Library Residents
The library's budding residency program connects the community with local working artists, entrepreneurs and writers.
Artist-in-Residence:
Richland Library’s Artist-in-Residence Program aims to connect the community with local working artists and to provide creative and educational opportunities to the community in a way that supports cultural and artistic exchange.
Created in 2015, the residency program gives artists, performers and makers of all types and disciplines the ability to work freely in their own studio space, share their works and artistic process with the community and provide learning opportunities and programs for library customers.
⚠️ Due to the current pandemic, we are currently assessing the schedule for future residencies.
Current Resident:
Crush Rush
September - December, 2020
Virtual Office Hours:
To schedule one-on-one appointment with Crush Rush, email CrushFreely@shuttercrush.com.
Marion “Crush” Rush is a native of Columbia, South Carolina. He is a full-time self-employed photographer who also enjoys chronicling the world of political and civil unrest as it unfolds in real time through his photojournalism.
Crush Rush is an African American artist who is constantly striving to uplift his community through arts education and fact driven dialogue. He values community connectivity, helping others create, learn and share, and looks forward to working with the library to facilitate real dialogue and affect change among artists in need during these unprecedented times.
During his residency, his main focus will be on helping artists during this time of unrest by hosting virtual artist meet-ups, listening to local artists affected by the pandemic and creating a dialogue around issues of racial equity in the local art scene. He will also offer monthly programming and create an online exhibition of his work.
Entrepreneur-in-Residence:
The library's Entrepreneur-in-Residence supports, mentors, and educates new entrepreneurs and budding start-ups through office hours and public programs--building an ecosystem that sustains the development and growth of future entrepreneurs in the region. The program also aims to connect entrepreneurs with peers who have successfully designed, launched and run a new business venture.
Current Resident:
Karen R. Jenkins
August - December 2020
Meet with Karen | Find An Event
Recognized locally and regionally for her professional accomplishments, Jenkins is President and CEO of KRJ Consulting, LLC. The full-service consulting firm specializes in value-added workforce development, staff augmentation and management consulting services for government agencies, companies and small businesses.
She is also author of Nobody Told Me! The Path to Financial Empowerment, a guide to building a solid and attainable financial foundation.
During her residency,Jenkins intends to help the library identify growing needs among entrepreneurs and small businesses in our community. She also plans to host virtual office hours, work with library staff to offer online programs and provide digital content on the library's website, which highlight and share her expertise.
To schedule a Small Business Coaching Appointment with Karen, click here.
Writer-in-Residence:
Noted children’s author, Dinah Johnson, served as the library's first Writer-in-Residence from September 2015 - November 2016.
The South Carolina native held weekly office hours at Richland Library Main--interacting with aspiring authors of all ages. Known for her poetic stories, including Black Magic, Johnson gathered inspiration from her surroundings during her residency and applied it to numerous projects.