“As long as I’m still learning and growing, this is as good a classroom as any.”
Jamison Mady is the Director of Art Town Development at Artfield’s in Lake City, SC. She’s redefining community growth through creativity and connection.
About
Jamison Mady’s journey to arts leadership began not in galleries, but on stage as a ballet dancer. When she realized she couldn’t physically sustain that path, she pivoted to design, then art history, where she discovered her passion for connecting with the world through artists’ perspectives. A history degree from Francis Marion University and a transformative internship with Artfield’s opened doors she never expected.
What began as an unpaid internship quickly turned into a full-time calling? Jamison fell in love with Artfield’s’ mission and Lake City’s creative potential. A decade later, she’s helped lead its transformation launching artist programs, engaging local students, and driving the development of ACT On Studios and other year-round arts initiatives.
Her defining moment? A wildly ambitious idea to create a mini golf course designed by students across South Carolina. With no budget and a borrowed van, Jamison made it happen bringing people together to experience art playfully and accessibly. “They were viewing artwork, whether they realized it or not,” she says.
For Jamison, success is about expanding access, inviting unlikely audiences, and building trust through art. Her advice to young creatives: stay open. “No connection you make is wasted,” she says. “People are waiting for you just show up and do the work.”
In a state where artists often feel they must leave to succeed, Jamison proves that building something meaningful is not only possible, it’s transformative. Lake City wasn’t on her radar at first. Now, it’s her home, her mission, and her masterpiece in progress.
