Folklife & Traditional Arts Project Grants

• Applicant Coaching

  Join the SCAC team for an informative applicant coaching session on Zoom.

  • Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026
  • 2-3:15 p.m.
  • Coaching registration.

  Can’t make it?

  A recording of the coaching session will be posted in this space afterward.

• Eligibility

  1. Applicants must be one of the following:
     • A unit of state or local government
     • A college or university
     • 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. Have a valid Unique Entity ID.

     • 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.

  3. 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

  • Only one (1) Folklife & Traditional Arts Project Grant application can be submitted per fiscal year.
  • College and university departments are eligible, but only one (1) application per department will be accepted.

• Use of Funds

  Eligible expenses

  These include, but are not limited to:

  • Presentation of traditional artists through workshops, concerts, festivals, exhibitions, radio programs, recordings, etc.
  • Documentation of traditional arts and/or folklife of South Carolina. (Note: The project must result in a public presentation, whether through programming or access to archived materials.)
  • Cultural Survey: fieldwork done to identify traditions and traditional artists.
  • Production, documentation and/or distribution of a traditional artist’s work (for example, the production of publicity materials).
  • Acquisition of difficult-to-obtain materials or equipment needed to create traditional art.
  • Projects that preserve a traditional art form (e.g., apprenticeships or classes).

  Ineligible expenses

  These include, but are not limited to:

  • Interpretations of traditional art (as opposed to the practice of an actual traditional art form).
  • Revivals of traditions that have ceased to exist within the originating culture.
  • General oral history projects.
  • Projects that are limited to a historical focus.
  • Projects that present historical re-creations of past lifestyles.

• 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.

• Priority

  Priority will be given to:

  • Proposed activities in one or more Opportunity Initiative Counties targeted for special attention by SCAC; and/or
  • Applicant organizations located within an Opportunity Initiative County.

  Current SCAC Opportunity Initiative Counties:
  

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

• Deadline & Grant Period

  Deadline

  April 23, 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–May 31, 2027

• Funding & Match

  Funding

  Up to $6,000

  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.

  Funding Type

  Grantees may receive up to 80% of the total grant award prior to final report.

  Matching Requirements

  1:1 (grantee:SCAC)

  • At least 50% of the applicant’s match must be cash.
  • Funds may not be matched with another SCAC grant.

• 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 Folklife & Traditional Arts Project Grant Application Evaluation Rubric
  Traditionality and Cultural Significance – 35% of total score
  Cultural Community	0-2 points: The project does not represent a cultural community or group or uses inaccurate or overly generic language.	3-5 points: The project references a cultural community and/or group, but the representation is overly broad or lacks clarity.	6-8 points: The project represents a cultural community and/or group with clarity, understanding, and relevance.	9-10 points: The project clearly and specifically represents a cultural community and/or group with strong understanding and clear relevance.
  Art Form Traditionality	0-2 points: The art form represented in the project is not traditional or inaccurately addresses traditionality.	3-5 points: The art form represented in the project references traditionality but is broad or unclear about its lineage, occupation, religious or ethnic connection, and/or another shared identity.	6-8 points: The art form represented in the project is traditional through lineage, occupation, religious or ethnic connection, and/or another shared identity.	9-10 points: The art form represented in the project is strongly traditional through direct lineage, occupation, religious or ethnic connection, and/or another shared identity.
  Practitioner Experience	0-2 points: The artist(s) involved are not recognized by the cultural community as practitioners of the traditional art form. Biographical information is missing, unclear, or unrelated to the traditional art form.	3-4 points: The artist(s) involved have limited recognition by the cultural community as practitioners of their traditional art form. Biographical information is only vaguely connected to the traditional art form.	5-6 points: The artist(s) involved are recognized by the cultural community as practitioners of the traditional art form. Biographical information connects qualifications and experience to the traditional art form.	7-8 points: The artist(s) involved are highly recognized by the cultural community as experienced practioners of the traditional art form. Biographical information is specific and relevant, and establishes recognition in the traditional art form.
  Cultural Significance	0-1 points: The project's art form(s) does not have significance within the identified cultural community or is supported with minimal or unclear information.	2-3 points: The project's art form(s) has slight significance within the identified cultural community, but is supported with vague, generalized, or weakly-connected information.	4-5 points: The project's art form(s) is significant within the identified cultural community and is connected through relevant and accurate information, though lacking depth or context.	6-7 points: The project's art form(s) is deeply significant within the identified cultural community with highly relevant information connected to cultural function and history.
  Project Impact – 30% of total score
  Project Goals	0-2 points: Project goals are not provided and/or do not include expected outcomes.	3-5 points: Project goals are vague, somewhat align with the project, and are somewhat achievable. Expected outcomes are broad but align with corresponding goals.	6-9 points: Project goals are outlined, align with the project, and are achievable. Expected outcomes are provided for and align with corresponding goals.	10-12 points: Project goals are distinctly outlined, strongly align with the project, and are highly achievable. Expected outcomes are thoroughly detailed and strongly align with corresponding goals.
  Project Timeline	0 points: The project timeline, activities/tasks, details, and location(s) are not present or do not align with its goals.	1-2 points: The project timeline, activities/tasks, details, and location(s) are vaguely aligned with its goals.	3-4 points: The project timeline, activities/tasks, details, and location(s) are aligned with its goals.	5-6 points: The project timeline, activities/tasks, details, and location(s) are clearly aligned with its goals.
  Target Audience	0 points: No target audience is identified and/or the audience is not aligned with the project goal(s).	1-2 points: The target audience(s) is vaguely identified and loosely aligned with project goal(s).	3-5 points: The target audience(s) is identified and connected to the project goal(s).	6-7 points: The target audience(s) is clearly identified and directly connected to the project goal(s).
  Project Marketing	0 points: No plan to market/distribute the project is provided.	1-2 points: There is a vague plan to market/distribute the project to the target audience.	3-4 points: There is a plan to market/distribute the project to the target audience.	5 points: There is a detailed, well-structured plan to market/distribute the project to the target audience.
  Project Management – 15% of total score
  Key Administrative Personnel	0-1 points: Key personnel do not have relevant cultural expertise and/or knowledge of completing folk/traditional arts programming.	2-3 points: Key personnel have limited cultural expertise and/or knowledge of completing folk/traditional arts programming.	4-6 points: Key personnel have relevant cultural expertise and/or knowledge of completing folk/traditional arts programming.	7-8 points: Key personnel have extensive, relevant cultural expertise and/or knowledge of completing folk/traditional arts programming.
  Success Measurements	0-1 points: There is no plan to collect relevant data and/or success measurements do not reflect the project's goals.	2-3 points: There is a vague plan to collect data to evaluate the project's goals.	4-5 points: There is a plan to collect data to evaluate the project's goals, including audience metrics and expected outcomes.	6-7 points: There is a detailed, well-structured plan to collect data to evaluate the project's goals, including audience metrics, expected outcomes, and future community need.
  Budget – 10% of total score
  Budget Itemization	0 points: The budget lacks detail and does not provide adequate/relevant financial resources to complete the project.	1-2 points: The budget is somewhat detailed and itemizes some project-related expenses and income sources.	3-4 points: The budget is detailed and itemizes project-related expenses and income sources.	5 points: The budget is very detailed and completely itemizes all project-related expenses and income sources.
  Budget Resources	0 points: The budget is not balanced and does not show estimates of project expenses and income sources.	1-2 points: The budget is somewhat balanced and provides some realistic estimates of project expenses and income sources.	3-4 points: The budget is balanced and provides realistic estimates of project expenses and income sources.	5 points: The budget is completely balanced and provides strong estimates of project expenses and reliable income sources.
  Work Samples – 10% of total score
  Work Sample Credits	0-2 points: Work samples are not credited and/or work samples are not current (from 2020 or earlier).		3-5 points: Work samples are properly credited (lists artist/organization that produced submitted samples) and are current (from 2021 to this year).
  Work Samples	0 points: Work samples are missing, unclear, or are poorly aligned with the featured traditional art form and/or proposed project.	1-2 points: Work samples are loosely related to the featured traditional art form and/or only partially support the proposed project.	3-4 points: Work samples represent and align with the featured traditional art form and will support the proposed project.	5 points: Work samples are of high quality, clearly and effectively represent the featured traditional art form, and strongly support the proposed project.

  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.

Please note:

Before applying for a Folklife & Traditional Arts Project Grant, you are strongly advised to discuss your project with the program director to determine if your project meets the guidelines.

• 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.

• AI and Your Application

  The SCAC recognizes that applicants may choose to use artificial intelligence (AI) tools as part of their grant preparation process. The following policy outlines acceptable and prohibited uses of AI in connection with grant applications and funded projects.

  Artificial Intelligence (AI) Disclosure and Acceptable Use Policy

  • Generative AI must not be used for the creation of the proposed artwork or for generating work samples.
  • AI may be used for editing, proofreading, or improving the clarity and quality of narrative text. However, if you use an AI tool to help write or edit your application, you do so at your own risk. When we receive a grant application, it is our understanding that it reflects the applicant’s original ideas, voice, and intent.
  • You remain fully responsible for the content, accuracy, and integrity of your application, including any material created or revised with the assistance of AI.
  • If we identify falsified, fabricated, or misleading information in a grant application—including information produced through the use of AI—the SCAC reserves the right to remove the grant from consideration, or if awarded, to cancel the grant and invoice the grantee for any funds received.
  • If AI is used inappropriately or in violation of this policy, the SCAC reserves the right to remove the grant from consideration, or if awarded, to cancel the grant and invoice the grantee for any funds received.
  • All applicants must ensure that their applications, proposed projects, and all related materials—including information produced through the use of AI— comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws.

  Applying for this grant indicates that you, the applicant, agree to the terms of this policy.

   

• Supplemental Information

  Work Samples

  Work samples are a required part of your application. Work samples should represent the artists and traditions featured in your project. Work samples help the reviewers assess the quality of your proposed program, its potential impact on the tradition(s) and community(ies) involved, and your organization’s capacity to complete the project. We encourage you to be selective when choosing your work samples. Work samples should:

  1. Demonstrate traditionality and cultural significance as understood by the community in which the traditional art forms are practiced.
  2. Represent the traditional art forms featured in your project.
  3. Have been created within the last five (5) years (after Jan. 1, 2021).

  Work Sample Instructions

  We strongly encourage you to prepare your work samples before you visit the grants portal and begin your application.

  You must submit at least two (2) and no more than five (5) work samples. Reviewers will review no more than 20 minutes of content per application.

  To submit work samples, you must provide a URL/link where the work sample can be viewed. The work sample(s) must be accessible without login credentials for that platform. Do not include websites or links for which a password is required (e.g., if linking to a Facebook video, make sure it’s a public link, as reviewers may not have a Facebook account).

  You may need to create new electronic files (documents, video files, etc.) that meet the length, content, and formatting requirements.

  You must provide the following information for each work sample:

  • Name of artist(s) or key individuals involved; please identify all project-relevant artists or individuals.
  • Title of the piece.
  • Year created.
  • Location (if known).
  • Total runtime of the piece (for video clips).
  • Start and end timestamps for the portion you want reviewed (for video clips).
  • A sentence describing the work and its relationship to the project.

  If you are uncertain what to submit, please contact us.

  Support Materials

  Support materials show you have the necessary skills, resources, and capacity needed to complete the proposed project. You may submit up to five (5) support materials. Be selective and deliberate when choosing your support materials. For each support material, you must provide a description and explain its relationship to the project.

  Support materials may include, but are not limited to:

  • Letters of support.
  • Samples of media coverage (e.g., newspaper or magazine articles).
  • Programs or other ephemera from previous similar projects.
  • Brief publications or publication excerpts.

  Support materials may be uploaded, or you may provide a link to the support material(s). If providing a link, the support materials must be accessible without login credentials for that platform. Do not include websites or links for which a password is required.

• 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 “Folklife & Traditional Arts Projects” in the list of available grant applications, and click the “Apply” button to the far right.

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.

  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.

• 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

  Grantees may request interim payments of up to 80% of the total grant award. Any remaining amount of the grant award will be released upon receipt and approval of the final report.

  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. 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.

  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.