The Arts Center of Kershaw County has hired Chad Henderson as its new executive director, bringing a longtime South Carolina arts leader to Camden as the nonprofit looks to grow programming, expand education offerings and strengthen its role as both a community hub and a regional destination.
Henderson, a Spartanburg native who lives in Columbia, began the position Jan. 12, 2026. He succeeds Dolly Patton, who resigned in summer 2025.
Henderson comes to Camden after serving as marketing director for the S.C. Philharmonic and previously holding leadership roles at Trustus Theatre in Columbia. During an interview with the Kershaw County Current, Henderson said his interest in the Arts Center had been building for years.
“A lot of the people who have come in and out of my life have had a really spiritual connection to what this Arts Center is for the community and for what it was for them personally,” Henderson said. “It’s always just had a good vibe around it for me.”
Henderson and his wife, a former Columbia City Ballet performer, began visiting more often after the pandemic in 2020, he said, looking for entertainment close to home. He also said he missed the programming side of arts leadership as well as “getting to be part of something bigger than yourself”. He said he saw the executive director role as a chance to build a season of events that is both financially responsible and responsive to the community.
One priority, Henderson said, is increasing the availability and variety of programming while ensuring the Arts Center continues to serve Kershaw County residents, not just visitors traveling Interstate 20.
“I don’t want it to feel like a roadhouse that’s just only pulling in people from the interstate,” Henderson said. “It’s here, positioned in Camden, but the whole county’s supposed to get something out of it.”
Arts Center Board President Lee Inabinet said Henderson’s statewide connections and experience across nonprofit leadership, marketing and the arts made him a strong fit as the Arts Center looks to broaden its reach.
“Our hope is that no matter what people are interested in, if we have the right productions and the right programs in place, we’ll pull from all over the state, and of course continue to serve people in our county,” she said.
Henderson being hired also represents an important milestone in the ongoing partnership between the City of Camden and the Arts Center of Kershaw County. “Chad brings a wealth of experience from his work with the Columbia Philharmonic, and we are confident his leadership and vision will strengthen the arts within our community and build and even stronger partnership between the City and the Arts Center” said City Manager Matt DeWitt.
Camden City Councilman and Arts Center board member William Wilkes said the organization is seeking to build on its long-standing role in Kershaw County by pushing toward “the next level” as a destination for productions, gallery exhibitions and educational programming.
“The City of Camden has taken a deliberate step to support the Arts Center and its impact on our community. That decision reflects the Arts Center’s proven ability to bring people together through arts education, cultural programming, and community engagement, and we are proud to partner with them to ensure the arts remain an integral part of Camden’s future,” he said.
Henderson said he has already begun contacting arts organizations and artists — including dance and music groups and playwrights — as he works on building future seasons.
“It’s like: get the projects, make sure they’re financially responsible, and then put them together in a season that does not compete with the things that everyone in Camden is already going to do,” he said.
Henderson also pointed to education as a major opportunity, noting the Arts Center is working to hire a new education director and anticipating growing demand as more families move into the area.
Inabinet said the Arts Center can be a hidden asset for newcomers — even residents — until someone invites them to an event. She said she didn’t know the building existed when she moved to Camden in 2007 until neighbors invited her to a show.
“It’s such a bonus for anyone moving to Kershaw County,” Inabinet said.
Leaders also emphasized community involvement as central to the organization’s future.
“The Arts Center is only as strong as the community behind it,” Wilkes said. “We serve the residents of Kershaw County and a broader audience, but meaningful support is what allows the Arts Center to endure.”
Inabinet and Henderson both said volunteer opportunities range from helping greet patrons and check tickets during events to behind-the-scenes support, and Henderson said the organization wants to better communicate those options.
Henderson said a thriving Arts Center matters not only for quality of life and local identity, but also as an economic driver — encouraging dining, shopping and tourism tied to shows and events.
“People rarely go to a show or art experience and straight back home,” he said. “It usually becomes an entire day or an entire evening.”
He also pointed to Camden’s current momentum of growth as an opportunity to make the Arts Center a more natural stop for visitors and locals alike.
“Places like the Arts Center, there’s really nothing I’ve seen that mirrors what this is,” Henderson said. “My charge is to keep making people even prouder and prouder of it.”To learn more about the Arts Center of Kershaw County, visit artscenterkc.org. Community members are invited to meet new Executive Director Chad Henderson during a free happy hour on the Wood Auditorium stage from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 12, featuring piano music by Ayush Joshi.
ARTS CENTER OF KERSHAW COUNTY MISSION STATEMENT:
To create an environment that promotes artistic and cultural experiences and provides superior educational, instructional and entertainment opportunities that elevate and enrich the community for all residents of Kershaw County and beyond.
About the Arts Center of Kershaw County: The Arts Center of Kershaw County is a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering artistic excellence and cultural enrichment in the region. For more information, visit Arts Center of Kershaw County | Be Inspired
