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 Arts Project Support (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 (PD) for artists and arts administration staff.

• Organizations that receive General Operating Support are only eligible to apply for Professional Development opportunities (see “Restrictions”).

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, production, songwriting, or performance).
     • Opera/musical theatre (performance, libretto/playwriting, directing).
     • Theatre (performance, playwriting, directing).
     • 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 (screenwriting, film, animation, performance).
     • Literature (poetry, prose).
     • Spoken word/slam poetry.
     • Interdisciplinary (installation, sound, video art, computer-generated art, performance art).
     • Public art (permanent or ephemeral).
     • Folklife and Traditional Arts (visual arts, performance, or oral literature).
       • Folk and traditional artists create works that are expressions of a shared identity learned as a part of the cultural life of a particular group. This shared identity may be rooted in family, geographic, tribal, occupational, religious, or ethnic connections, among others. Folk and traditional art is handed down/taught from one generation to the next and reflects the shared experience, aesthetics, and values of a group.
  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.
  5. Commissioners and staff of the S.C. Arts Commission and members of their immediate families are not eligible to apply for any individual SCAC programs, grants, fellowships, or services that provide financial support or career recognition.

  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

  • Applicants may receive up to two (2) 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.
  • Organizations receiving SCAC Operating Support for Small Organizations funding are eligible to apply for arts projects and professional development opportunities.
  • Organizations receiving SCAC General Operating Support funding are only eligible to receive APS funding for professional development opportunities within the same fiscal year.

• 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 stands)
  • 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)

  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.

  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

  Indirect Cost Limitation

  No more than 10% of the total grant funds may be used for indirect costs (general overhead expenses not directly tied to the project). The remaining 90% must go toward direct costs, which are necessary to carry out the funded project.

  • Examples of direct costs: Artist fees, program supplies, travel for project activities, and venue rental.
  • Examples of indirect costs: Administrative salaries not directly working on the project, office rent, utilities, and general office supplies.

  This ensures that most of the funding directly benefits the project while allowing some flexibility for necessary overhead costs.

• Additional Requirements of this Grant

  Primary Contact Requirement

  The primary contact listed in the grant application must be the main point of contact throughout the application process and, if awarded, during the grant period.

  For organizations, the primary contact must be an employee or active volunteer of the organization applying for the grant. Intermediaries, such as hired consultants or external representatives, are not permitted to serve as the primary point of contact. The primary contact will be responsible for all communications with the SCAC, including responding to inquiries, providing updates, and submitting required documentation. Failure to adhere to this requirement may result in disqualification from the grant process or revocation of awarded funds.

  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.

   

• Priority

  Priority will be given to individuals or organizations that have projects in SCAC’s Opportunity Initiative Counties:
  

  • Allendale
  • Bamberg
  • Calhoun
  • Edgefield
  • Hampton
  • Lee
  • Marlboro
  • Saluda
  • Union
  • Williamsburg

• Deadline & Grant Period

  Deadline

  Application period: July 7, 2025 – March 2, 2026.

  • No applications will be accepted after Monday, March 2, 2026.

  Applications must be submitted at least five (5) weeks 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. Projects can begin as early as Aug. 11, 2025.

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

  Grant Period

  All grant-supported activities must be implemented between August 11, 2025 and May 31, 2026.

  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 (2) 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 50 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.

  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.
    • In-kind donation example: a waived or discounted contracted fee 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.

  FY26 Arts Project Support Grant Application Evaluation Rubric Project Support
  Project Details – 40% of total score
  Project Goals and Expected Outcomes	0-2 points: The project goals are not provided OR the provided goals do not align with the expected outcomes.	3-5 points: The project goals are vague, somewhat achievable, and somewhat align with the expected outcomes.	6-8 points: The project goals are outlined, achievable, and align with the expected outcomes.	9-10 points: The project goals are distinctly outlined, achievable, and properly align with the expected outcomes.
  Funding Importance	0-2 points: No information is provided about how grant funding will support the project's outcome and goals.	3-4 points: The applicant limitedly explains how grant funding supports the project's outcome and goals.	5-6 points: The applicant explains how grant funding will support the project's outcome and goals.	7 points: The applicant explains in with specific detail how grant funding will support the project's outcome and goals.
  Activity Timeline	0 points: There is no activity timeline OR the timeline does not accomplish the project's goals.	1-2 points: There is a limited activity timeline that accomplishes the project's goals.	3-4 points: There is a clear activity timeline that accomplishes the project's goals.	5 points: There is a comprehensive activity timeline that accomplishes the project's goals.
  Activity Location	0 points: No activity location(s) are listed.		5 points: Activity location(s) are clearly listed.
  Key Personnel	0-2 points: The applicant identifies key administrative and artistic personnel who have limited abilities to lead and complete project activities with minimal commitment to artistic experiences.	3-4 points: The applicant identifies key administrative and artistic personnel who have some ability to lead and complete project activities with commitment to artistic experiences.	5-6 points: The applicant identifies key administrative and artistic personnel who have the ability to lead and complete project activities with a clear commitment to artistic experiences.	7 points: The applicant identifies key administrative and artistic personnel who have high abilities to lead and complete project activities with a strong commitment to artistic experiences.
  Promotion Strategy	0 points: There is no planned promotion strategy for the project.	1-2 points: There is a vague plan to promote the project.	3-4 points: There is a clear plan to promote the project.	5-6 points: There is an extremely detailed plan to promote the project.
  Project Impact – 30% of total score
  Importance to Artist or Community	0-3 points: The project is not important to the applicant and/or the community it serves.	4-7 points: The project is somewhat important to the applicant and/or the community it serves.	8-11 points: The project is important to the applicant and/or the community it serves.	12-15 points: The project is highly important to the applicant and/or the community it serves.
  Success Measurements	0-3 points: There is no plan to collect data or the plan is unclear on how success of the project will be measured.	4-7 points: The applicant's plan to collect data to measure the success of the project is vague.	8-11 points: The applicant has a plan to collect data to measure the success of the project.	12-15 points: The applicant has a structured plan to collect data to measure the success of the project thoroughly.
  Budget – 15% of total score
  Budget Itemization	0-1 points: The budget lacks detail, or expenses and income are not itemized.	1-2 points: The budget includes some detail with expenses and income items partially itemized.	3-4 points: The budget is detailed with all expenses and income items fully itemized.	5 points: The budget is extremely detailed with all expenses and income items itemized.
  Budget Resources	0-2 points: The budget is not balanced and/or an unrealistic estimate of itemized project expenses and income sources to support the project.	3-5 points: The budget somewhat demonstrates a balanced and realistic estimate of itemized project expenses and income sources to support the project.	6-8 points: The budget demonstrates a balanced and realistic estimate of itemized project expenses and income sources to support the project.	9-10 points: The budget clearly demonstrates a balanced and realistic estimate of itemized project expenses and reliable income sources to support the project.
  Work Samples or Support Materials – 15% of total score
  Age of Samples or Materials	0 points: Some materials are older than five years (from 2019 or earlier).		5 points: All materials are five years old (from 2020) or younger (2021 to this year).
  Credit of Samples or Materials	0 points: Credits are not clearly labeled, accurate, OR indicate the artist or organization did not produce the submitted samples or materials.	1-2 points: Credits are vague or inaccurate and do not indicate the artist or organization that produced the submitted samples or materials.	3-4 points: Credits are clearly and accurately labeled to show the artist or organization produced the submitted samples or materials.	5 points: Credits are thoroughly and accurately presented, clearly showing the artist or organization produced the submitted samples or materials.
  Relevance of Samples or Materials	0 points: Samples or materials do not show the applicant's ability to implement their project.	1-2 points: Samples or materials do not adequately show the applicant’s ability to implement the project.	3-4 points: Samples or materials effectively show the applicant's ability to implement their project.	5 points: Samples or materials strongly show the applicant’s ability to implement the program.

  Printer-friendly project 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.

  FY26 Arts Project Support Grant Application Evaluation Rubric Professional Development
  Professional Development Information – 35% of total score
  Professional Development Provider Identification	0 points: No individuals and/or institutions providing training are identified.		10 points: Individuals and/or institutions providing PD are clearly identified. An accessible, current, and relevant website link to the opportunity is provided.
  Professional Development Provider Information	0-2 points: Little or no information is stated about PD providers and/or their qualifications or abilities to deliver and lead professional development.	3-7 points: Some of the PD providers are qualified and able to deliver and lead professional development.	8-11 points: The PD providers have qualifications/abilities to deliver and lead professional development.	12-15 points: The PD providers have expert level qualifications/abilities to deliver and lead professional development.
  PD Duration and Location(s)	0 points: Little or no information about the duration and/or location is provided.		10 points: Specific information is provided about the professional development duration and where it will take place.
  Professional Development Impact – 45% of total score
  Content Relevance	0-2 points: The PD content has little or no relevance to the attendee(s) and their goals.	3-7 points: The PD content is somewhat relevant to the attendee(s) and their goals.	8-11 points: The PD content is relevant to the attendee(s) and their goals.	12-15 points: The PD content is relevant, practical, and specific to the attendee(s) and their goals.
  Impact to Knowledge/Skills	0-2 points: Little to no information is provided on knowledge or skills to be gained.	3-7 points: Intended knowledge or skills to be gained are vague.	8-11 points: The intended knowledge or skills to be gained are clearly described.	12-15 points: The intended knowledge or skills to be gained are thoroughly described.
  Impact to Attendee's Work	0-2 points: There is little or no evidence that PD will benefit the attendee's skills and knowledge.	3-7 points: There is some evidence that PD will benefit the attendee's skills and knowledge to improve/further their work or career.	8-11 points: There is evidence that PD will benefit the attendee's skills and knowledge to improve/further their work or career.	12-15 points: There is strong evidence that PD will benefit the attendee's skills and knowledge to improve/further their work or career.
  Budget – 20% of total score
  Budget Itemization	0 points: The budget lacks detail, or expenses and income are not itemized.	1-2 points: The budget includes some detail with expenses and income items partially itemized.	3-4 points: The budget is detailed with all expenses and income items fully itemized.	5 points: The budget is extremely detailed with all expenses and income items itemized.
  Budget Resources	0-3 points: The budget is not balanced and/or an unrealistic estimate of itemized project expenses and income sources to support the project.	4-7 points: The budget somewhat demonstrates a balanced and realistic estimate of itemized project expenses and income sources to support the project.	8-11 points: The budget demonstrates a balanced and realistic estimate of itemized project expenses and income sources to support the project.	12-15 points: The budget clearly demonstrates a balanced and realistic estimate of itemized project expenses and reliable income sources to support the project.

  Printer-friendly professional development rubric.

How to Apply

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

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

  Applicants must have an active account in our grants portal (Foundant).

  If you have previously used Submittable to apply for other SCAC grants or programs, please note that Foundant is a different system. Your Submittable credentials will not work; you will need a Foundant account to apply for this grant.

  If you have used the grants portal as both an artist and 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 are required to provide two (2) support materials and/or samples of your or your organization’s artistic work.

  • Individual Artist Applicants: The first two (2) work samples should be original works for which you are the primary artist responsible for the creation of the work, project, or program. If you include additional works that involve collaborators, credit all contributing artists appropriately and clearly describe your specific role in the creation or execution of each work, project, or program.

  Specific requirements for these materials are outlined in the application. You may need to create new electronic files (e.g., 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.
  • This Grants Coaching Call included discussion on 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 guidelines 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 in four (4) to five (5) weeks after submission.

• If You Receive a Grant Award

  If your application is funded, you (and your fiscal agent, if applicable) will sign a contract with the South Carolina Arts Commission. By signing, all parties agree to follow applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations as outlined in the contract.

  You’ll receive an email with instructions when your contract is ready in the grants portal. Submit your completed contract—including all required signatures and documents—by the deadline shown in the system. Complete any other assigned follow-up items by their due dates as well.

  • Any changes to your project must be preapproved, in writing, by SCAC. To request a change, email grants@arts.sc.gov.
  • Additional details about managing an SCAC grant are available on our agency website.

  Grant Payments

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

  SCAC artist grant awards are considered taxable income.

  Final Report Requirement

  ALL GRANTEES are required to submit a final report at the end of the grant period. The final report due date is stated in the grant contract.

  Delinquent Grantee Communication Policy

  Definition of Delinquency

  A grant is considered delinquent if the grantee fails to complete any of the following tasks:

  • Submit required reports by the deadline.
  • Fulfill grant agreement terms (e.g., project deliverables, financial documentation).
  • Respond to SCAC requests for updates or corrections.

  Good Faith Outreach

  Upon identifying delinquency, the SCAC Grants Office will:

  • First Attempt: Notify the grantee via email and phone within five (5) business days, detailing the delinquency and required actions.
  • Second Attempt: If no response after 10 business days, send a follow-up email with “FINAL NOTICE” in the subject line and attempt contact via a second phone call.
  • Third Attempt: If no response after an additional 10 business days (25 days total since initial delinquency), send an email and certified letter to the grantee’s official address on file, stating intent to cancel the grant.

  Grant Cancellation

  • If the grantee does not respond or rectify the delinquency within 15 business days of the certified letter’s receipt, or 30 business days of sending if receipt is not confirmed, the grant will be formally canceled.
  • The grantee will be notified in writing of the cancellation and any required repayment of funds.
  • Canceled grants may impact eligibility for future SCAC funding.

  Exceptions

  Extensions may be granted for emergencies (e.g., natural disasters, documented organizational crises) at the discretion of the SCAC Executive Director.