Claudette Humphrey, a resident of Cat Island and vice president of the board of the Arts Council of Beaufort County was honored on Sunday, March 28th for her leadership in the arts. Her honor was bestowed by the Hestelle Woodbury Women’s Missionary Society of the Grace Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church, on Charles Street in downtown Beaufort, along with four other women for their achievements in Business, Community, Education and Social Services. This recognition of Women’s power and influence is a part of Women’s History Month, celebrating the national theme of “Writing Women Back Into History.”

Claudette’s enthusiasm for the arts goes way back to the 1970s when teaching first graders in New Rochelle, New York, where she joined other arts-minded teachers in yearlong workshops at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in Manhattan and Julliard School. She immersed herself in New York arts culture inviting all the arts– from dance to drama and from painting to poetry– daily into her classroom and into her life. Her years of living in California, Hawaii, New York, and now Beaufort are credited for the colors, themes and the vistas that are reflected in her paintings.
In addition to her support for the arts council, Claudette exhibits her work at the Red Piano Too Gallery, and is an exhibiting member of the Beaufort Art Association, and the Beaufort County Black Chamber of Commerce. She is past president of Chums Inc., past president of the American Association of University Women, chairwoman of Board of Directors of Access Network Inc., and president of the Friends Affiliate of Head Start. Claudette also volunteers in the public schools, mentoring young girls and teaching them her love & appreciation of the arts. She has worked on different fundraising projects at Penn Center, the arts council, and Access Network Inc. a HIV/Aids organization. She recently launched her own website, ArtbyClaudette.com, after graduating from the business development program at the Technical College of the Lowcountry and the Small Business Hub the FastTrac New Venture program.

Claudette’s achievements are vivid proof that the arts are integral to strong creative leadership and vital to healthy community progress.