Emerging Artist Grants

About This Grant

Purpose

This grant is designed to assist emerging artists in South Carolina through project grant funding as well as mentorship and professional support during the grant period.

The combination of funding and mentorship is intended to:

• deepen artistic practice
• encourage career growth
• foster artistic growth, relevance, and sustainability
• provide professional development and opportunities for collaboration

Learn more about the program and see current and recent emerging artists here.

Note: This grant is awarded twice per fiscal year. Applications are accepted in:

• fall for January-June projects
• spring for July-December projects

Terms

• “Emerging artists” are defined as those who are at an early stage in their career development (or artists who are starting their careers in a new discipline and have been active for one to five years).
  • Age is not a factor in determining an emerging artist.
• An “active” or “practicing” artist is one who is creating work regularly (i.e., more than a few times a year).

• The term “emerging” refers to professional accomplishments and recognition, not to stylistic evolution.
  • An emerging artist is expected to have a limited performing, publishing, or exhibition record.
  • Emerging artists may demonstrate potential in their practice through risk-taking and pushing their work in dynamic ways.

Please Note

Grant guidelines are subject to change until the application opens.

Applicant Coaching

• Eligibility

  The applicant must meet all of the following eligibility requirements:

  1. Be a practicing individual artist, not an ensemble or group, in one of the following disciplines:
     
     • Dance (choreography or performance).
     • Music (production, composition, songwriting, or performance).
     • Opera/musical theatre (producing, directing or performance).
     • Theatre (producing, directing, acting, 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, theatrical, graphic, industrial, or interior).
     • Media arts (TV or film production, experimental film, screenwriting, or animation).
     • Folk and traditional arts.
     • Literature (poetry or prose).
     • Spoken word/slam poetry.
     • Time-based arts (installation, sound, video art, computer-generated art, or performance art).
     • Public art (ephemeral or permanent).
  2. Be an artist starting their career, or a new discipline, who has been active for one to five years.
  3. 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.
  4. Be 18 years of age or older at the time of application.
  5. Not be a degree-seeking student during the grant period.
  6. 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.

• Restrictions

  None.

• Use of Funds

  The Emerging Artist grant is a project-based grant.

  Projects may be multidisciplinary, but the artist will need to apply based on the project’s primary discipline.

  Acceptable project types:

  • Artwork creation.
  • Exhibition.
  • Arts instruction.

  This grant supports project-based activities only and cannot support:

  • Operating support (for an individual artistic business or establishment of an organization by an individual).
  • Professional development (e.g., attending a conference or training).

  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):

  • Supplies and materials (e.g., sheet music, art supplies, scripts, costumes).
  • 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).

  These grant funds cannot be used for:

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

  If, based on this information, you are uncertain if a purchase meets the qualifications for Emerging Artist grant funding, please contact us before applying.

• Additional Requirements of this Grant

  Grantees must attend virtual monthly meetings during the grant period to build relationships with one another, SCAC program staff, and arts professionals.

  • Participate in six (6) monthly, one-hour Emerging Artist cohort/group virtual meetings (July-December 2025) with the other EA grantees and the artist development director. The meetings will occur on a mutually agreed-upon date and time, determined by the director and artists.
  • Participate in five (5), monthly, one-hour one-on-one virtual meetings (July-November 2025) with the artist development director, providing feedback on progress with the project. The meetings will occur on a mutually agreed-upon date and time, determined by the director and artist. An additional meeting may be scheduled for June, as needed.
  • Participate in at least one (1) virtual professional development/learning activity, via CreativeStudy.com (July-December 2025).

  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.

• 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

  May 23, 2025
  

  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

  Please note this is a six-month grant in which grant and mentorship activities are to occur July 1-Dec. 31, 2025.

  • Project activities must be completed by Nov. 30, 2025 to allow time to prepare the required final report.
  • Program activities (e.g., mentorship) will occur through December 2025.

• Funding & Match

  Funding

  Up to $1,800

  SCAC artist grant awards are considered taxable income.

  Matching Requirements

  None

• Grant Criteria

  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 Emerging Artist Grant Application Evaluation Rubric
  Narrative: 40% of Total Score
  Project Description	0-1 points: There is little to no description of what the project will accomplish.	2-4 points: There is some description of what the project will accomplish.	5-7 points: There is an adequate description of what the project will accomplish.	8-10 points: There is a very thorough and detailed description of what the project will accomplish.
  Purpose and Goals	0-1 points: The purpose and goals of the project are not described, feasible, or planned.	2-4 points: The purpose and goals of the project are somewhat described, feasible, and planned.	5-7 points: The purpose and goals of the project are adequately described, feasible, and well-planned.	8-10 points: The purpose and goals of the project are very clearly described, feasible, and extremely well-planned.
  Grant Benefit and Development	0-1 points: There is little to no information provided on how the project will be beneficial in the development of the artist’s career.	2-4 points: There is some information provided on how the project will be beneficial in the development of the artist’s career.	5-7 points: There is adequate information provided on how the project will be beneficial in the development of the artist’s career.	8-10 points: There is strong information provided on how the project will be beneficial in the development of the artist’s career.
  Benefit of Mentorship	0-1 points: There is little to no description of how the benefits of the mentorship opportunity will help the applicant accomplish their artistic career goals and support them as an emerging artist.	2-4 points: There is some description of how the benefits of the mentorship opportunity will help the applicant accomplish their artistic career goals and support them as an emerging artist.	5-7 points: There is an adequate description of how the benefits of the mentorship opportunity will help the applicant accomplish their artistic career goals and support them as an emerging artist.	8-10 points: There is a strong description of how the benefits of the mentorship opportunity will help the applicant accomplish their artistic career goals and support them as an emerging artist.
  Work Samples: 20% of Total Score
  Quality	0-1 points: Work samples are of poor quality.	2-4 points: Work samples are of fair quality.	5-7 points: Work samples are of good quality.	8-10 points: Work samples are of excellent quality.
  Representation	0-1 points: Work samples are not representative of the artistic discipline proposed in the project.	2-4 points: Work samples are somewhat representative of the artistic discipline proposed in the project.	5-7 points: Work samples are representative of the artistic discipline proposed in the project.	8-10 points: Work samples are highly representative of the artistic discipline proposed in the project.
  Letter of Recommendation: 10% of Total Score
  Potential	0-1 points: Letter of recommendation does not address the applicant’s artistic potential.	2-4 points: Letter of recommendation somewhat addresses the applicant’s artistic potential.	5-7 points: Letter of recommendation addresses the applicant’s artistic potential.	8-10 points: Letter of recommendation addresses the applicant’s artistic potential.
  Resume: 10% of Total Score
  Professional Development	0-1 points: The resume does not show the artist's professional development, sources of training, or experience in their artistic discipline.	2-4 points: The resume somewhat shows the artist's professional development, sources of training, and experience in their artistic discipline.	5-7 points: The resume shows the artist's professional development, sources of training, and experience in their artistic discipline.	8-10 points: The resume extensively shows the artist's professional development, sources of training, and experience in their artistic discipline.
  Budget: 20% of Total Score
  Financial Resources	0-1 points: Budget does not show evidence that there are financial resources to complete the proposed project.	2-4 points: Budget shows evidence that there are some financial resources to complete the proposed project.	5-7 points: Budget shows evidence that there are adequate financial resources to complete the proposed project.	8-10 points: Budget shows evidence that there are substantial financial resources to complete the proposed project.
  Budget Details	0-1 points: Budget contains few details of how the funds will be used.	2-4 points: Budget contains some details of how the funds will be used.	5-7 points: Budget contains realistic and specific details of how the funds will used.	8-10 points: Budget contains extremely realistic and very specific details of how the funds will be used.

  Printer-friendly 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

  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: Work Samples

  As part of your application, you will provide samples of your artistic work.

  • The work represented by these samples should:
    • be representative of the discipline proposed in your project application;
    • demonstrate the range of your artistic ability; and
    • include samples completed within the last five (5) years (2021-2025)
  • All URL work samples 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.
  • Your proposed grant-supported project may be multi-disciplinary; however, you will need to choose a primary project discipline for which to submit work samples.
  • The samples themselves should be of the highest possible quality.
  • 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.

  DANCE (CHOREOGRAPHY OR PERFORMANCE), MUSIC: PERFORMANCE, OPERA/MUSICAL THEATRE, OR THEATRE: PERFORMANCE

  Applicants must submit one (1) viewing sample and may submit up to two (2) viewing samples (not to exceed 20 minutes combined), by providing a link to each work. Panelists will not view more than 10 minutes of footage per work sample.

  • Each work sample must be of only one (1) performed piece. However, the recording or footage of each piece may be edited to include excerpts that exhibit the artist’s best work.
  • For each work sample submitted, you must provide the title, the year, specify your role(s), the runtime of the piece, and start and end timestamps that you would like reviewed.
  • If the work is not available on the web, contact our Grants Team at grants@arts.sc.gov.

  MEDIA: PRODUCTION and FILM: ANIMATION

  Applicants must submit viewing samples (not to exceed 10 minutes each) from up to two (2) completed works, by providing a link to each work. Panelists will not view more than 10 minutes of footage per application.

  • For each work sample submitted, you must provide the title, the year, specify your role(s), the runtime of the piece, and start and end timestamps that you would like reviewed.
  • If the work is not available on the web, contact our Grants Team at grants@arts.sc.gov.

  MEDIA ARTS: SCREENWRITING AND THEATRE: PLAYWRITING

  • Applicants must submit one (1) full-length original work sample, but may submit up to two (2) samples of full-length original work.
  • Acceptable file types: .doc/.docx, .pdf, .rtf., .txt

  MUSIC: COMPOSITION

  Applicants must submit

  1. Links to two (2) original compositions (not to exceed 10 minutes combined). Panelists will not view more than 10 minutes of footage per application.

  • • For each work sample submitted, you must provide the title, the year, specify your role(s), the runtime of the piece, and start and end timestamps that you would like reviewed.
    • For improvisational compositions in which the composer is also performing, indicate the instrument played by the composer.
    • If the work is not available on the web, contact our Grants Team at grants@arts.sc.gov.

  AND

  2. The submitted compositions’ accompanying scores or lead sheets

  • • For compositions for which scores are not available, a brief description of the composition process must be submitted.
    • Acceptable file types: .doc/.docx, .pdf, .rtf., .txt

  POETRY/PROSE

  • Applicants must submit 10 pages of work and may submit up to 20 pages of work. Panelists will not view more than 20 pages per application.
    • Poetry applicants: Each page may contain no more than one poem.
  • Double-spacing is not required.
    • Typeface must be legible, no less than 12 point;
    • Margins must be at least one inch;
    • Pages must be numbered, and
    • The title of the work and the year the work was completed must be stated on each page.
  • Acceptable file types: .doc/.docx, .pdf, .rtf., .txt
  • Do not submit books, chapbooks, magazines, pamphlets, or tear sheets of your work from publications.

  VISUAL ARTS, CRAFTS, PHOTOGRAPHY, OR DESIGN ARTS

  Applicants must upload five (5) high-res images and may upload up to 10 high-res images.

  • Acceptable file types: .gif, .jpg/.jpeg, .png, .tif/.tiff, .svg, .pdf
  • For each work sample submitted, you must provide its title, medium, dimensions (feet/inches, pixels, size, etc.), and year completed.

  SPOKEN WORD/SLAM POETRY

  Applicants must submit three (3) three-minute work samples and may submit up to six (6) three-minute samples (not to exceed 18 minutes combined) of original spoken word/slam poetry, by providing a link to each work.

  • Panelists will not view more than 18 minutes of footage per application.
  • For each work sample submitted, you must provide its title, year completed, the runtime of the piece, and start and end timestamps that you would like reviewed.
  • If the work is not available on the web, contact our Grants Team at grants@arts.sc.gov.

  TIME-BASED ARTS (INSTALLATION, SOUND, FILM, VIDEO ART, ANIMATION, COMPUTER-GENERATED ART, PERFORMANCE ART)

  Applicants must submit five (5) work samples and may submit up to ten (10) work samples, consisting of the following:

  • May submit up to three (3) images
    • Acceptable file types: .gif, .jpg/.jpeg, .png, .tif/.tiff, .svg, .pdf
  • For each work sample submitted, you must provide its title, medium, dimensions, and year completed.

  AND

  • May submit up to seven (7) listening/viewing samples.

  • • All samples must not exceed 20 minutes combined. Panelists will not view more than 20 minutes of footage per application.
    • For each work sample submitted, you must provide the title, the year, specify your role(s), the runtime of the piece, and start and end timestamps that you would like reviewed.
    • All samples must be added by providing a link to each work. If the work is not available on the web, contact our Grants Team at grants@arts.sc.gov.

  PUBLIC ART (EPHEMERAL OR PERMANENT)

  Applicants must submit five (5) work samples and may submit up to ten (10) work samples, consisting of the following:

  • May submit up to five (5) images
    • Acceptable file types: .gif, .jpg/.jpeg, .png, .tif/.tiff, .svg, .pdf
    • For each work sample submitted, you must provide its title, medium, dimensions, and year completed.

  AND

  • May submit up to five (5) video samples.

  • • All samples must not exceed 20 minutes combined. Panelists will not view more than 20 minutes of footage per application.
    • For each work sample submitted, you must provide its title, year completed, length, and start and end timestamps that you would like reviewed.
    • All samples must be added by providing a link to each work. If the work is not available on the web, contact our Grants Team at grants@arts.sc.gov.

• Support Materials: Letter of Recommendation & Resume

  In addition to samples of your artistic work, you will upload

  1. A professional letter of recommendation addressing the applicant’s artistic potential (from former instructors, professional artists, etc.).
     • Letter(s) must have been written within the past 1-2 years and contain the date it was written

  2. An artist resume (maximum three pages; additional pages will not be read by the evaluators).

  • • The resume should include art-based activities such as, but not limited to, certifications, workshops (attended or conducted), exhibitions, performances, gallery shows, etc. and must include dates for each activity stated.
    • The resume must follow the following formatting:

  1. 1. Font size cannot be smaller than 11 pt.
     2. Font type is limited to Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman.
     3. Acceptable file types: .doc/.docx, .pdf, .rtf., .txt

  Additional guidance is available on our Support Materials page.

• 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 “Emerging Artist Grants” 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. A combination of SCAC program staff and external panelists will evaluate the applications based on the published review criteria. The program director will then communicate directly with each applicant (within two weeks after the application submission deadline). 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 after the June 2025 board meeting.

• If You Receive a Grant Award

  If your application is funded, you (and/or your fiscal agent/receiver, if applicable) will enter into a contractual agreement with the South Carolina Arts Commission. All parties agree to comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, statutes, regulations, executive orders, provisions, and requirements stated in the 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

  • 50% of the grant award will be released upon receipt and approval of the signed contract packet.
  • Up to 40% of the remaining grant award will be released upon receipt and approval of up to two interim payment requests.
  • Any remaining amount of the grant award will be released at receipt and approval of the final report.

  Final Report

  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. 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.