studios was formed in 2001. Its founders had a shared passion for music and a deep concern for Charleston’s at-risk urban youth. They agreed there was a need to create an environment where troubled young people would be encouraged to develop their potential through the exploration of digital recording, digital photography, videography, and graphic arts. Furthermore, the children would be able to develop core computer skills and behavioral skills needed for their ongoing education and their future careers.
Carolina Studios’ founders also realized that young people could describe their experiences through music and song creation, offering a great opportunity for them to express their deep emotional feelings. Young people would be able to explore situations that were troublesome and/or problematic for them in a fun and safe environment. The program could become a vehicle for disadvantaged youth to grow and develop into productive citizens in the Greater Charleston area.
In February 2002, Carolina Studios was granted its formal status as a registered 501(c) (3) non-profit organization. Since 2002, Carolina Studios has served to provide a safe after-school environment during the school year, as well as a full-day environment during the summer months.
People around town began to take notice of this great program and soon the program eventually attracted Mark Bryan, the lead guitarist and founding member of Hootie and the Blowfish, who later became the Board’s Chairman.
In 2007, Carolina Studios forged a win-win relationship with The Boys and Girls Club whereby it could permanently locate one of its programs in the club’s Mary Street location in downtown Charleston. This relationship turned out to be fantastic for the kids who attend the club’s program. The Carolina Studios program ended up strengthening a solid program that was already in place.
In January of 2009, Carolina Studios opened its first public facility as a test for our new public model, located at the recreation center at Mall Park on the corner of America Street and Columbus Street. This location successfully operated from January 2009 through the end of the summer of 2009. However, due to its close proximity to the Boys and Girls Club location, Carolina Studios’ administrators decided to move the Mall Park location to another city park at Forest Park Playground in West Ashley. This move allows Carolina Studios to target a much larger and more diversified demographic.
Over the years, Carolina Studios has developed a contemporary curriculum that is productive and stimulating.
Also in January of 2009, Carolina Studios hired three new instructors, and developed a new brand and identity for the organization that would help people easily recognize the organization.
Also in 2009, Carolina Studios hired three new instructors, developed a new brand and identity for the organization, and received the Innovative Programming Award from the Recreational Arts and Programming Branch of the South Carolina Recreation and Parks Association.
In 2010, Carolina Studios was asked to attend the 2010 Afterschool Alliance conference in Washington, D.C. Upon this news, students were asked to perform in a small competition, and the two winners went to D.C. They performed at the conference and even met federal and state legislators, including Senator Lindsay Graham.
In 2011, Carolina Studios established a new blog authored by Mark Bryan himself, a new Facebook page, and it’s “Song of the Month”. The Song of the Month is a place where the public can see on the internet a profile of a Carolina Studios student (or group of students) and listen to their latest song. The program rewards students for great performance and is just one more way Carolina Studios provides a truly unique experience for its students.
Also in 2011, Carolina Studios launched its first Celebrity Pro-Am and Pro-Am Jam concert in conjunction with the Nationwide Tour Championship at Daniel Island. This event will become Carolina Studios’ annual fundraising event, and based on 2011, it is sure to grow rapidly each year.
And last, but not least, Carolina Studios implemented its full-service mobile studio, thanks to a very generous donation by Student Transport of America. The mobile studio rean a number of successful test visits to various schools in the end of 2011, and even was in the Charleston Christmas Parade! Now, with this mobile unit, the program will reach far more students than ever before, expecially since schools all over town are practiaclly banging down our doors to get the mobile studio to make an appearance at their schools.
