Sponsored by the Institute of Southern Studies and the Bicentennial Commission, "Changing the Face of South Carolina" will feature panel discussions that will address how the state’s new diverse population will affect social services, politics, and culture. The conference, to be held at the State Museum, also will honor citizens who have made extraordinary contributions by addressing state problems and bringing South Carolinians together. (See schedule below.)

"The conference is about how the face and culture of South Carolina are changing right now and what that means for all of us who live here," said Thorne Compton, a theatre professor and chair of the bicentennial’s Executive Committee.

In the past 10 to 20 years, South Carolina has attracted new residents from Latin America, Asia, Eastern Europe, and other areas, Compton said. Many rural counties now have a large population from Colombia, Guatemala, or El Salvador who have moved to the state to be a part of life here.

"This has changed the way our politics work, our culture works, and the way we look at ourselves," Compton said. "For 300 years in South Carolina, we focused on black people and white people, and as difficult as that relationship has been over three centuries, they were two groups of people who got to know each other pretty well.

"They shared a lot of commonalities in their food and music and expectations and came together and developed an indigenous culture. Now there are a lot more players at the table, and we all have to look at each other in new ways."

In addition to the panel discussion, the conference will include a Concert for a New South Carolina from 7 to 9 p.m. Nov. 29 at the State Museum, featuring performers from a variety of cultures in the state.

"The idea is to hear what the voice of South Carolina is going to be like," Compton said. "It will speak with different tongues and listen to different kinds of music, and people are going to move to different dance steps than we have in the past. And it’s going to represent a broader range of colors."

During the concert, awards will be given to six citizens, five living and one from the past, who have dedicated themselves to reaching across ethnic and cultural lines to build strong communities.

"We want to thank them for helping to create the rich tapestry that South Carolina has now and will have in the future," Compton said. "That richness will be important to everyone’s life."

 "Changing the Face of South Carolina" will take place Nov. 29-30 at the State Museum. The conference schedule is as follows:

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