From the Chair of the Board

Alicia M. Gregory

Welcome to the 46th season of Spoleto Festival USA!

I would like to thank you for being here to witness the transformative power of art at full capacity for the first time in two years. Also, thank you to the board and transition committee who sustained this Festival amidst adversity. It was through their guidance and unwavering support that we have emerged in financial health and on the other side of a major leadership transition. I am proud of my commitment as chairwoman of the board, especially at this time in the Festival’s life. My dedication to Spoleto is firmly grounded on the premise that to create and exchange art is our universal birthright that transcends culture, political systems, and governments.

Like many of you, I am inspired by the United Nation’s 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights and its explicit acknowledgement that art and cultural exchange is a fundamental human right. I love Spoleto because it is predicated upon these principles. The essence of human agency, freedom of thought, and shared humanity is the Festival’s common currency.

It is an investment of my time to help build a healthy, vibrant Spoleto that is committed to these humanistic values. The Festival promises to boldly propel itself to a future with clear-eyed commitment to evolve and expand its presence and relevance.

Almost a year ago now, the transition committee and the board were unanimous in appointing Mena Mark Hanna as Spoleto Festival USA’s next general director. We were drawn to him because of his central belief that art bridges differences and deepens and broadens our understanding of our existence. We are confident that Mena will continue to expand upon the artistic excellence, innovation, and risk-taking that the Festival is known for. He will continue to build strong ties to the Charleston community and support up-and-coming artists and future generations of arts lovers, while also bringing world-renowned artists to our hometown. I am honored to take on my tenure as chairwoman of the board to drive Mena’s vision for Spoleto. You will catch a stirring glimpse of his vision over the next 17 days with a program influenced by his extraordinary musical background, including an extensive knowledge of opera and a deep understanding of all genres of performing arts. I hope you will find this year’s program to be cohesive, compelling, and thoroughly entertaining.

I’m strongly motivated by the opportunity to support and foster healthy civil discourse, another virtue that demands constant vigilance, attention, practice, and above all, grace. It is my hope that this year’s program and those proceeding will initiate civil and honest conversations surrounding our individual experiences with art. If we can have tough yet necessary conversations about humanity, to my mind, we are creating an opportunity to exercise our most essential human right to happiness.