Southport Center Dedicates Outdoor Creativity Cove

Thanks to the generosity of the late Donna Mandell and her family, the Brunswick Community College (BCC) Southport Center dedicated the Donna Mandell Creativity Cove on Thursday, June 29. Students of all ages will use the new outdoor destination to explore and grow their love of the arts.  

“Donna was a dynamic force in the Southport and larger Brunswick County arts community,” said BCC Southport Center Director Barbara McFall. “We met in 2015 and Donna helped pioneer the pottery program here. She was passionate about working with clay and displayed many of her pieces in local galleries. She worked tirelessly to promote the arts, especially among children, and we are thrilled to honor her memory with the new Creativity Cove.”  

After Mandell’s passing last year, her daughter Michele Mandell Cherry dedicated funds donated in lieu of flowers at her funeral to The Foundation of BCC. Cherry worked with Southport Center and The Foundation of BCC to develop the new space dedicated in memory of her mother, a 30-year resident of Southport. 

 The first to use Creativity Cove were children from the Southport Parks and Recreation program who painted hand-thrown, bisque-fired bowls for donation to Empty Bowls, a grassroots movement by artists worldwide to fight hunger. Joining the children were Mandell’s family members, arts community representatives, and BCC administration, faculty, and staff.  

 Southport Center is a treasure trove of creativity, talent, and opportunity for anyone of any age interested in the arts. Instructors and students spend countless hours working with clay, glass, wood, metal, and more, channeling their energy into priceless works of art. Southport Center offers day and evening classes all year round. For information on fall classes, visit our website at brunswickcc.edu.