Governor’s Awards

• An Iconic Statue

  The symbol of the awards is a hand-crafted bronze statue (above) designed by Columbia-based artist Jean McWhorter and presented to each recipient. The South Carolina Arts Foundation supports the awards program by sponsoring the annual creation and procurement of these iconic statues.

• A Golden Legacy

  To mark 50 years of the Governor’s Awards for the Arts in 2022, the SCAC initiated a video documentation project with Renderhouse Films telling the story of award recipients. The result was nine vignettes that look at South Carolina arts, culture, and history through the eyes of living, high-profile South Carolina artists who have received the award through the past 50 years:

  • John Acorn
  • Wilfred Delphin
  • Mary Jackson
  • Glenis Redmond
  • Tom Stanley
  • William Starrett
  • Leo Twiggs
  • Sam Wang
  • Cecil Williams

  Their stories cross diverse lines—racial, ethnic, gender, and artistic disciplines—and are individual works of art themselves, notable for their high production quality.

  South Carolina ETV wove them together and premiered the feature with host Jackie Adams on Jan. 5, 2023. You can watch it here on SCETV.org.

Governor's Award Recipients

• Current Recipients (2026)

  COLUMBIA MUSEUM OF ART
  Accessibility | Columbia

  WILLIAM “BILL” HARRIS
  Artist | McConnells

  TIFFANY REED SILVERMAN
  Individual | James Island

  DR. RICHARD O’MALLEY
  Arts in Education (Individual) | Florence
  

  ArtsNOW
  Arts in Education (Organization) | Columbia

  IAN WELCH
  Special Award | Brunson

  Current recipient bios.

• Recent Recipients

  Information on past recipients is available here.

  2025

  • Wade Sellers – Artist
  • Dr. Gail V. Barnes – Individual
  • Engaging Creative Minds – Arts in Education (Organization)
  • Koger Center for the Arts – Government
  • Sumter County Gallery of Art – Organization

   

  2024

  • Campbell Frost – Lifetime Achievement
  • Diane Frankenberger – Individual
  • Dr. Minuette Floyd – Arts in Education
  • South Carolina Philharmonic – Organization

  2023

  • Ray McManus – Artist
  • Carlos Agudelo – Individual
  • American College of the Building Arts – Arts in Education
  • Aiken Center for the Arts – Organization
  • Nigel Redden – Special Award

The 2027 Governor's Awards

• Nomination Deadline

  Nominations for the 2027 cycle will open Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026!

• Category Descriptions

  In addition to the categories below, the nine appointed commissioners of the South Carolina Arts Commission may choose to give special awards for achievements falling outside the defined categories.

  Eligibility & Restrictions

  • Commissioners and staff of the S.C. Arts Commission and members of their immediate families are not eligible for nomination.
  • Nominees must be living at the time of their nomination.
  • Past recipients of the Governor’s Awards are not eligible for nomination for 10 years following their award. Recipients who received a Governor’s Award prior to 2017 are eligible to be nominated for the 2027 awards.
  • Self-nominating is allowed.

  The commissioners may choose not to present an award in a particular category in a given year.

  ARTS IN EDUCATION – INDIVIDUAL

  Open to S.C. individuals whose primary function is arts education. May include arts educators—teachers, consultants, principals, or administrators.

  • Arts in Education was one category before the 2026 cycle.

  ARTS IN EDUCATION – ORGANIZATION

  Open to S.C. institutions whose primary function is arts education. May include schools, school districts, college/university arts departments, etc.

  • Arts in Education was one category before the 2026 cycle.

  ORGANIZATION

  Open to S.C. organizations who contribute to the advancement and/or support of the arts. May include: arts discipline organizations, arts councils, arts advocacy groups, guilds, arts departments of organizations, educational institutions, etc.

  ACCESSIBILITY

  Open to S.C. organizations that receive S.C. Arts Commission operating support funding and that have demonstrated a commitment to improving or providing access for individuals with disabilities to the arts in South Carolina.

  GOVERNMENT

  Open to S.C. agencies and institutions generally described as units of state, county or municipal governments that have served their communities in outstanding ways through the arts, OR elected or appointed officials who, in their official capacities, have demonstrated notable support for the arts through leadership and public policy.

  BUSINESS/FOUNDATION

  Open to S.C. individuals, or companies and foundations whose participation, support, and/or contributions have benefited the maintenance and growth of the arts.

  INDIVIDUAL

  Open to S.C. individuals who have demonstrated exceptional achievement and statewide impact through their leadership, support, and advancement of the arts. May include: arts professionals such as managers, administrators; arts supporters such as patrons, promoters, donors, etc.

  INDIVIDUAL ARTIST

  Open to S.C. artists of exceptional talent and creativity, in any discipline, whose contribution to the arts has helped guide and influence directions, trends and aesthetic practices across the state or to national or international levels.

• How the Selection Process Works

  Once the nomination window closes, a panel comprised of individuals representing the arts and arts education reviews all nominations and makes recommendations to the SCAC Board of Commissioners for final approval. Members of the selection committee may include artists, arts professionals, educators, members of the business community and state or local government, citizens at large, and others. The composition of the selection committee changes each year.

  Round One

  Nomination submissions are sent to each member of the selection committee for their review in advance of the committee’s first meeting. After initial review of all the nominations received, the selection committee will narrow the selections in each category.

  Round Two

  1. The committee will request additional information and/or materials in support of the nominations in each category advanced to round two. Types of additional materials could include resumes, letters of support, work samples, media materials, publications or images. These materials should only be submitted if requested by the committee.
  2. The committee will meet again to review support materials and make final selections to recommend to the SCAC Board of the Commissioners, which has final approval.
  3. Notification of award recipients and those not selected should take place in February.

• Rubric

  FY26 Governor's Awards for the Arts Nomination Evaluation Rubric (all categories except Accessibility)
  Basic Info/Overview – 12% of Total Score
  Bio or Overview	0 Points: No. A biography or overview of the nominee was not submitted.		6 Points: Yes. A brief biography or overview of the nominee was submitted.
  Location and Communities Served	0 Points: No. The South Carolina county in which the work is based and the communities the work serves are not identified.		6 Points: Yes. The South Carolina county in which the work is based and the communities the work serves are identified.
  Achievements – 40% of Total Score
  Recognitions and Awards	0-2 Points: The nominee has not received awards or recognition for their work in the arts.	3-5 Points: The nominee has received some awards and/or recognition for their work in the arts.	6-8 Points: The nominee has received significant awards and/or recognition for their work in the arts.	9-10 Points: The nominee has received exceptional awards and/or recognition for their work in the arts.
  Milestones and Accomplishments	0-3 Points: The nominee has not achieved milestones or accomplishments through their work in the arts.	4-7 Points: The nominee has achieved some milestones and/or accomplishments through their work in the arts.	8-12 Points: The nominee has achieved significant milestones and/or accomplishments through their work in the arts.	13-15 Points: The nominee has achieved exceptional milestones and/or accomplishments through their work in the arts.
  Distinguishing Factors	0-3 Points: The nominee has not distinguished themselves from others working in the same artistic field or discipline.	4-7 Points: The nominee has moderately distinguished themselves from others working in the same artistic field or discipline.	8-12 Points: The nominee has significantly distinguished themselves from others working in the same artistic field or discipline.	13-15 Points: The nominee has extraordinarily distinguished themselves from others working in the same artistic field or discipline.
  Impact – 48% of Total Score
  Impact: Local and Beyond	0-2 Points: The nominee has not impacted the arts in their local community and beyond. Impact is not documented through examples, either numerical or anecdotal.	3-6 Points: The nominee has moderately impacted the arts in their local community and beyond. This impact is partially documented through examples, both numerical and anecdotal.	7-10 Points: The nominee has significantly impacted the arts in their local community and beyond. This impact is documented through examples, both numerical and anecdotal.	11-12 Points: The nominee has extraordinarily impacted the arts in their local community and beyond. This impact is clearly documented through examples, both numerical and anecdotal.
  Expanded Access	0-2 Points: The nominee has not expanded access to the arts in their community. There is no evidence of programs or strategies that engaged new or underserved audiences.	3-6 Points: The nominee has moderately expanded access to the arts in their community by implementing some programs and/or strategies that helped engage new or underserved audiences.	7-10 Points: The nominee has significantly expanded access to the arts in their community by implementing programs and/or strategies that helped engage new or underserved audiences.	11-12 Points: The nominee has extraordinarily expanded access to the arts in their community by implementing targeted programs and/or strategies that helped engage new or underserved audiences.
  Leadership	0-2 Points: The nominee has not demonstrated leadership in the arts. There is no evidence of partnerships, collaborations, innovations, or outcomes.	3-6 Points: The nominee has demonstrated some leadership in the arts through partnerships, collaborations, innovations, or outcomes.	7-10 Points: The nominee has demonstrated significant leadership in the arts through partnerships, collaborations, innovations, or outcomes.	11-12 Points: The nominee has demonstrated exceptional leadership in the arts through intentional partnerships, collaborations, innovations, or outcomes.
  Cultural Landscape of SC	0-2 Points: The nominee has not had an impact on the cultural landscape of South Carolina through the arts.	3-6 Points: The nominee has had a moderate impact on the cultural landscape of South Carolina through the arts.	7-10 Points: The nominee has had a significant impact on the cultural landscape of South Carolina through the arts.	11-12 Points: The nominee has had an extraordinary impact on the cultural landscape of South Carolina through the arts.

  Printer-friendly rubric.

• Accessibility Category Rubric

  FY26 Governor's Awards for the Arts Accessibility Nomination Evaluation Rubric
  Physical Accessibility (Facilities) – 12% of total score
  Architectural accessibility assessment	0 Points: No. An architectural accessibility assessment has not been completed in the past three years.		6 Points: Yes. An architectural accessibility assessment has been completed in the past three years.
  Accessibility features	0 Points: The nominee has indicated having none of the accessibility features listed.	1-2 Points: The nominee has indicated having 1-2 of the accessibility features listed.	3-4 Points: The nominee has indicated having 3-4 of the accessibility features listed.	5-6 Points: The nominee has indicated having 5-6 of the accessibility features listed.
  Digital Accessibility (website) – 12% of total score
  Digital accessibility assessment	0 Points: No. A digital accessibility assessment has not been completed in the past three years.		6 Points: Yes. A digital accessibility assessment has been completed in the past three years.
  Digital accessibility overview	0 Points: The nominee has indicated having none of the accessibility features listed.	1-2 Points: The nominee has indicated having 1-2 of the accessibility features listed.	3-4 Points: The nominee has indicated having 3-4 of the accessibility features listed.	5-6 Points: The nominee has indicated having 5-6 of the accessibility features listed.
  Programmatic Accessibility – 12% of total score
  Requesting accommodations	0 Points: No. The nominee does not have a process for people with disabilities to request accommodations when attending programs.		6 Points: Yes. The nominee does have a process for people with disabilities to request accommodations when attending programs.
  Programmatic accessibility offerings	0 Points: The nominee has indicated having none of the accessibility features listed.	1-2 Points: The nominee has indicated having 1-2 of the accessibility features listed.	3-4 Points: The nominee has indicated having 3-4 of the accessibility features listed.	5-6 Points: The nominee has indicated having 5-6 of the accessibility features listed.
  Culture/Organization Accessibility – 14% of total score
  504/Accessibility Coordinator	0 Points: No. The nominee does not have a 504/Accessibility Coordinator.		3 Points: Yes. The nominee has a 504/Accessibility Coordinator.
  Board representation	0 Points: No. The nominee does not have disability representation on their board.		3 Points: Yes. The nominee has disability representation on their board.
  Disability consultation/advisory board	0 Points: No. The nominee does not seek disability-led consultation for their accessibility work.		4 Points: Yes. The nominee does seek disability-led consultation for their accessibility work.
  Accessibility training	0 Points: The nominee has not offered accessibility training/ professional development to their staff.	1-2 Points: The nominee has rarely offered accessibility training/ professional development opportunities to their staff.	3 Points: The nominee has occasionally offered accessibility training/ professional development opportunities to their staff.	4 Points: The nominee has frequently offered accessibility training/ professional development to their staff.
  Accessibility Overview and History – 50% of total score
  Accessibility work overview	0-2 Points: The nominee has not made efforts to support accessibility for people with disabilities. They have not shared when their work began or how it was started.	3-5 Points: The nominee has made some efforts to support accessibility for people with disabilities. They have included some information about when efforts began, as well as some indication about what started the work.	6-8 Points: The nominee has made consistent efforts to support accessibility for people with disabilities. They have included when efforts began, as well as a clear catalyst for the start of the work.	9-10 Points: The nominee has made very consistent, impactful efforts to support accessibility for people with disabilities. They have included when efforts began, as well as a very clear catalyst for the start of the work.
  Community impact	0-2 Points: The organization has not impacted the community for the better through their accessibility work; little to nothing has changed.	3-5 Points: The organization has moderately impacted the community for the better through their accessibility work; there has been some change.	6-8 Points: The organization has significantly impacted the community for the better through their accessibility work; there has been notable change.	9-10 Points: The organization has substantially impacted the community for the better through their accessibility work; there has been exceptional change.
  Outstanding accomplishment	0-2 Points: The organization's accessibility achievement has not demonstrated their progress towards arts accessibility.	3-5 Points: The organization's accessibility achievement has vaguely demonstrated their progress towards arts accessibility.	6-8 Points: The organization's accessibility achievement has clearly demonstrated their progress towards arts accessibility.	9-10 Points: The organization's accessibility achievement has very clearly demonstrated their progress towards arts accessibility.
  Feedback	0-2 Points: The organization is not seeking feedback from the disability community.	3-5 Points: The organization has limited methods of seeking feedback from the disability community.	6-8 Points: The organization has a clear way of seeking feedback from the disability community.	9-10 Points: The organization has very clear ways of seeking consistent feedback from the disability community.
  Future Plans	0-2 Points: The organization has no plans for the future of their accessibility work.	3-5 Points: The organization has vague plans for the future of their accessibility work.	6-8 Points: The organization has clear plans for the future of their accessibility work.	9-10 Points: The organization has substantial plans for the future of their accessibility work.

  Printer-friendly accessibility rubric.