“Take this pen and figure for the world”
It started with a father’s faith in his three-year-old daughter.
Calvin Jackson watched little Arthenia scribble her first words, mesmerized by stories only she could see, and he knew this child would not live an ordinary life. Already captivated by the power of language, already hungry for the magic that flows from pen to paper, Arthenia possessed something rare—the ability to transform thoughts into worlds.
So Calvin placed a pen in her small hands and spoke words that would echo through generations: “Take this pen and figure for the world.”
The child remembered.
Millican Arts has taken up her pen because Arthenia showed us that it is through the arts that we can become citizens of the world.
Calvin Jackson, Arthenia’s father, gave young Arthenia advice that would guide her life.
The AJBM Literary Foundation Legacy
Since 2008, the original AJBM Literary Foundation has been the keeper of Arthenia’s flame.
Founded by her nephew Richard (Rick) Jones to honor her towering legacy, the foundation has worked tirelessly to ensure her voice continues to resonate. They hosted the inaugural Millican Literary Arts Festival, bringing writers and dreamers together in celebration of the written word.
Richard (Rick) Jones
Recognition
In 2017, she was posthumously inducted into the South Carolina Academy of Authors — recognition long overdue for a woman whose words had already changed countless lives.
Literary Landmark
Her 1912 Sumter home earned designation as a South Carolina Literary Landmark in 2019.
Introducing Millican Arts
From this rich foundation, Millican Arts emerges with a broader vision and deeper purpose.
Where the AJBM Literary Foundation preserved Arthenia’s literary legacy, Millican Arts expands that mission into a movement that celebrates every form of artistic expression. Whether you paint murals on city walls, write poetry in quiet corners, dance to rhythms only you can hear, or craft stories that heal broken spirits — your art matters because your story matters.
Through programs, partnerships, and experiences rooted in Arthenia’s life and home, we create spaces where artists of all backgrounds can connect, create, and thrive. Our work builds bridges between communities, generations, and cultures — proving that art doesn’t just reflect our world, it transforms and heals it.
Because every story matters.
Vision: A World Connected Through the Arts
Millican Arts envisions a world where arts experiences connect every individual, regardless of their story or background. We celebrate artists of all types who tell authentic stories about our universal human experiences.
We see a future where Arthenia’s insights about resilience, identity and belonging from her Black roots in Sumter, South Carolina, resonate in communities across the globe.
Our vision builds a bridge for cross-cultural heritage and understanding.
We imagine a world united by the belief that everyone’s story matters.
Mission: Ignite a Cross‑Cultural Arts Movement
The Millican Arts mission is to ignite a global cross-cultural arts movement that uplifts individuals and communities.
Millican Arts creates arts programs, products, and services inspired by the life, legacy, literary works, and historic home of Arthenia Jackson Bates Millican, a renowned American poet, short story writer, essayist and educator.
We work across communities with educators, students, families, and organizations to create meaningful arts experiences that trigger cultural awareness and connection.
Millican Arts builds strategic partnerships, alliances and community engagement to foster wellbeing and transcend human divisions.
Become Part of the Millican Arts Story
Calvin Jackson gave his daughter a pen and challenged her to figure for the world — and she did, leaving us a roadmap for how art can heal, connect, and inspire. Now we extend that same invitation to you: take up whatever tool moves your soul — paintbrush, camera, voice, or pen — and join us in figuring for the world.
Together, we can ensure that every artist finds their stage, every voice finds its audience, and every story finds its way into the world. Because your story matters, too.
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