“I gotta do the right fit for me, because ultimately I’m the one who’s got to show up and do it every day.”
Carol Baker is the Director of Outreach and Community Engagement at the South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities. An experienced arts administrator and educator, she has worked since 2012 to build statewide programs that empower creative youth through education, storytelling, and trust.
About
Since 2012, she has served as the Director of Outreach and Community Engagement at the South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities, where she has developed programs that connect young people across the state with powerful, creative learning experiences. Carol Baker didn’t set out with a roadmap, but she followed her passion and it led her exactly where she needed to be. With a background in arts management and teaching artistry, Carol understands that traditional paths don’t always suit every artist or every learner. Her work is built on trust and access, meeting students and educators where they are. One of her hallmark programs, Spark, blends theater and literacy to help students engage with language and story in a dynamic, embodied way.
Carol’s outreach isn’t just about exposure to the arts: it’s about long-term transformation. She builds relationships across school districts, supports teachers with arts-integrated resources, and fosters spaces where creativity is not only welcomed but required. Her work reflects her core belief: that the arts are for everyone, and that there are many valid, beautiful ways to belong in creative spaces.
