Individual Artist Fellowships

About the Individual Artist Fellowships

Purpose

These fellowships recognize and reward the artistic achievements of South Carolina’s exceptional individual artists. Fellowship awards are made through a highly competitive process and are based on artistic merit, achievements, and commitment to discipline. The fellowship awards bring recognition that may open doors to other resources and employment opportunities.

• Learn about the FY26 Fellows on The Hub.
• Learn about Past Fellows in the Artist Development section of our website.

Please Note

Grant guidelines are subject to change until the application opens.

• Applicant Coaching

• Eligibility

  1. The applicant must be a practicing individual artist (duos, collaborative works, and other ensembles are not eligible), working in one (1) or more of the disciplines eligible for the application year. Up to six (6) fellowships may be awarded this cycle (maximum of one in each discipline), with artistic disciplines rotating from year to year. The next eligible disciplines will be:
     • FY27 (this cycle; apply winter 2026): Prose; Spoken word/Slam poetry; Performance (dance, music, opera, musical theatre, media arts [film or television], or theatre,); Playwriting/Screenwriting/Libretto Writing; Folklife/Traditional Arts (e.g., quilting, embroidery, sewing, beading, weaving, pottery, basketmaking, woodcarving, folk music, dance, or oral literature); Media Arts (producer or director for film, television, animation, or commercials).
     • FY28 (apply fall 2026): Visual Art (painting, drawing, mixed-media, sculpture, printmaking, or photography); Craft (ceramics, fiber, glass, leather, metal, paper, plastic, or wood); Interdisciplinary (installation, sound, video art, computer-generated art, or performance art); Music Composition, Media Arts (music production).
  2. The applicant must also be
     • A legal resident of the U.S. and S.C. with a permanent residence in the state for two (2) years prior to the application date and throughout the fellowship period; and
     • 18 years of age or older at the time of application.
  3. The applicant must not be a degree-seeking student during the award period.
  4. 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.

  Compliance with State and Federal Laws

  All grant applicants must ensure their applications, proposed projects, and any related materials comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws. This includes SC Code § 16-15-305 (2024), which prohibits the dissemination of obscene materials.

  Obscene content is strictly prohibited in grant applications and any proposed project activities. Applications that include materials or activities determined to be obscene will not be reviewed or considered for funding.

  No component of an SCAC-funded project, including those funded with SCAC funds and those funded with matching funds, can fall into this category. Failure to comply with these regulations may result in the termination of funding and other legal consequences.

  We strongly encourage all applicants to carefully review the full legal text of SC Code § 16-15-305 (2024), to ensure their proposals are in full compliance.

• Restrictions

  • There is a limit of two (2) SCAC Fellowships in an artist’s career.
  • There is a period of ineligibility of 10 years after the first fellowship is awarded. Artists who received fellowships prior to FY17 (July 1, 2016 – June 30, 2017) are eligible to apply for the FY27 (July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027) fellowships.
  • Fellows may not receive any other SCAC grant awards during their fellowship year.
  • An artist may apply in more than one category but is only eligible to receive one fellowship. If applying in more than one category, a different body of work must be submitted for each category.

• Additional Requirements of the Fellowship Award

  None

• Priority

  There are no specified priority areas for this grant category.

• Deadline & Grant Period

  Deadline

  February 26, 2026

  
  

  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

  July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027

• Funding & Match

  Funding

  $10,000 per fellowship.

  There are no restrictions on the use of fellowship funds.

  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.

  FY27 Individual Artist Fellowship Grant Evaluation Rubric
  Resume or Bio – 40% of Total Score
  Recognition	0-1 points: No notable recognition to date; lacks external validation or public acknowledgment.	2-4 points: Limited external recognition, though some signs of growing visibility or interest.	5-7 points: There is some recognition by peers, mentors, local community members, community of practice, or cultural tradition (for folklife/traditional arts); which may include smaller awards or grants.	8-10 points: Has received extensive recognition by peers, mentors, local community members, community of practice, or cultural tradition (for folklife/traditional arts); including notable awards, press coverage, and grants.
  Training and/or Education	0-1 points: Minimal or no relevant training or education evident.	2-4 points: Some relevant formal or informal education or training; foundation is developing.	5-7 points: There is solid formal or informal training; education shows clear influence on artistic development.	8-10 points: Extensive formal or informal training; education has deeply informed their artistic development.
  Experience with Craft	0-1 points: Little to no relevant experience; minimal engagement with their craft in any setting.	2-4 points: Some experience; may be in the early stage of career development.	5-7 points: There is clear experience; shows consistent engagement and growth.	8-10 points: Extensive experience; sustained and consistent engagement with their craft; clearly active in their discipline.
  Related Experience	0-1 points: No or minimal related experience (e.g., teaching, curating, editing, or collaboration).	2-4 points: Some related experience, but limited in scope or relevance (e.g., teaching, curating, editing, or collaboration).	5-7 points: There are related experiences outside of the direct practice (or cultural tradition for folklife/traditional arts) across varied settings; shows consistency and growth (e.g,. teaching, curating, editing, or collaboration).	8-10 points: Extensive, related experiences outside direct practice (or cultural tradition for folklife/traditional arts) (e.g., teaching, curation, or collaboration).
  Artist Statement & Commitment to Growth – 20% of Total Score
  Artist Statement	0-1 points: Artistic vision and intentions are unclear or absent. Little to no reflection on purpose or direction.	2-4 points: Artistic vision or intentions are vague, general, or partially articulated. Limited reflection on purpose or direction.	5-7 points: Provides an artistic vision and defined intentions. Shows some depth of reflection on purpose and direction.	8-10 points: Provides a clear and fully articulated artistic vision. Intentions are well-defined and supported by thoughtful reflection on purpose and direction.
  Commitment to Growth	0-1 points: Provides little evidence of evolution, experimentation, or risk-taking. Practice appears static or narrowly focused.	2-4 points: Shows some evidence of evolution in practice. Reflects on experimentation and risk-taking, but growth is not an ongoing consideration for the artist.	5-7 points: Shows evidence of evolution in practice. Reflects on experimentation, risk-taking, and how these experiences expand or redefine the work. Growth is an ongoing consideration for the artist.	8-10 points: Shows clear evidence of continuous evolution in practice. Reflects thoughtfully on experimentation, risk-taking, and how these experiences expand or redefine the work. Growth is integral to the artist’s ongoing direction.
  Work Samples – 40% of Total Score
  Originality	0-1 points: Limited originality; work appears derivative.	2-4 points: Displays some originality and little distinction.	5-7 points: Shows strong originality and solid distinction.	8-10 points: Demonstrates exceptional originality; work is highly distinctive.
  Clear Concept	0-1 points: Concept is unclear or difficult to discern from the work; lacks ideas or themes.	2-4 points: Conceptually vague or inconsistent ideas or themes.	5-7 points: Conceptually coherent work; effectively conveys the intended ideas or themes.	8-10 points: Conceptually powerful work. Ideas or themes are fully realized, compelling, and deeply embedded in the visual or structural elements.
  Technical Execution	0-1 points: Technical skill and execution of medium are minimal.	2-4 points: Some technical competence, but limited execution of the medium.	5-7 points: Solid technical skills and execution of medium.	8-10 points: Exemplary technical skills; exceptional execution of the medium.
  Impact	0-1 points: The work has minimal impact that leaves little impression on the audience.	2-4 points: The work has some impact that engages the audience at moments but lacks lasting resonance or depth.	5-7 points: The work is clearly impactful and conveys emotion or reflection and engages the audience.	8-10 points: The work is deeply impactful and leaves a strong, lasting impression that resonates emotionally, intellectually, or sensorily with the audience.

  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.

To Apply in More Than One Fellowship Category

You may apply for more than one fellowship in the same year, but you must complete all application steps for each category and submit one application at a time.

• 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.

• Work Samples

  General Work Sample Instructions

  As part of your application, you must submit samples of your artistic work.

  • If your proposed project is multi-disciplinary, you must select one primary discipline for which to submit work samples.
  • Work samples must be of the highest possible quality.

  Requirements for Work Samples

  Your submitted work samples must:

  • Have been created within the last five (5) years (After January 1, 2021).
  • Represent the discipline you selected for your project.
  • Demonstrate the range of your artistic ability.

  Submitting Work Samples

  • All links (URLs) must be accessible without requiring a login or account.
  • You may need to upload materials to a public-facing platform (e.g., a website, Google Drive folder, or YouTube video) to meet this requirement.
  • If your work samples cannot be made available online, contact the Grants Office at grants@arts.sc.gov.

  Work Sample Limits

  • Reviewers will only review the maximum number of samples allowed in the guidelines.
  • Extra materials will not be considered.

  Additional guidance is available on our support materials page.

  ---

  Performance

  Provide a link to the type of performance sample that applies to your discipline:

  • Dance Choreography: video clips of live performances you choreographed.
  • Dance Performance: video clips of live performances in which you danced.
  • Music Performance: Audio or video clips of live performances in which you are featured or perform solo.
  • Opera, Musical Theatre, and Theatre Performance: video clips of live performances in which you are featured or perform solo.
  • Opera, Musical Theatre, and Theatre Directing: video clips of live performances you directed.
  • Media Arts Performance: video clips of film, television, animation, or commercials in which you are featured.

  Performance Sample Instructions

  • Support material may not exceed 20 minutes total per application. Reviewers will not review more than 20 minutes of content per application.
  • Applicants may submit up to two (2) video or audio (for Music Performance) samples per application.
  • Each sample must feature one (1) performance only.
  • Compilations, trailers, or reels are not allowed and will not be sent to reviewers.
  • Applicants may include all samples in one link or send separate links for each sample.
  • If your work is not available online, contact the Grants Office at grants@arts.sc.gov.

  For each work sample, you must provide:

  • The title of the piece.
  • The year created.
  • Your role(s) in the performance.
  • The total runtime of the piece.
  • The start and end timestamps for the portion you want reviewed.
  • If you are in a group number, identify yourself (e.g., dancer in green leotard).

  ---

  Media Arts

  (Producer or Director for film, television, animation, or commercials)

  Provide a link(s) to video clips from films, television, animated works, or commercials you directed or produced.

  Media Arts Sample Instructions

  • Support material may not exceed 20 minutes total per application. Reviewers will not review more than 20 minutes of content per application.
  • Applicants may submit up to two (2) video samples per application.
  • Each sample must feature one (1) performance only.
  • Compilations, trailers, or reels are not allowed and will not be sent to reviewers.
  • Applicants may include all samples in one link or send separate links for each sample.
  • If your work is not available online, contact the Grants Office at grants@arts.sc.gov.

  For each work sample, you must provide:

  • The title of the piece.
  • The year created.
  • Your role(s) in the performance.
  • The total runtime of the piece.
  • The start and end timestamps for the portion you want reviewed.
  • If you are in a group number, identify yourself (e.g., dancer in green leotard).

  ---

  Libretto, Playwriting, and Screenwriting

  Provide a link to the type of sample that applies to your discipline:

  • Libretto/Playwriting: Excerpts from scripts or libretti.
  • Screenwriting: Excerpts from scripts.

  Libretto, Playwriting, and Screenwriting Sample Instructions

  • Applicants must submit no less than 10 pages and no more than 20 pages of work. Reviewers will not read more than 20 pages total per application.
  • Formatting requirements
    • Double-spacing is not required.
    • Typeface must be legible, 12-point or larger.
    • Margins must be at least 1 inch.
    • Pages must be numbered.
    • Each page must include:
      • Title of the work
      • Year completed
    • Drafts, outlines, or overviews of work are not allowed and will not be sent to reviewers.
    • Applicants may include all samples in one link or send separate links for each sample.
    • If your work is not available online, contact the Grants Office at grants@arts.sc.gov.

  For each work sample, you must provide the:

  • Title of the piece.
  • Year created.

  ---

  Prose

  Provide a link(s) to excerpts from work(s) you have written.

  Prose Sample Instructions

  • Applicants must submit no less than 10 pages and no more than 20 pages of prose representing no more than three (3) separate works. Reviewers will not read more than 20 pages of prose per application.
    • Formatting requirements
      • Double-spacing is not required.
      • Typeface must be legible, 12-point or larger.
      • Margins must be at least 1 inch.
      • Pages must be numbered.
      • Each page must include:
        • Title of the work.
        • Year completed.
  • Drafts, outlines, or overviews of work are not allowed and will not be sent to reviewers.
  • Applicants may include all samples in one link or send separate links for each sample.
  • If your work is not available online, contact the Grants Office at grants@arts.sc.gov.

  For each work sample, you must provide the:

  • Title of the piece.
  • Year created.

  ---

  Spoken Word/Slam Poetry Work

  Provide a link to the type of sample that applies to your discipline:

  • Spoken Word: Video clips of your live performances.
  • Slam Poetry: Video clips of your live performances.

  Spoken Word/Slam Poetry instructions

  • Applicants must submit no less than three (3) and no more than six (6) video samples, with each sample not to exceed 3 minutes.
  • Support material may not exceed eighteen (18) minutes total per application. Reviewers will not review more than 18 minutes of content per application.
  • Compilations, trailers, montages, or reels are not allowed and will not be sent to reviewers.
  • Applicants may include all samples in one link, or send separate links for each sample.
  • If the work is not available online, contact our Grants Office at grants@arts.sc.gov.

  For each work sample, you must provide the:

  • Title of the piece.
  • Year completed.
  • Total runtime of the piece.
  • Start and end timestamps for the portion you want reviewed.

  ---

  Folklife/Traditional Arts

  Upload work samples that apply to your discipline:

  • Visual Arts (e.g., quilting, embroidery, sewing, beading, weaving, pottery, basketmaking, and woodcarving): Images of your work.
  • Performance (e.g., folk music, dance): Video clips of your work.
  • Oral Literature: Video clips of your work.

  Folklife/Traditional Arts Work Sample Instructions

  • For visual art images, applicants must submit no less than five (5) and no more than 10 high-resolution images. Reviewers will not view more than 10 images per application.
  • For performance and oral literature video clips, support material may not exceed 20 minutes total per application. Reviewers will not review more than 20 minutes of content per application.
  • For video clips, applicants may submit up to two (2) video samples per application.
  • Compilations, trailers, montages, or reels are not allowed and will not be sent to reviewers.
  • If your work is only available online, contact our Grants Office at grants@arts.sc.gov.

  For each work sample, you must provide the:

  • Title of the piece.
  • Year created.
  • Medium (for visual art).
  • Dimensions (feet/inches, pixels, size, etc.) (for visual art)
  • Your role in the performance (for video clips).
    • If you are in a group performance, identify yourself (e.g., saxophone player in black hat) (for video clips).
  • Total runtime of the piece (for video clips).
  • Start and end timestamps for the portion you want reviewed (for video clips).

• Resume or Bio

  Resume

  For Prose, Spoken word/Slam poetry, Performance, Playwriting/Screenwriting/Libretto Writing, Media Arts.

  • Please refer to the rubric for what your resume should include.
  • Your resume may not exceed three (3) pages. Additional pages will not be reviewed.
  • Font size cannot be smaller than 12 point.
  • Font type is limited to Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman.
  • Acceptable file types: .doc/.docx, .pdf, .rtf, .txt

  Bio

  For Folklife/Traditional Arts only.

  • Please refer to the rubric for what your bio should include.
  • Your bio may not exceed one (1) page. Additional pages will not be reviewed.
  • Font size cannot be smaller than 12 pt.
  • Font type is limited to Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman.
  • Acceptable file types: .doc/.docx, .pdf, .rtf, .txt

After You Apply

• Review Process

  Applications go through a two-step review process.

  Step 1: Completion and Compliance

  The grants team reviews applications for completion and compliance with guidelines and application requirements. Incomplete or noncompliant applications will not move on to evaluation.

  Step 2: Evaluation

  Grant reviewers evaluate complete applications based on the published review criteria. Reviewer comments are available to applicants upon request.

  A minimum of five (5) applications must be received in a fellowship discipline category in order for the category to undergo evaluation.

  Awarding

  Award decisions are based on applicant scores and the availability of funds; award approvals are made by the SCAC Board of Commissioners. Award notifications are expected following the June 2026 board meeting.

  The SCAC reserves the right not to award a fellowship in any discipline in which applications have been solicited.

• If You Receive a Fellowship

  General Obligations

  • Fellowship recipients will enter into a contractual agreement with the SCAC and must comply with all requirements stated in those contract materials.
    • You will receive notification and instructions when your contract is available in our 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 given.
  • Upon notification of the award, fellowship winners will be asked to immediately submit a high-resolution photograph to be used for promotional purposes.
  • Additional details about managing an SCAC grant are available on our agency website.

  State Art Collection Recognition Award

  • To ensure the State Art Collection remains a relevant and contemporary footprint of South Carolina’s cultural heritage, the SCAC will begin in FY27 (July 1, 2026) to induct one (1) work of art per fellow in each year’s cohort into the SAC.
  • This recognition brings works by contemporary artists in all eligible disciplines into the SAC as a part of its digital archive. The SCAC will not own or physically house works recognized by this program.
  • Participation by fellows is optional. Fellows may decline or opt out of accepting the State Art Collection Award without affecting their fellowship status.

  Payment

  Payment of the award will be released upon receipt and approval of a completed contract packet. Fellows may choose to receive their full award in one payment, or divided into two payments (one per calendar year). SCAC artist grant awards are considered taxable income.