state arts action network

Council

Betty Plumb

Betty Plumb is the executive director of the South Carolina Arts Alliance—a statewide assembly representing the interest of all arts disciplines, arts organizations, educators, arts administrators, artists, business, and individuals—that has become the state's leading arts policy advocacy organization. Under Betty's leadership, the Alliance has developed an extensive grassroots advocacy base of informed supporters of the arts and arts education legislation and it’s funding at the state and federal level. In addition, the Alliance serves as a technical assistance service provider and resource for local and statewide arts administrators, providing subsidies, workshops, and consultancies in the field of arts management. Betty has held her current position as the only full-time staff person since 1994, and was associated with the Alliance as their project director for grants since 1990. In July 2001, she completed a two-year term as president of the State Arts advocacy League of America (SAALA), a national service organization for statewide advocacy agencies. She also served as President of NCAN—the National Community Arts Network, a statewide association of arts service providers—from 2002 until both SAALA and NCAN merged as a programmatic council of Americans for the Arts, becoming the State Arts Action Network (SAAN), and just concluded her service as co-chair of the SAAN Council. Betty also serves on several statewide and local boards and committees. She has presented workshops, given keynotes, and served as a panelist for many national and statewide organizations and conferences, and privately consults with other states. Betty brings a background of music, visual arts, theatre, and teaching to complement her administrative skills. The Arts Alliance was the 1996 recipient of the "Elizabeth O'Neill Verner Award"—The Governor's Award for Outstanding Arts Organization—and Betty was presented with the 1993 Arts Advocacy Award by the S.C. Arts Education Association.