Purpose
To support the artistic and career development of emerging South Carolina artists
Who's Eligible
S.C. artists in the first 1-5 years of their careers
Funding
Up to $1,800
Matching Requirement
None
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:
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:
Please Note
Grant guidelines are subject to change until the application opens.
The applicant must meet all of the following eligibility requirements:
None.
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:
This grant supports project-based activities only and cannot support:
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):
These grant funds cannot be used for:
If, based on this information, you are uncertain if a purchase meets the qualifications for Emerging Artist grant funding, please contact us before applying.
Grantees must attend virtual monthly meetings during the grant period to build relationships with one another, SCAC program staff, and arts professionals.
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 will be given to individuals or organizations that have projects in SCAC’s Opportunity Initiative Counties:
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.
Please note this is a six-month grant in which grant and mentorship activities are to occur July 1-Dec. 31, 2025.
Up to $1,800
SCAC artist grant awards are considered taxable income.
None
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 |
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Narrative: 40% of Total Score |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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. |
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.
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.
As part of your application, you will provide samples of your artistic work.
Additional guidance is available on our support materials page.
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.
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.
Applicants must submit
AND
Applicants must upload five (5) high-res images and may upload up to 10 high-res images.
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.
Applicants must submit five (5) work samples and may submit up to ten (10) work samples, consisting of the following:
AND
Applicants must submit five (5) work samples and may submit up to ten (10) work samples, consisting of the following:
AND
In addition to samples of your artistic work, you will upload
Additional guidance is available on our Support Materials page.
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 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.
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.
We also highly recommend a visit to our Grants Coaching webpage, for
Did you miss a group call or session? Look for the video link to access a recording of that presentation.