Catalyst Grant Supports Interdisciplinary Arts Residency at Historic Penn Center

A Georgia Tech Arts Catalyst Grant supported an immersive arts residency at the historic Penn Center on St. Helena Island, bringing together students, faculty, and staff for a multidisciplinary creative experience rooted in art, history, and community. The residency explored artistic practice, collaboration, and cultural heritage through hands-on workshops and shared learning.

The Penn Center Alternative Spring Break residency brought together 15 Georgia Tech students, faculty, and staff for four days of artistic exploration at the historic Penn Center National Historic Landmark District on St. Helena Island, South Carolina. Supported by a Georgia Tech Arts Catalyst Grant and led by faculty and staff from the Scheller College of Business and College of Design, the program combined creative practice, cultural learning, and community engagement. Participants explored printmaking, wood-burning, sketching, photography, and collaborative artmaking while engaging with the history of the Penn Center and the traditions of the Gullah/Geechee community. The residency was designed to create connections across disciplines and roles, offering a space where students, faculty, and staff could learn from one another through shared creative experiences. Organizers hope to build on the program's success with future residencies and a public exhibition of participants' work during the 2026-27 academic year. Read the full story from the Scheller College of Business.