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SC Arts Commission Arts in Education Program

 

Purpose

The purpose of the QuickStart program is to support in-school artist residencies that will take place during the current school year.

Description

The QuickStart (QST) program provides support for schools wishing to initiate a program of ongoing artist residencies during the current school year. Awards in this category may be used to cover residency fees, but may not be used to cover travel expenses or supplies. QuickStart is designed to serve individual schools that do not currently have a Residency Plus or ABC Advancement grant award.

Definition of a Residency

A residency, for the purpose of this grant, consists of at least 22 hours of meaningful interaction between a teaching artist from the SC Arts Commission’s Roster of Approved Artists and the teachers and students of the applicant school. The teaching artist should see the same group of students at least three times, and preferably more. Remaining hours may be used to provide performances, workshops, artist studio time, professional development between the teachers and teaching artist, and to complete the SC Arts Commission’s Residency Planning and Residency Assessment forms. The Residency Planning and Assessment forms are designed to facilitate co-planning, assessment, and understanding between the teaching artist and teacher(s) with whom they will share a classroom. Both forms are mandatory.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant must be:

• a SC public or private school (pre-K-12), OR
• a nonprofit after school program in partnership with a pre-K-12 SC public or private school, OR
• a unit of government or charitable organization currently registered with the SC Office of the Secretary of State that either has its own federal tax-exempt status with the IRS or is applying through a fiscal agent - in partnership with a pre-K-12 SC public or private school that has not previously received funding through the SC Arts Commission's Arts in Education or Arts Education Initiatives grant programs during the current fiscal year.

Restrictions

1. Contracted artists must be on the Arts Commission’s Arts in Education Roster of Approved Artists.
2. Schools that are currently being served through an SCAC Arts in Education Residency Plus or ABC Advancement grant are ineligible to apply in this category.
3. Applicants may only receive one QuickStart award per fiscal year (July 1 - June 30).
4. Recipients must complete SC Arts Commission Residency Planning and Assessment documents in cooperation with their chosen teaching artist.
5. The residency must be planned before the application is submitted and the completed Artist Utilization Detail form must include the artist's name, dates of the residency, and total artist fees.
6. SCAC will not fund residencies that have already occurred.
7. QuickStart grants do not fund stand-alone performances.
   

Deadline

Applications must be received at least six weeks prior to the scheduled residency.

Applications must be postmarked or hand-delivered to the SC Arts Commission offices before 5:00 PM, no later than the stated date, or, when the deadline occurs on a weekend or holiday, no later than the next business day.

Funding Ranges and Grant Payments

Up to $750, the SCAC pays 1/2 of artist fee.

Please note that the applicant must pay the artist in full upon the conclusion of the residency. Once the applicant has submitted a complete final report, including the Residency Planning and Residency Assessment documents, the SCAC will reimburse the applicant, not exceeding the total grant award. The SCAC does not pay artists directly.

Match

1:1 (applicant:SCAC). The applicant’s match must be cash.

Funding Examples

Please note: The SC Arts Commission will not fund programs for which the sum of all artist(s) fees is less than $750.

If your total artist fees are:	You may request:
$750	$375
$1000	$500
$1500	$750
over $1500	$750 (maximum award)

Filing Fee

None

Review Process

Please contact your SC Arts Commission county coordinator for guidance on completing the application form, or on selecting and contracting an Arts in Education Roster artist for residency.

 

The initial staff review of applications focuses on eligibility, compliance with guidelines, and completeness of application packet. After the application review is complete, the AIE Program Director submits funding recommendations to the Executive Director, who makes the final funding decision. Funds are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis and funding is limited. All applicants are notified by letter of the Commission's decision. Successful applicants are sent a grant contract packet which includes a contract, Residency Planning and Assessment forms, and final report form. Grant awards are disbursed upon the receipt and approval of the grantee's final report, which is due no later than thirty (30) days after the completion of the residency.

Final Report

All grantees are required to file a AIE Final Report (PDF) (How To Use PDFs) at the end of the grant period. The Final Report Due Date is printed on your contract. Failure to file the final report by the due date will result in cancellation of the award and repayment of any funds received. SCAC will not fund applicants who have outstanding final reports. Submit only original final report forms with original signatures. Do not submit copies or fax your final report form. AIE QuickStart Final Reports must be accompanied by a completed Artist Utilization Form and completed Residency Planning and Assessment documents.

Required Application Materials

Each page/item of materials must be labeled with the name of the applicant and be submitted in a format suitable for copying. Typeface must be legible, and no less than 12 point.

Do not use 3-ring binders, folders, or bind the application materials in any way other than with binder clips or paper clips.

The application package must include one complete collated set of items as follows:

1. Two Forms

Originals, completed and signed. Forms are in Portable Document Format (PDF). How To Use PDFs

1. Grant Application for Organizations. Please list the school participating in the residency as the primary applicant, and the school district as the secondary applicant. Application must be signed by school principal or school district representative.
2. Artist Utilization Detail. Check the "Proposed" block and complete all details concerning the residency information. The residency must be planned before application is submitted and the completed Artist Utilization Detail form must include the artist's name, dates of the residency, and total artist fees. In order to receive a QuickStart grant for an artist residency, the contracted artist must be listed on the Arts in Education Roster of Approved Artists and the name must be the same as it appears on the Roster.

2. Private Schools and Charitable Organizations Only

Private schools and charitable organizations must ALSO submit the following

1. Board of Directors List
   List of Applicant’s current board of directors. Include board members' occupations/professional affiliations indicating with asterisks those who are African-American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian, and Hispanic.
2. SC Charities Letter
   Include a copy of applicant's current SC Registration as Charitable Organizations letter. The letter must be renewed annually with the SC Office of the Secretary of State in accordance with the provisions of the SC Solicitation of Charitable Funds Act. Note: School PTOs are exempt from submitting SC Charities letters.
3. IRS Tax-Exempt Letter
   A copy of applicant's IRS tax-exempt letter.
   OR, IF APPLYING THROUGH A FISCAL AGENT,
   
   1. A copy of fiscal agent's IRS tax-exempt letter
   2. A copy of formal agreement between applicant and fiscal agent that outlines the working relationship and responsibilities of both parties.

Submit completed applications to:

Arts in Education QuickStart Grants Program
South Carolina Arts Commission
1800 Gervais Street
Columbia, SC 29201

NOTE: Incomplete applications will not be accepted. Submit only one original application form with original signatures. Do not submit copies or fax your application.