Arts Project Support Grants

About This Grant

Purpose

These grants support an artist’s or organization’s quality arts project or program or their commitment to improving themselves and/or their work artistically. Among other things, the APS grant can be used to build and/or increase technical, online, or virtual capacity; for supporting art projects in public spaces, community arts development, or professional development for artists and arts administration staff.

Please Note

Grant guidelines are subject to change until the application opens.

• Eligibility

  For Artists

  The applicant must meet all the following eligibility requirements:

  1. Be a practicing artist in one of the following 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)
  2. Be a legal resident of the U.S. and S.C., with a permanent residence in the state for at least one year prior to the application and throughout the grant period.
  3. Be 18 years of age or older at the time of application.
  4. Not be a degree-seeking student during the grant period.

  For Organizations

  1. The applicant must be
     • a unit of government, 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 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

  1. Applicants may receive up to two APS grant awards totaling no more than $2,500 within a fiscal year. However, a grantee may not receive funding for the same purchase or project twice in the same fiscal year.
  2. Each APS grant awarded within a fiscal year must address a different project or a different component of a previously funded project.
  3. Organizations receiving SCAC Operating Support for Small Organizations funding are eligible to apply for arts projects and professional development opportunities.
  4. Organizations that are otherwise eligible, but are receiving SCAC General Operating Support funding, may not receive APS funding within the same fiscal year, except for professional development opportunities.

• 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 (including, but not limited to):

  FOR ARTISTS

  • Technical, online, or virtual capacity building (e.g., website development, technical support, digital skills training)
  • Equipment (e.g., airless paint sprayer, kilns, lighting or sound equipment, musical instruments, storage)
  • Furniture (e.g., easels, music stands)
  • Professional services (e.g., project-specific general liability insurance, performance space rental, web designer, consultant fees)
  • Professional development (e.g., conference or membership fees, artist residencies, public art training, booth, or conference fees)
  • Marketing (e.g. artist branding, event marketing, developing/redeveloping online presence; print or digital materials e.g. flyers, posters, catalogs)

  These grant funds cannot be used for:

  • Ordinary living expenses incurred during the project
  • Salary, honorarium, or stipend for grantee
  • Food, beverages, alcohol, catering services

  FOR ORGANIZATIONS

  • Technical, online, or virtual capacity building (e.g., website development, technical support)
  • Equipment (e.g., kilns, lighting or sound equipment, musical instruments, storage)
  • Furniture (e.g., easels, music sands)
  • Professional services (e.g., performance space rental, web designer, consultant and/or cultural plan development fees)
  • Professional development (e.g., public art facilitation training, conference, or membership fees)

  These grant funds cannot be used for:

  • Fundraising activities
  • Goods for resale
  • Lobbying
  • Costs not directly related to the arts
  • Capital expenses or purchases
  • Scholarships or prizes
  • Endowment funds
  • Entertainment expenses, such as receptions, staff/member parties, awards, flowers, etc.
  • Food, beverages, alcohol, catering services

  If you are hiring artists or teaching artists

  For all grant-funded activities (including group lectures, demonstrations, performances, residencies, and short-term arts teaching experiences), the use of S.C. Arts Directory members is required for school and school district grantees and encouraged for grantees that are organizations. Artists identified 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. For any grantee whose grant-funded activities are for K-12 student services, SCAC encourages the use of Verified Teaching Artists. Many school districts require the use of SCAC Verified Teaching Artists for classroom residencies. If working in a school environment, always check with both the individual school and the school district about policies related to hiring artists, arts organizations, and teaching artists.

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

• Additional Requirements of this Grant

  None.

• Priority

  Priority will be given to individuals or organizations that have projects in 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 August 6, 2024.

  • Application period: July 2, 2024 – March 4, 2025
  • 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 4, 2025.

  Here are some time-specific deadlines:

  • July 2, 2024, for projects beginning August 6 or later.
    • Notification (awarded or declined) is expected the week of July 29.
  • August 5, 2024, for projects beginning September 9 or later.
    • Notification (awarded or declined) is expected the week of September 2.
  • September 2, 2024, for projects beginning October 7 or later.
    • Notification (awarded or declined) is expected the week of September 30.
  • September 30, 2024, for projects beginning November 4 or later.
    • Notification (awarded or declined) is expected the week of October 28.
  • October 28, 2024, for projects beginning December 9* or later.
    • Notification (awarded or declined) is expected the week of December 2.
  • December 2, 2024, for projects beginning January 13, 2025* or later.
    • Notification (awarded or declined) is expected the week of January 6, 2025.
  • January 6, 2025, for projects beginning February 10 or later.
    • Notification (awarded or declined) is expected the week of February 3.
  • February 3, 2025, for projects beginning March 10 or later.
    • Notification (awarded or declined) is expected the week of March 3.
  • March 3, 2025, for projects beginning April 14* or later.
    • Notification (awarded or declined) is expected the week of April 7.

  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

  All grant-supported activities must be implemented between August 6, 2024 and May 31, 2025.

  If your proposed project is scheduled to end after May 31, please contact us BEFORE beginning your application.

• Funding & Match

  Funding

  Up to $2,500 within a fiscal year, in up to two APS grant awards.

  • Example: Within the same fiscal year (July 1-June 30), a grantee could receive up to $2,500 in one APS grant award, or two APS grant awards totaling up to $2,500 (note the restrictions section of these guidelines concerning multiple awards in the same year).

  The maximum eligible award amount for each APS application is determined by the project budget and category matching requirements.

  Federal funding note: This grant might be funded using federal dollars. The SCAC will notify the grantee if federal dollars are used. In the event federal dollars are used, the grantee’s match must not consist of federal funding.

  Matching Requirements

  For Artists

  1:2 (grantee:SCAC – the grantee must match each SCAC dollar with fifty cents of their own funds)

  • At least 50% of the applicant’s match must be cash.
  • Up to 50% may be in-kind donation of materials and contracted services.
    • An example of “in-kind” is a contracted fee that is waived or discounted as a donation to your project.
    • In-kind may not include the applicant’s creative time or salary.
  • Funds from another SCAC grant may not be used as matching funds.

  • SCAC artist grant awards are considered taxable income.

  For Organizations

  1:1 (grantee:SCAC)

  • At least 50% of the applicant’s match must be cash.
  • Up to 50% may be in-kind donation of materials and contracted services.
    • An example of “in-kind” is a contracted fee that is waived or discounted as a donation to your project.
  • Funds from another SCAC grant may not be used as matching funds.

• Grant Criteria: Project Support

  Are you wondering what makes for a strong application?

  The SCAC recommends using the rubric in this section as a guide when writing your application. Grant panelists will score your application responses based on the criteria within this rubric.

  FY25 Arts Project Support Grant Evaluation Rubric - Project Support
  Project Details (55%)
  	0	1-3	4-7	8-10
  Project Description	There are no details about when and where the project activities will occur.	There are vague details about when and where the project activities will occur.	There are some details about when and where the project activities will occur.	There are clear details about when and where the project activities will occur.
  	0	1-3	4-7	8-10
  Activities Details	There are no details about what the project will accomplish.	There are vague details about what the project will accomplish.	There are some details about what the project will accomplish.	There are clear details about what the project will accomplish.
  	0	1-3	4-7	8-10
  Implementation	There is no evidence that the project or program is feasible and well planned.	There is vague evidence that the project or program is feasible and well planned.	There is some evidence that the project or program is feasible and well planned.	There is clear evidence that the project or program is feasible and well planned.
  	0-3	4-7	8-11	12-15
  Key Personnel	Bio(s) show that administrative and artistic personnel have limited ability to deliver, lead, and carry out the activities of the project and there is minimal commitment to quality in artistic experiences.	Bio(s) show that administrative and artistic personnel have some ability to deliver, lead, and carry out the activities of the project and there is some commitment to quality in artistic experiences.	Bio(s) show that administrative and artistic personnel have sufficient ability to deliver, lead, and carry out the activities of the project and there is a clear commitment to quality in artistic experiences.	Bio(s) show that administrative and artistic personnel have expert ability to deliver, lead, and carry out the activities of the project and there is strong commitment to quality in artistic experiences.
  Board Members	Yes		No
  Partnerships/ Collaboration	Yes		No
  Marketing Strategy	Yes		No
  	0	1-3	4-7	8-10
  Support Materials	Support materials show no experience or artistic quality to carry out the project or program.	Support materials show vague experience or artistic quality to carry out the project or program.	Support materials show some experience or artistic quality to carry out the project or program.	Support materials show clear experience or artistic quality to carry out the project or program.
  Project Impact (30%)
  	0-3	4-7	8-11	12-15
  Importance	The application provided limited information on how the project or program is important to themselves and/or the community it serves.	The application provided some information on how the project or program is important to themselves and/or the community it serves.	The application provided sufficient information on how the project or program is important to themselves and/or the community it serves.	The application provided specific information on how the project or program is important to themselves and/or the community it serves.
  Populations Served	Yes		No
  	0-3	4-7	8-11	12-15
  Success Measurements	The plan has limited information on how to measure the success/impact of the project.	The plan has some information on how to measure the success/impact of the project.	The plan has sufficient information on how to measure the success/impact of the project.	The plan has specific information on how to measure the success/impact of the project.
  Project Budget (15%)
  	0-3	4-7	8-11	12-15
  Budget	The budget has major errors and shows limited evidence of financial resources to complete the proposed activities.	The budget has minor errors; however, shows some evidence of financial resources to complete the proposed activities.	The budget has sufficient evidence of adequate financial resources to complete the proposed activities.	The budget has clear evidence of strong financial resources to complete the proposed activities.

  Click for a printer-friendly project support rubric.

• Grant Criteria: Professional Development

  Are you wondering what makes for a strong application?

  The SCAC recommends using the rubric in this section as a guide when writing your application. Grant panelists will score your application responses based on the criteria within this rubric.

  FY25 Arts Project Support Grant Evaluation Rubric Professional Development
  Professional Development (80%)
  	0-15	16-29	30-39	40-45
  Opportunity	There is little to no information about the individual or institution providing the training/professional development nor the opportunity this grant will support (duration, location, topic of training, etc.)	There is some information about the individual or institution providing the training /professional development and the opportunity this grant will support (duration, location, topic of training, etc.)	There is adequate information about the individual or institution providing the training/professional development and the opportunity this grant will support (duration, location, topic of training, etc.)	There is strong information about the individual or institution providing the training /professional development and the opportunity this grant will support (duration, location, topic of training, etc.)
  	0-10	11-21	22-30	31-35
  Impact	There is little to no evidence of how the benefits of the professional development will impact the skills and knowledge of the individual artist or the organization’s staff to further or improve their work.	There is some evidence of how the benefits of the professional development will impact the skills and knowledge of the individual artist or the organization’s staff to further or improve their work.	There is adequate evidence of how the benefits of the professional development will impact the skills and knowledge of the individual artist or the organization’s staff to further or improve their work.	There is strong evidence of how the benefits of the professional development will impact the skills and knowledge of the individual artist or the organization’s staff to further or improve their work.
  Budget (20%)
  	0-4	5-9	10-15	16-20
  	The budget has major errors and shows limited evidence of financial resources to complete the proposed professional development activities.	The budget has minor errors; however, shows some evidence of financial resources to complete the proposed professional development activities.	The budget has sufficient evidence of adequate financial resources to complete the proposed professional development activities.	The budget has clear evidence of strong financial resources to complete the proposed professional development activities.

  Click for a printer-friendly professional development 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

  As part of your application, you will provide support materials and/or samples of your artistic work.

  Specific requirements for these materials are outlined in the application. You may need to create new electronic files (documents, video files, etc.) to submit materials that meet the length, content, formatting, and other specifications. Evaluators will not review additional material beyond the stated maximum amount.

  Additional guidance is available on our support materials page.

  Video: Our Grants Coaching Call for Emerging Artist applicants included discussion of how to select work samples.

• 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 “Arts Project Support” 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. An external panel consisting of arts professionals will evaluate completed applications based on the published review criteria and priority areas. 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. Award notification is expected within four (4) to five (5) weeks of submission.

• 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

  For Artists: Payment of 20% of the grant award will be released upon receipt and approval of a completed contract packet. The remaining 80% will be paid on an expense reimbursement basis, released upon receipt and approval of a completed final report.

  For Organizations: Payment will be on a reimbursement basis only and will be released upon receipt and approval of your final report.

  Funding Credit

  This grant program is funded in part by a generous award from the John and Susan Bennett Memorial Arts Fund of the Coastal Community Foundation of SC. As stipulated in your contract, credit must be given to this source, in addition to SCAC and the National Endowment for the Arts, in all advertising, news releases, printed materials, and promotion and publicity. Details about the Coastal Community Foundation of SC are available on their website at CoastalCommunityFoundation.org.

  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.