Purpose
To stimulate partnerships between libraries and artists or arts organizations, and encourage communities to participate in artistic and cultural activities
Who's Eligible
Public libraries and certain related entities. College/university libraries are not eligible to apply.
Funding
Up to $2,500 within a fiscal year
Matching Requirement
Varies by county
To support library-led public engagement projects that stimulate partnerships between libraries and artists or arts organizations and encourage communities to participate in artistic and cultural activities.
Please Note
Grant guidelines are subject to change until the application opens.
Public libraries that support and strengthen their local communities by providing services that ensure all residents have access to information, resources, and opportunities in programming and learning.
The Libraries Engagement grant can be used to fund public engagement activities involving any of the following art forms: dance, music, opera, musical theatre, theatre, visual arts, design arts (architecture, fashion, graphic, industrial, or interior), crafts, photography, media arts, literature, playwriting/screenwriting, media productions, spoken word/slam poetry, time-based art (installation, sound, experimental film, video art, computer-based technology, or performance art), and/or folklife/traditional arts.
Libraries must provide a physical space for the community to experience and interact with artistic content and programs or to create their own art. Works of visual and performing art may be temporary exhibits, permanent installations, programs or performances offered in the library, or parts of a library’s viewable collections.
Funds can also be used to hire professional artists or presenters such as those listed on the S.C. Arts Directory.
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.
Projects must:
Priority will be given to individuals or organizations that have projects in SCAC’s Opportunity Initiative Counties:
At least five (5) weeks before the project begins, for projects beginning on or after September 9, 2024.
Here are some time-specific deadlines:
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.
All grant-supported activities must be implemented between August 23, 2024 and May 31, 2025.
Up to $2,500
Note: If your community spans counties in multiple tiers, please contact us BEFORE beginning your application.
TIER 1: 1:3 (applicant:SCAC)
A 1:3 match means that for each dollar granted, the grantee must match with $0.33 of their own funds.
Tier 1 counties:
TIER 2: 1:2 (applicant:SCAC)
A 1:2 match means that for each dollar granted, the grantee must match with $0.50 of their own funds.
Tier 2 counties:
TIER 3: 1:1 (applicant:SCAC)
A 1:1 match means that for each dollar granted, the grantee must match with $1.00 of their own funds.
Tier 3 counties:
Are you wondering what makes for a strong application?
Applicants should be prepared to tell (in a narrative section tied to project detail points):
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.
FY25 Libraries Engagement Grant Evaluation Rubric |
||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Project Details (50%) |
||||
Yes | No | |||
Community Description | The applicant describes their community well. | The applicant does not describe their community well. | ||
0-4 | 5-6 | 7-8 | 9-10 | |
Project Description | The applicant inadequately described the purpose and goals of the project. | The applicant has a limited description of the purpose and goals of the project. | The applicant has an adequate description of the purpose and goals of the project. | The applicant described in detail the purpose and goals of the project. |
0-4 | 5-6 | 7-8 | 9-10 | |
Activity Details | The applicant inadequately described the activities, timeline and locations of the project including how they would align with the purpose and goals. | The applicant has a limited description of the activities, timeline and locations of the project including how they would align with the purpose and goals. | The applicant has an adequate description of the activities, timeline and locations of the project including how they would align with the purpose and goals | The applicant described in detail the activities, timeline and locations of the project including how they would align with the purpose and goals. |
0-6 | 7-11 | 12-13 | 14-15 | |
Key Personnel | The descriptions of qualifications or biographical summaries show that personnel have inadequate commitment to artistic quality and the ability to deliver and lead the project or program. | The descriptions of qualifications or biographical summaries show that personnel have limited commitment to artistic quality or the ability to deliver and lead the project or program. | The descriptions of qualifications or biographical summaries show that personnel have adequate commitment to artistic quality and the ability to deliver and lead the project or program. | The descriptions of qualifications or biographical summaries show that personnel have strong commitment to artistic quality and are qualified to deliver and lead the project or program. |
0-2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
Partnerships/ Collaboration | The project or program has an inadequate relationship and support from artists, community organizations, or businesses | The project or program has limited relationship and support from artists, community organizations, or businesses. | The project or program has an adequate relationship and support from artists, community organizations, or businesses. | The project or program has strong relationship and support from artists, community organizations, or businesses. |
0-4 | 5-6 | 7-8 | 9-10 | |
Marketing Strategy | The applicant inadequately describes how they will market, distribute and/or promote their project. | The applicant has a limited description of how they will market, distribute and/or promote their project. | The applicant has an adequate description of how they will market, distribute and/or promote their project. | The applicant describes in detail how they will market, distribute and/or promote their project. |
Project Impact (25%) |
||||
0-6 | 7-11 | 12-13 | 14-15 | |
Project Importance | There is inadequate information provided on how the project or program is important to the applicant and the community it serves. | There is limited information provided on how the project or program is important to the applicant and the community it serves. | There is adequate information provided on how the project or program is important to the applicant and the community it serves. | There is detailed information provided on how the project or program is important to the applicant and the community it serves. |
Engagement | 0-2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
The applicant inadequately described how they will engage their community and local government in this project and how they will generally inform the public and elected officials. | The applicant has a limited description of how they will engage their community and local government in this project and how they will generally inform the public and elected officials. | The applicant has an adequate description of how they will engage their community and local government in this project and how they will generally inform the public and elected officials. | The applicant describes in detail how they will engage their community and local government in this project and how they will generally inform the public and elected officials. | |
0-2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
Success Measurements | The plan has inadequate methods to measure the success of the project or program. | The plan has limited methods to measure the success of the project or program. | The plan has adequate methods to measure the success of the project or program. | The plan has well- organized methods to measure the success of the project or program. |
Budget (15%) |
||||
0-6 | 7-11 | 12-13 | 14-15 | |
Budget | The budget is not detailed and shows inadequate financial resources to complete the project or program. | The budget is somewhat detailed and has unrelated expenses or limited financial resources to complete the project or program. | The budget is detailed and has adequate financial resources to complete the project or program. | The budget is very detailed and shows strong financial resources to complete the project or program. |
Support Materials (10%) |
||||
0-4 | 5-6 | 7-8 | 9-10 | |
Support Materials | The support materials show inadequate experience or artistic quality to carry out the project or program. | The support materials show limited experience or artistic quality to carry out the project or program. | The support materials show adequate experience or artistic quality to carry out the project or program. | The support materials show excellent experience or artistic quality to carry out the project or program. |
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.
The applicant must have an active account in our Grants Portal.
As part of your application, you will provide support materials and/or samples of your artistic work.
Specific requirements for these materials are outlined in the application. 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.
Not quite ready to apply? You can preview the application before you create an account or start an application.
The Grants Team will review submitted applications for completeness and compliance with guideline and application requirements. A combination of SCAC program staff and external panelists will evaluate the 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. Final funding decisions are approved by the deputy director. Award notification is expected in four (4) to five (5) weeks after the application deadline.
If your application is funded, you (and your fiscal agent/receiver, if applicable) will enter into a contractual agreement with the South Carolina Arts Commission, and you must comply with all requirements stated in that 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 file 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
Missed a group call or session? Look for the video link to access a recording of that presentation.