AJBM Literary Foundation rebrands as Millican Arts Foundation

The AJBM Literary Foundation announced Sept. 30 its rebranding as the Millican Arts Foundation, leveraging its national and international outreach into a movement that seeks to expand the proven healing and transformative power of cross-cultural arts experiences across diverse communities.

Building on 17 years of comprehensive arts programming, the refocused foundation is expanding its vision to create partnerships that can scale the impact of stories celebrating human connection across all cultures.

"For nearly two decades, AJBM has proven that arts programming rooted in authentic cultural stories can transform individuals and communities," said Rick Jones, executive director of Millican Arts Foundation. Jones founded the original AJBM Literary Foundation in 2008 to preserve the work and legacy of his aunt, Dr. Arthenia Jackson Bates Millican, a native of Sumter and a renowned American poet, short story writer, essayist and educator.

"We've seen how theater, visual arts, music and literary programming unite people across boundaries when they're grounded in the truth that every story matters," Jones said. "Now we're seeking partnerships to share this proven model with communities within Sumter and beyond."

Since its founding in 2008, the AJBM Literary Foundation has invested and donated more than $120,000 in arts programming and community service to Sumter and the surrounding region. The foundation hosted the Millican Literary Arts Festival from 2009-11, which featured internationally recognized artists. The foundation brought the acclaimed Alvin Ailey Dance Theater to Sumter as well as the Love, Respect and Unity Festival. It created and implemented the innovative “Whose Story Is it?” curriculum based on Millican’s "Seeds Beneath the Snow" book integrating theater, music, dance, visual arts and media arts.

The foundation's achievements include: production of the 2008 film documentary “A Tribute to Dr. Arthenia Jackson Bates Millican"; Millican's posthumous induction into the South Carolina Academy of Authors in 2017; designation of her 1912 Sumter home as a South Carolina Literary Landmark in 2019; and publication of the "Hallelujah Trials” magazine. In addition, a permanent collection of her papers will be housed at the University of South Carolina's South Caroliniana Library. These milestones established credibility for the organization's broader arts programming.

Millican Arts Foundation maintains this proven approach while seeking partnerships with communities, educational institutions and cultural organizations. The foundation creates arts programs, products and services inspired by Dr. Millican's belief that authentic stories — whether expressed through theater, visual arts, music or written word — have the power to heal divisions and celebrate our shared humanity.

"Arthenia Millican showed us that when people see their own experiences reflected in art, and when they encounter stories from other cultures with openness, barriers dissolve," Jones explained. "Our revised 'Whose Story Is it?” curriculum demonstrates this. Students engage with Black American literature through theater, create visual art that explores identity and discover universal themes of resilience and belonging."

The foundation will make its first public appearance as Millican Arts at the Sumter eSTEAM Festival on Saturday, Oct. 4.

Plans for 2025 include building a membership community, identifying partnership opportunities, building relationships with arts and educational organizations and developing scalable programming models for diverse cultural contexts. The foundation plans a community event and public launch in spring 2026.

About the Millican Arts Foundation
The Millican Arts Foundation is the 501(c)(3) nonprofit evolution of the AJBM Literary Foundation, established in 2008 by Dr. Arthenia Jackson Bates Jackson Millican's nephew, Rick Jones, to preserve and promote her literary legacy. After 17 years of proven success with comprehensive arts programming in Sumter, the foundation has rebranded to expand its influence and impact. Millican Arts creates programs, products and services inspired by the life, legacy, literary works and historic home of Dr. Millican, a renowned American poet, short story writer, essayist and educator. The foundation works across communities with educators, students, families and organizations to create meaningful arts experiences that trigger cultural awareness and connection through theater, visual arts, music and literary programming. Millican Arts builds strategic partnerships and community engagement to foster well-being and transcend human divisions, guided by the belief that everyone's story matters. For more information, visit MillicanArts.org or contact Rick Jones at (704) 942-4130 or MillicanArts@MillicanArts.org.