Blending realism and abstraction is what artist Charles Edward Williams does best. However, he does not want to keep his passion for art to himself. His ability to create transcends his art as he vows to help others unify their artistic skills in the community. Hence, the idea of the CEW Collaborative was born.
Built in the Lowcountry of Georgetown, SC, the CEW Collaborative is a growing and thriving evolution supporting the community that once supported Williams himself. It aims to give back to its communities and provide foundational support for young artists to launch successful careers.
“Our communities need creatives, and creatives need communities,” says Williams. This caring reciprocity is evident in his works and within the CEW Collaborative.
Supporting Artists and Their Communities
The CEW Collaborative provides resources for world-class art instruction, arts workforce training, and equitable access to quality materials and supplies. This encourage students to be open-minded and share ideas. The only limit is an artist’s bravery and courage to create.
Many renowned art community members, such as Suzanne Fetscher, the retired president and founder of the McColl Center here in Charlotte, are among the creative talent pulled together for the CEW Collaborative, which aims to help creatives connect with themselves and their communities.
In an ode to its mission, the CEW Collaborative helps students develop relationships with local partners such as community members, businesses, institutions, art organizations, schools, and more. These symbiotic relationships can lead to placements in the workforce and mentoring opportunities that give back to the community.
We had the privilege of speaking with Williams about how he decided to create the CEW Collaborative and how it has impacted his life.
Tell us about why you created the CEW Collaborative.
I created the CEW Collaborative to serve my Lowcountry community. Personally and professionally, my place in the art world is a blessing to me due to those from my hometown, Georgetown, SC, who invested in me. It is my commitment to plant a foundational seed as an art organization of a place of belonging that aids creatives to pursue the arts while being supported and cultivated.
Art saved me and gave me growth, fresh perspectives, and insight to communicate my ideas and visually understand our world’s ideas. I am grateful for the path I have been guided on, and I’m compelled to serve others toward the same rebirth and transformative enlightenment.
How does CEW Collaborative plan to transform arts education in the Lowcountry?
The CEW Collaborative has four core pillars to share and implement for creatives in our communities: Discover, Create, Evolve, and Together. These pillars will guide, educate, and allow for students to collaborate communicatively and collectively.
Our Collaboratives’ philosophy is to discover collectively by artistically rediscovering two parts: one’s self and through service. Middle and high school students will be guided, learning the business and entrepreneur-professional practices and marketing while building a portfolio for a credited college.
Why is it important to cultivate creative communities throughout the Carolinas?
There is a huge need to serve our underserved creatives and support them in ways that allow us to cohabitate. I believe the Collaboratives’ mission will educate the souls of individuals to strengthen our ecosystem and understand our commonalities for humanity. Art can be a powerful tool to unite communities and students’ needs and aid parents in those possible opportunities.
What has evolving from a student into a leader and a visionary been like for you?
The journey has been a rewarding and transformational process, personally and artistically. I’m no longer interested in being famous, and my true purpose is to help the next generation acquire and preserve the fundamental tools that helped me pursue the arts. I get excited, and my spirit is rich, knowing I have made a difference. I aspire to pass my torch forward so someone may develop their journey to finding purpose.
Upcoming Plans
Williams already has big plans for the CEW Collaborative, including yearly special projects for students to engage in, an ongoing nine-month school, multiple locations in the Carolinas, and more.
The CEW Collaborative will begin its first project, “How to Build a Boat,” in partnership with the Cape Fear Community College Boat Building program on April 19 and 26, 2024. Five middle and high school students were selected to participate in this project, which will explore the traditionally male-driven occupation of boatbuilding through Renaissance drawing techniques.
The “How to Build a Boat” project is just one example of how the CEW Collaborative’s wealth of artistic talent, shareable resources, and urge to make art create the perfect environment for artists to have a safe, collaborative workspace to hone their skills, craft their narrative, and cultivate art that engages with the local community.
To learn more about the CEW Collaborative, visit their website and follow Williams on Instagram to stay updated on his upcoming exhibitions.
In partnership with the CEW Collaborative and Charles Williams.
