From April – December 2025, Better World Studios in Graniteville, SC will offer a series of free monthly workshops/events on storytelling, fiber arts, history, and oral history. The programming will kick off with “Fiber Arts Fridays” on Friday, April 25, “Storytelling Saturdays” on Saturday, April 26, and the Oral Histories Project on Wednesday, April 30. SC Humanities helped support this series with a Major Grant.
Better World Studios is a new non-profit in Graniteville, South Carolina. The multipurpose arts facility is located in the historic Hickman Hall building. The organization’s mission is to foster creative community through the arts by offering private artist studio rentals, public gallery and exhibition space, artist-led workshops, and more.
The “Community Humanities Program Series” is a multifaceted initiative designed to engage the local community in meaningful, educational, and creative activities that celebrate and preserve the cultural, literary, and historical heritage of the region. The project provides free classes and workshops for community members of
all ages, fostering inclusivity and collaboration while exploring various aspects of the humanities.
Fiber Arts Fridays
The monthly fiber arts classes are for 2nd- 5th grade students
Location: Better World Studios, 125 Marshall Street, Graniteville, SC 29829
Free
Contact mmacgregor@betterworldstudios.org to sign up.
Dates:
Friday, April 25, 2025
Friday, June 27, 2025 | 4:30 p.m.
Friday, July 25, 2025 | 4:30 p.m.
Friday, September 26, 2025 | 4:00 p.m.
Friday, October 24, 2025 | 4:00 p.m.
Friday, November 21, 2025 | 4:00 p.m.
Storytelling Saturdays
Join in this monthly writing workshop led by Dr. Kayla Hostetler. Each month is a different theme.
Location: Better World Studios, 125 Marshall Street, Graniteville, SC 29829
Free
Register online here!
Dates:
Saturday, April 26, 2025 | 6:00 p.m.
Saturday, May 17, 2025 | 3:00 p.m.
Saturday, June 21, 2025 | 1:00 p.m.
Saturday, July 26, 2025 | 1:00 p.m.
Saturday, August 23, 2025 | 1:00 p.m.
Saturday, September 13, 2025 | 1:00 p.m.
Saturday, October 11, 2025 | 1:00 p.m.
Saturday, November 8, 2025 | 1:00 p.m.
Saturday, December 13, 2025 | 1:00 p.m.
Oral Histories Project
Every community has stories waiting to be told. Voices of the Community is a workshop series designed to teach participants how to collect, preserve, and share local oral histories. Through hands-on sessions, attendees will learn interviewing techniques, ethical considerations, recording methods, and storytelling strategies to document the voices of their community.
Location: Better World Studios, 125 Marshall Street, Graniteville, SC 29829
Free
Register online here!
Dates:
Wednesday, April 30, 2025 | 4:00 p.m.
Wednesday, May 28, 2025 | 4:00 p.m.
Wednesday, June 25, 2025 | 4:00 p.m.
Wednesday, July 23, 2025 | 4:00 p.m.
Wednesday, August 27, 2025 | 4:00 p.m.
Wednesday, September 24, 2025 | 4:00 p.m.
Wednesday, October 22, 2025 | 4:00 p.m.
Wednesday, November 19, 2025 | 4:00 p.m.
Friday, December 5, 2025
Showcase of Oral Histories and Tree Lighting Night
Graniteville History Lecture Series
Friday, June 20, 2025 | 3:00 p.m.
Graniteville History Lecture
A Glimpse into the Past: Graniteville
Presented by Mr. Philip Barkau
Location: Better World Studios, 125 Marshall Street, Graniteville, SC 29829
Free
Friday, August 22. 2025 | 5:00 p.m.
“Mr. Gregg and the Historic Buildings of Graniteville”
This event will take a closer look at the man behind Graniteville’s founding – William Gregg – and the enduring architectural legacy he left behind. This engaging session will explore how Gregg’s vision for a Southern textile village shaped the iconic buildings and community spaces that still stand today. Discover the stories behind the historic mill, homes, and schools that helped define one of South Carolina’s earliest planned industrial towns. Presented by Linda Johnson, President of the Aiken Historic Foundation, who brings a lifelong passion for history, excellent research skills, and a keen attention to detail to her work with the Aiken County Historical Museum and the broader Aiken County community.
Location: Better World Studios, 125 Marshall Street, Graniteville, SC 29829
Free and open to all ages
Friday, September 19, 2025 | 4:00 p.m.
“An Aiken Icon and the Horse Creek Valley”
Presented by Dennis Harkins
Monsignor George Smith was a lawyer, a Winter Colonist, and a long-time priest at St. Mary’s Help of Christians. He was as passionate about helping the poor as he was about the hunt. Meanwhile, the nearby Horse Creek Valley was one of the most destitute regions of the US during the Great Depression. Come hear Dennis Harkins, a long-time Valley volunteer and historic researcher, tell the forgotten story of Smith’s unusual life and his mission to expose and alleviate the poverty just a few miles from Aiken’s mansions.
Dennis Harkins was a teacher in Pennsylvania schools for 30 years, and an adjunct professor at Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia. He has been a teacher in the USCA Lifelong Learning Center and a volunteer at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Center for 19 years.
Location: Better World Studios, 125 Marshall Street, Graniteville, SC 29829
Free and open to all ages
Friday, October 24, 2025 | 3:00 p.m.
Lecture by Mr. Philip Barkhau
Location: Better World Studios, 125 Marshall Street, Graniteville, SC 29829
Free and open to all ages
Friday, November 21, 2025 | 3:00 p.m.
Lecture by Linda Johnson
Location: Better World Studios, 125 Marshall Street, Graniteville, SC 29829
Free and open to all ages
Ultimately, the “Community Humanities Program Series” will result in a literary magazine, fiber arts exhibits, and an oral history archive, which will serve as enduring resources for the community.
More information about Better World Studios can be found on the website: https://www.betterworldstudios.org/.
The mission of SC Humanities is to enrich the cultural and intellectual lives of all South Carolinians. Established in 1973, this 501(c)3 organization is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors comprised of community leaders from throughout the state. It presents and supports literary initiatives, lectures, exhibits, festivals, publications, oral history projects, videos, and other humanities-based experiences that directly or indirectly reach more than 250,000 citizens annually. South Carolina Humanities receives funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities as well as corporate, foundation and individual donors. The National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy demands wisdom.