9 July 2025

The South Carolina Arts Alliance Board of Directors announces the appointment of new members, continuing its commitment to statewide representation in it’s organizational leadership.

At its May 2nd meeting, the South Carolina Arts Alliance Board of Directors unanimously approved the appointment of six new board members and one new ex-officio member, strengthening its mission to advance the arts for all South Carolinians with leaders that represent a variety a South Carolina regions and arts organizations.

The new members will joined the board in July, and will serve three year terms. You can learn about each of them below.

 

 

Elizabeth Bost
School District of Oconee County
Oconee County

Elizabeth Horton Bost is a veteran South Carolina educator with over 25 years of experience in PreK–8 education, including 16 years as an elementary visual arts teacher and 9 years as an elementary and early childhood classroom teacher. She currently serves as an Instructional
Coach and Interventionist in the School District of Oconee County. Elizabeth holds an undergraduate degree from the University of South Carolina, an M. Ed. in Divergent Learning from Columbia College, and an M. Ed. in Administration and Supervision from Anderson University.

Certified in school leadership, early childhood, elementary, and K–12 art education—with additional endorsements in Gifted and Talented and Read to Succeed—she has also served as Director of the district’s GT Summer Fine Arts Academy and as Lead Art Teacher for SDOC. A three-time Teacher of the Year and advocate for teacher growth, she currently serves on the Board of Trustees for the SC School Improvement Council.

Elizabeth is passionate about ensuring all students have access to meaningful, engaging, and arts-integrated learning experiences that support the development of the whole child.

 

Heather Bruemmer
Executive Director, Hampton Friends of the Arts
Hampton County

Heather Bruemmer is an author, arts administrator, and community advocate based in Estill, South Carolina. Originally from Binghamton, New York, her passion for the arts began at the Rod Serling School of Fine Arts at Binghamton High School, where she majored in theatre and minored in ceramics. Afterwards, she initially pursued a degree in history education, but her professional path led elsewhere. Heather ultimately poured her love of art, culture, history, and travel into a prolific writing career, with dozens of titles in print.

Since moving to the Lowcountry in 2001, Heather has become deeply embedded in the region’s cultural and civic life. She is the proud mother of six children, and her search for arts opportunities for them led her to her current role in advocacy. This renewed focus on the arts led to her involvement with the South Carolina Arts Commission’s “Art of Community: Rural SC” initiative. In 2019, she was appointed to the Hampton County Arts Council. In this role, she advocated for arts funding at the local, state, and national levels and received a scholarship to represent Hampton County at the 2019 Rural Arts and Culture Summit in Grand Rapids, Minnesota.

Heather played a key role in transforming the Stanley Arts Center from a blighted former retail space into a thriving community arts venue during her time on the Arts Council. For her efforts, she received a commendation from Senator Tim Scott and now serves as Executive Director of Hampton Friends of the Arts, Inc.

Under her leadership, the organization has grown from a small county affiliate into a regional leader in contemporary art exhibitions, arts education, and performing arts programming. In 2021, she spearheaded a fundraising campaign that brought first-run Hollywood films back to the historic Palmetto Theater. In recognition of her contributions, Heather was named Hampton County Chamber of Commerce Person of the Year (2022) and was appointed by Governor Henry McMaster to the Sea Islands and Lowcountry Tourism Commission in 2023. In 2024, she was named a Leo Twiggs Scholar by the South Carolina Arts Commission and is an alumna of the Riley Institute Diversity Leaders Initiative at Furman University.

 

Melanie Cooper
Executive Director, Arts Council of York County
York County
Melanie is an accomplished communications, events, and marketing professional who has been a vital part of the Arts Council of York County since 2012, currently serving as Executive Director.
Her leadership extends throughout the community. She chairs RHEDC’s Placemaking Committee, serves on the board of the Old Town Association, is an active member of the Rock Hill Poet Laureate Committee, Women’s Arts Initiative, and RHEDC Small Business & Entrepreneurship Committee, and holds ex-officio positions on the Arts Center at Fountain Park and ChristmasVille boards of directors. Her past leadership roles include serving as President of Visit York County’s Partners in Tourism, chairing the Ag + Art Tour of York County, and co-chairing RHEDC’s Marketing Committee.
Before her move to South Carolina, Melanie honed her skills at Lottsfeldt Strategies in Anchorage, Alaska. There, she developed impactful campaigns for clients such as IBEW, Alaska Communications, IAFF, and prominent political figures including former U.S. Senator Mark Begich, former Alaska Senator Hollis French, and North Slope Borough Mayor Edward Itta.
Melanie’s early career was rich with diverse experiences. She spent time in costume, teaching history at the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation in Virginia, and later worked as an archaeologist, notably excavating the only colonial theater to be excavated in the United States, Pope’s Creek – George Washington’s birthplace, as well as Carter Woodson’s boyhood home. In the evenings, she dedicated her time to promoting local and regional bands.
Melanie earned her BA in History from the College of William & Mary. She has resided in Fort Mill with her son, Jakob, since 2009.

 

Eric Grace
Executive Director, Lancaster County Council of the Arts
Lancaster County

An Indian Land native, Eric has been involved in the arts in the community for many years.Eric has held several professional roles over the years starting in a large regional ad agency in the creative department and working in staff development and education for a regional hospital system. He shares his love of music as the Director of Music at Osceola UMC in Indian Land. Eric has been fortunate to travel extensively for work and pleasure and brings his love for art and cultural experiences to his work at the LCCA.

 

Til Morrissey
Retired Educator, Florence County School District
Florence County

Tilda “Til” Morisey is a retired educator, administrator, and lifelong community advocate with more than three decades of service in adult education across South Carolina. Til served as Director of Florence Districts 1 & 4 Adult Education from 2004 until her retirement in 2018. Til began her career in Sumter County and went on to teach and lead programs in Richland, Charleston, Dorchester, Marion, and Florence counties. She also served as an adjunct instructor at John Brown University and was co-owner of East Bay Auction Co. in Charleston.

Recognized for her impact, she was named South Carolina’s Adult Education Teacher of the Year (1993–94), Rookie Director of the Year (2003–04), and inducted into the SC Adult Education Directors Hall of Fame in 2006. She held leadership positions with both the South Carolina Association of Adult and Community Education (SCAACE) and the SC Association of Adult Education Directors (SCAAED), where she served as president. Til holds a Master of Education in Community and Occupational Programs from the University of South Carolina, where she also earned her B.A. in Elementary Education and secondary principal certification.

Deeply committed to service beyond the classroom, Til has contributed her time and talents to a wide range of organizations. She has served on boards for the Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity, the South Carolina Virtual Charter School, and numerous civic and advisory groups throughout Florence, Sumter, and Marion counties. Her church involvement has been equally active, from community outreach to leadership roles in multiple Methodist congregations.

 

Belrose Ngong
Design Coordinator, Columbia Fashion Week
Richland County

Belrose “Bella” Ngong is a visionary force in the arts and fashion industry, dedicated to reshaping the cultural landscape of South Carolina. As a seasoned fashion stylist and creative director, she has built a dynamic career transforming artistic concepts into powerful visual narratives. Her extensive portfolio spans special occasions, high-profile editorials, and impactful runway productions, highlighting her ability to merge creativity with strategic execution. As the founder and owner of Bella Dress Me, Bella leads with a belief that style is more than aesthetics—it is an artistic form of self-expression and empowerment. Her firm offers personalized styling services, helping individuals embrace their authenticity through fashion. In her current role as Chief Fashion Officer and Board Member of Columbia Fashion Week, Bella plays an instrumental role in advancing the state and local fashion industry. She actively drives initiatives that provide platforms for emerging and established designers, models, and creatives, fostering greater visibility and growth for South Carolina’s fashion community.

Beyond her professional endeavors, Bella is a dedicated advocate for the arts in all its forms. She is committed to creating and supporting opportunities for artists by building collaborative environments that promote creativity and innovation. Her mission is to redefine the perception of fashion as a true art form—championing its creators as artists whose work shapes culture, drives innovation, and fuels economic growth.

Bella envisions a thriving creative ecosystem where fashion, alongside other art mediums, is recognized and supported as a powerful industry that contributes to South Carolina’s identity and economy. With an unwavering dedication to artistic growth and community, she strives to cultivate a future where South Carolina is celebrated as a hub of creative excellence and cultural impact.

 

Ashley Brown (Ex-Officio Member)
Executive Director, Arts Grow SC
Deputy Director, South Carolina Arts Commission
Richland County

Putting her theatre background to good use, Ashley Brown serves a dual role at the South Carolina Arts Commission. In addition to her leadership with Arts Grow SC, she serves as the SCAC deputy director over grants and arts learning.

Ashley has worked throughout the Southeast as a nonprofit and higher education administrator, public school teacher, stage manager, and teaching artist. She received her Bachelor of Arts in theatre from Winthrop University and her Master of Fine Art in theatre management from Florida State University.