Art of Community: Rural SC Grants

About This Grant

Purpose

This grant supports arts-based projects throughout rural South Carolina that use the arts to address issues and challenges in rural communities. The project must serve the rural community in which the applicant is located.

Grant-funded activities should:

1. expand community access to the arts in rural areas and
2. include a public engagement component and
3. engage a project steering committee* to lead the project.

*A project steering committee is the group of people who will be collaborating on and leading this project. This group should have a strong understanding of the project and the applicant organization.

• The project steering committee is responsible for, but not limited to, providing advice and direction, setting the project timeline and budget, monitoring the quality of the project, evaluating, and monitoring success of the project, and defining project outcomes.

Please Note

Grant guidelines are subject to change until the application opens.

• Eligibility

  1. The applicant must be
     • a college or university; OR
     • a unit of state or local government, OR
     • a public library, public library authority, network of public library authorities, or organization managing a public library authority as defined under the Public Libraries & Museums Act 1964; OR
     • a nonprofit organization
       1. currently registered as a charity with the S.C. Secretary of State’s Office
          Note: Applicants who are exempt from this registration must upload their registration exemption approval.
       2. reflecting S.C. as the primary address on all current official organizational documents
       3. with federal tax-exempt status with the Internal Revenue Service
          OR
          applying through a tax-exempt fiscal agent/receiver organization
          • Note: Applicants who are applying through a fiscal agent/receiver must submit a letter outlining the working relationship and responsibilities of both parties.

  2. In accordance with federal government policy, all organizations – including (but not limited to) private schools, public school districts, government entities, and nonprofit organizations – must provide a valid UEI number* to receive an SCAC grant award.

     *Learn about the new grant requirement: Unique Entity ID (UEI)

     Note: If an applicant organization is using a fiscal agent/receiver, separate UEI numbers must be provided for both the applicant organization and the fiscal agent/receiver. Exceptions to separate UEI numbers are organizations run by a local government or a school district.

• Restrictions

  • Applicants may submit only one (1) application per fiscal year.
  • College and university departments are eligible, but only one (1) application per department per fiscal year will be accepted.
  • Schools and school districts are not eligible.
  • Individual artists are not eligible.
  • Any arts material or activity that is already funded by an SCAC grant may not be duplicated in, or overlap with, an Art of Community: Rural SC grant application.
  • Administrative support fees may not exceed 15% of the total project budget.

  Projects must support one or more of the following artistic disciplines:

  • Dance (choreography or performance)
  • Music (composition or performance)
  • Opera/musical theatre (production or performance)
  • Theatre (performance or playwriting)
  • Visual arts (painting, drawing, mixed media, sculpture, or printmaking)
  • Crafts (ceramics, fiber, glass, leather, metal, paper, plastic, or wood)
  • Photography
  • Design arts (architecture, fashion, graphic, industrial, or interior)
  • Media arts (film, animation, including production or screenwriting)
  • Literature (poetry or prose)
  • Spoken word/slam poetry
  • Time-based arts (installation, sound, video art, animation, film, computer generated art, or performance art)
  • Public art (ephemeral or permanent)

• Use of Funds

  Grant funds must be used for actual project costs, defined as consumable and non-consumable items needed to complete the proposed project. Those might include but are not limited to:

  • Artist residencies
  • Exhibitions
  • Digital projects
  • Arts festivals
  • Workshops
  • Community murals
  • Equipment (e.g., kilns, lighting or sound equipment, musical instruments, storage)
  • Furniture (e.g., easels, music stands)
  • Professional services (e.g., performance space rental, web designer, consultant fees)
  • Artistic services (e.g., muralist, performers, instructors)

  These grant funds cannot be used for:

  • New construction/facilities construction
  • Any activities primarily intended for fundraising
  • Goods for resale
  • Lobbying
  • Costs not directly related to the arts
  • Capital expenses or purchases
  • Scholarships or prizes
  • Endowment funds
  • Operational support
  • Professional development
  • Entertainment expenses, such as receptions, staff/member parties, awards, flowers, etc.
  • Food, beverages, alcohol, catering services

  If you are hiring artists or teaching artists

  • If you are a preschool, school, or school district: SCAC grant recipients that are schools or school districts are required to use members of the S.C. Arts Directory for grant-funded group lectures, demonstrations, performances, classroom residencies, and short-term arts teaching experiences.
  • If you are an organization: SCAC grant recipients that are organizations are strongly encouraged to use members of the S.C. Arts Directory for grant-funded group lectures, demonstrations, performances, classroom residencies, and short-term arts teaching experiences.

  Artists labeled as "Verified Teaching Artists" on the S.C. Arts Directory have been additionally vetted by SCAC through the submission of sample lesson plans, recorded teaching samples, and letters of recommendation; we encourage but do not require grant-funded teaching artist residencies to employ Verified Teaching Artists.

  • Learn more about the S.C. Arts Directory
  • Search for an artist

• Additional Requirements of this Grant

  • Any activities carried out within this grant must align with state guidelines regarding COVID-19.
  • All projects must:
    1. include a public engagement component
       AND
    2. provide opportunities for
       • participants to develop their own artistic skills and/or produce their own artistic work; OR
       • artistic development for artists through activities such as residencies or workshops; OR
       • using the arts in new contexts.

• Priority

  Priority will be given to applicants located in one of the SCAC’s Opportunity Initiative Counties:
  

  • Allendale
  • Bamberg
  • Calhoun
  • Cherokee
  • Clarendon
  • Dillon
  • Edgefield
  • Hampton
  • Jasper
  • Laurens
  • Lee
  • Marion
  • Marlboro
  • Saluda
  • Williamsburg

• Deadline & Grant Period

  Deadline

  At least five (5) weeks before the project begins, for projects beginning on or after October 31, 2023.

  • Application period: September 26, 2023 – March 5, 2024
  • Applications must be submitted at least five weeks (unless otherwise noted by an * below) before grant-funded activities begin or purchases are made. However, earlier applications are encouraged. Applicants do not need to wait until five weeks before their project starts to apply.
  • Note: No applications will be accepted after Tuesday, March 5, 2024.

  Here are some time-specific deadlines:

  • October 2, 2023, for projects beginning November 6 or later.
    Notification (awarded or declined) is expected the week of October 30.
  • October 30, 2023, for projects beginning December 11* or later.
    Notification (awarded or declined) is expected the week of December 4.
  • December 4, 2023, for projects beginning January 15, 2024* or later.
    Notification (awarded or declined) is expected the week of January 8, 2024.
  • January 08, 2024, for projects beginning February 12 or later.
    Notification (awarded or declined) is expected the week of February 5.
  • February 5, 2024, for projects beginning March 11 or later.
    Notification (awarded or declined) is expected the week of March 4.
  • March 5, 2024, for projects beginning April 15* or later.
    Notification (awarded or declined) is expected the week of April 8.

  Applications may be submitted until 11:59 p.m. (Eastern Time) on the deadline date. However, please be aware that staff members will not be available to assist you with questions or technical difficulties after SCAC closes at 5 p.m. that day.

  Grant Period

  October 31, 2023 – May 31, 2024

• Funding & Match

  Funding

  Up to $7,500

  Federal funding note:

  This grant is funded using federal dollars. The SCAC will notify the grantee of the type of federal dollars used. Because the grant will be funded using federal dollars, the grantee’s match must not consist of federal funding.

  Additionally, federal funding requires special actions and auditing treatment. If you are audited, please advise your auditors of these federal receipts. The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) has established the following requirements for recipients of federal funds:

  • Provide a final grant report to the SCAC.
  • Adhere to the prohibition against lobbying within a federally supported grant.
  • Use U.S. air carriers for foreign travel associated with this grant.
  • Maintain records pertinent to the grant for six (6) years following submission of the final report.

  Matching Requirements

  Note: If your rural community spans counties in multiple tiers, please contact Grants Manager Amber Westbrook (803.734.8803 | awestbrook@arts.sc.gov) BEFORE beginning your application.

  TIER 1: 1:3 (applicant:SCAC)

  • A 1:3 match means that for each dollar granted, the grantee must match with $0.33 of their own funds.
    • For example, if the total project cost is $1,800, the applicant may request $1,350 and must provide the remaining $450 from other sources.
  • Up to 50% of the grantee’s match may be in-kind donation of materials and contracted services that are essential to the project.
    • Examples of “in-kind” include: a contracted fee that is waived or discounted as a donation to your project, a facility donation to host an event, a local craft store donates supplies for a community mural.
  • Funds may not be matched with another SCAC grant or with any federal funds.

  Tier 1 counties:

  • Abbeville
  • Allendale
  • Bamberg
  • Barnwell
  • Cherokee
  • Chesterfield
  • Clarendon
  • Colleton
  • Dillon
  • Hampton
  • Lee
  • Marion
  • Marlboro
  • McCormick
  • Newberry
  • Oconee
  • Orangeburg
  • Williamsburg

  TIER 2: 1:2 (applicant:SCAC)

  • A 1:2 match means that for each dollar granted, the grantee must match with $0.50 of their own funds.
    • For example, if the total project cost is $1,800, the applicant may request $1,200 and must provide the remaining $600 from other sources.
  • Up to 50% of the grantee’s match may be in-kind donation of materials and contracted services that are essential to the project.
    • Examples of “in-kind” include: a contracted fee that is waived or discounted as a donation to your project, a facility donation to host an event, a local craft store donates supplies for a community mural.
  • Funds may not be matched with another SCAC grant or with any federal funds.

  Tier 2 counties:

  • Calhoun
  • Chester
  • Darlington
  • Edgefield
  • Fairfield
  • Georgetown
  • Greenwood
  • Jasper
  • Kershaw
  • Lancaster
  • Laurens
  • Saluda
  • Union

  TIER 3: 1:1 (applicant:SCAC)

  • A 1:1 match means that for each dollar granted, the grantee must match with $1.00 of their own funds.
    • For example, if the total project cost is $1,800, the applicant may request $900 and must provide the remaining $900 from other sources.
  • Up to 50% of the grantee’s match may be in-kind donation of materials and contracted services that are essential to the project.
    • Examples of “in-kind” include: a contracted fee that is waived or discounted as a donation to your project, a facility donation to host an event, a local craft store donates supplies for a community mural.
  • Funds may not be matched with another SCAC grant or with any federal funds.

  Tier 3 counties:

  • Aiken
  • Anderson
  • Berkeley
  • Beaufort
  • Charleston
  • Dorchester
  • Florence
  • Greenville
  • Horry
  • Lexington
  • Pickens
  • Richland
  • Spartanburg
  • Sumter
  • York

• Grant Criteria

  Are you wondering what makes for a strong application?

  The SCAC recommends using the FY24 Art of Community: Rural SC Grant Evaluation Rubric as a guide when writing your application. Grant panelists will score your application responses based on the criteria within this rubric.

How to Apply

Applications are accepted through our grants portal, which uses the Foundant platform.

New to Foundant? For frequently asked questions, registration instructions, and other helpful information, we highly recommend visiting the Grants Portal FAQ, before you begin working in the system.

• Your Grants Portal Account

  The applicant must have an active account in our Grants Portal.

  • If you have previously used Submittable to apply for other SCAC grants or programs, please note that the grants portal is a different system. Your Submittable credentials will not work; you will need a grants portal account to apply for this grant.
  • If you have used the grants portal as both an artist and as a contact for a school or organization, be sure you log on with the correct account to apply for this grant.

• Support Materials

  You are required to submit up to five (5) pieces of support material for your project.

  • Please submit support materials/work samples that best represent the type of work you will do related to this proposal. This could include, but is not limited to work samples of artists hired for the project, examples of related projects you have previously completed, photos or video of project location, etc.
  • All work samples should be current (less than five years old).
  • Links to websites where support materials can be viewed are also permitted, including social media sites or YouTube videos. Provide the URLs and other descriptive information. All URL links must be public facing or viewable to those who have the link, meaning panelists and staff must be able to view the work sample without needing to create an account.
  • If you are uncertain what to submit, refer to the “Support Materials” page of our website for additional details, and/or contact Grants Manager Amber Westbrook (803.734.8803 | awestbrook@arts.sc.gov) for advisement.

  Accepted types of support materials

  Video files up to three (3) minutes long each
  Formats: URL link address to web or social media sites

  Audio files up to three (3) minutes long each
  Formats: URL link address to web or social media sites

  Image files
  Acceptable file types: .gif, .jpg/.jpeg, .png, .tif/.tiff, .svg

  Document files
  Acceptable file types: .doc/.docx, .pdf, .rtf., .txt

  Website files
  Format: URL link address to web or social media sites

• Starting Your Application

  1. Follow the “Apply” link below. The Grants Portal will open in a new browser tab or window.
  2. Log on, then click the “Apply” link at the top of your applicant dashboard.
  3. Find “FY24 Art of Community: Rural SC” in the list of available grant applications, and click the “Apply” button to the far right.

After You Apply

• Review Process

  The Grants Team will review submitted applications for completeness and compliance with guideline and application requirements. A review panel of community arts professionals will evaluate the applications based on the published review criteria (refer to the “Grant Criteria” section). An applicant’s panel comments are available to them upon request. Staff will then develop funding recommendations, based on these evaluations and the availability of funds. Final funding decisions are approved by the deputy director. Award notification is expected in four to five weeks after the application deadline.

• If You Receive a Grant Award

  If your application is funded, you (and your fiscal agent/receiver, if applicable) will enter into a contractual agreement with the South Carolina Arts Commission, and you must comply with all requirements stated in that contract. You will receive notification and instructions when your contract is available in the Grants Portal. You must submit your completed contract packet, including signatures and other documentation as instructed, by the date indicated in the system. You must also complete all other assigned follow ups by the due date.

  Please note: Any significant revisions to grant-funded activities must be approved in writing, in advance, by the SCAC. Significant revisions to grant-funded activities must be emailed to grants@arts.sc.gov to be processed for approval or denial.

  Additional details about managing an SCAC grant are available on our agency website.

  Grant Payments

  Payments are reimbursement-based. This means 50% of expenses must be financed up front by the grantee and/or a cooperating entity.

  • An initial 50% of the grant award will be released upon receipt and approval of a completed contract packet.
  • The remaining 50% will be paid on an expense reimbursement basis, released upon receipt and approval of an accurate final report, listing only expenses allowable under the program guidelines for the certified time period. This means 50% of expenses must be financed up front by the grantee and/or a cooperating entity.

  Final Report

  ALL GRANTEES are required to file a final report at the end of the grant period. The final report due date is stated in the grant contract. Failure to submit an accurate and complete 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.