Summer Arts Education Project Grants

About This Grant

Purpose

This grant supports quality arts education programs for preschool (3K-4K) and/or K-12 students between school years, through both traditional providers (arts organizations) and other organizations (e.g., social service, health, community, education) that utilize the arts to meet the educational, developmental, and social needs of preschool (3K-4K) and/or K-12 students. This grant supports projects occurring during the summer of 2026.

Activities should

1. Expand student access to arts education opportunities; and
2. Complement, augment, or advance standards-based arts instruction or arts integration activities aligned with school curriculum and
3. Be focused on or include significant components of quality instruction and/or experiences in the visual arts, performing arts, media arts, design arts, folk and traditional arts, or creative writing; and
4. Address South Carolina’s 2017 College and Career Ready Standards for Visual and Performing Arts Proficiency (please note that 2026 South Carolina College- and Career-Ready Visual and Performing Arts Proficiency Standards will be published in spring 2026); or
5. If applying for or including preschool programming, address South Carolina’s Profile of the Ready Kindergartener.

Please Note

Grant guidelines are subject to change until the application opens.

• Eligibility

  1. The applicant must be
     • A college or university;
     • OR a unit of state or local government;
     • OR a nonprofit community-based organization (arts or non-arts)
       • 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.
       • reflecting S.C. as the primary address on all current official organizational documents
       • 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. Schools and school districts are not eligible.
  3. Individual artists are not eligible.

  4. 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.

  5. 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

  1. Applicants may submit only one (1) application per deadline.
  2. While colleges and universities are eligible,only one (1) application per department will be accepted.
  3. Project disciplines are restricted to visual arts, performing arts, media arts, design arts, folk and traditional arts, and creative writing.
  4. Any arts material or activity that is already funded by a Term Arts Education Project grant may not be duplicated in, or overlap with, a Summer Arts Education Project grant application.
  5. Students under age 3 may benefit from proposed programming, but programs should not be focused on students below the 3K level.

• Use of Funds

  Please Note: Grant funds should supplement (add to) not supplant (replace) your current arts programming budget. Grant funds should allow for project funding that is BEYOND your current budget. Grant funds should NOT REPLACE your current budget so that it can be reallocated.

  Allowable expenses:

  • Salaries and professional expenses directly related to the planning and implementation of your proposed project.
  • Artists to facilitate programs or projects.
  • Materials, equipment, and or supplies related to your proposed project.
  • Scholarships for students to attend or participate in proposed projects.
  • Providing professional learning for educators, artists, and/or instructors.
  • Indirect costs up to 10% of the total grant award.
  • Transportation and admission to arts experiences for students.

  Examples of eligible activities include, but are not limited to:

  • Workshops.
  • Camps.
  • Artist residencies (see note below).
  • Public art projects.
  • Performances.
  • Exhibitions.
  • Acquisition of critical equipment or supplies.
  • Program planning.
  • Professional learning for instructors, artists, and/or administrators.

  If you are hiring artists or teaching artists

  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.

  • Learn more about the S.C. Arts Directory.
  • Search for an artist.

  Indirect Cost Limitation

  No more than 10% of the total grant funds may be used for indirect costs (general overhead expenses not directly tied to the project). The remaining 90% must go toward direct costs, which are necessary to carry out the funded project.

  • Examples of direct costs: Artist fees, program supplies, travel for project activities, and venue rental.
  • Examples of indirect costs: Administrative salaries not directly working on the project, office rent, utilities, and general office supplies.

  This ensures that most of the funding directly benefits the project while allowing some flexibility for necessary overhead costs.

  Non-allowable expenses:

  • Interest on borrowed money.
  • Lawsuits.
  • Disposal of assets.
  • Losses due to natural disasters.
  • Decrease in inventory value or unsold inventory.
  • Any activities (including student art making) intended for fundraising.
  • New construction / facilities construction.
  • Food, beverages, alcohol, catering services.
  • Clothing (not including costumes for theatre projects).
  • Stipends or awards for students (including gift cards).
  • Credit card processing fees.
  • Indirect costs above 10% of total grant award.

• 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

  This funding category is highly competitive.

  1. Priority will be given to:
     • Proposed activities specifically serving students in one or more Opportunity Initiative Counties, targeted for special attention by SCAC; and/or
     • Applicant organizations located within an Opportunity Initiative county.

     SCAC Opportunity Initiative Counties:

     • Allendale
     • Bamberg
     • Calhoun
     • Edgefield
     • Hampton
     • Lee
     • Marlboro
     • Saluda
     • Union
     • Williamsburg
  2. Priority will be given to projects or programs which:
     • Include partnerships between organizations, schools, and/or other entities to meet preschool (3K-4K) and/or K-12 educational goals through the arts; and/or
     • Serve specific student populations, including those living in rural or high-poverty areas.

  See the “Grant Criteria” section of these guidelines for details.

• Deadline & Grant Period

  Deadline

  December 18, 2025

  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

  May 1–June 26, 2026*

  * All projects must be implemented during the summer months of 2026 (May 1-June 26, 2026).

• Funding & Match

  Funding

  Up to $15,000

  Funding Type

  Expense reimbursement.

  Matching Requirements

  1:2 (grantee:SCAC)

  • A 1:2 match means that for each SCAC dollar granted, the grantee must match with $0.50 of their own funds.
    • For example, if the total project cost is $18,000, the applicant may request $12,000 and must provide the remaining $6,000 from other sources.
  • At least 50% of the applicant’s match must be cash.
  • Funds cannot 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 reviewers will score your application responses based on the criteria within this rubric.

  FY26 Summer Arts Education Projects Grant Evaluation Rubric
  Expanding Access to Arts Education – 60% of Total Score
  Community Need	0-2 points: There is little to no demonstrated community need for the project or program. The program is not supported by relevant evidence or data.	3-5 points: There is some demonstrated community need for the project or program. The program is supported by little evidence or data.	6-8 points: There is appropriate demonstrated community need for the project or program supported by evidence and data.	9-10 points: There is strong, clear demonstrated community need for the project or program supported by relevant evidence and data.
  Educational Goals	0-2 points: The educational goals of the project are unclear and do not include what students will learn academically, artistically, or otherwise.	3-5 points: The educational goals of the project are vague but include some learning academically artistically, and otherwise.	6-8 points: The educational goals of the project are stated and include quality learning academically, artistically, and otherwise.	9-10 points: The educational goals of the project are clearly stated and include high-quality learning academically, artistically, and otherwise.
  Activity Details and Responsibilities	0 points: Activities are vague, unfeasible, or not clearly connected to project goals. Responsibilities are not identifed.	1-2 points: Activites are limited with some feasibility and support of project goals. Responsibilities are only partially identified and assigned.	3-4 points: Activites are clear, feasible and connected to the project goals. Responsibilities are identified and assigned.	5 points: Activities are extremely clear and feasible with strong connection to the project goals. Respnsibilities are clearly identified and assigned.
  Timeline and Milestones	0 points: Timeline is unclear or missing major phases of project (planning, execution, or evaluation), does not identify milestones, and dates conflict significantly or do not align with project dates.	1-2 points: Timeline partially outlines the project (planning, execution, and/or evaluation), identifies some milestones, and is mostly aligned with project dates.	3-4 points: Timeline outlines all phases of the project (planning, execution, and evaluation), identifies key milestones, and is aligned with project dates.	5 points: Timeline clearly and thoroughly outlines all phases of the project (planning, execution, and evaluation) and identifies key milestones. All dates are specific and fully aligned with project dates.
  Student Engagement	0-2 points: The activities do not engage students in the production of artworks or use of arts-based learning strategies.	3-5 points: The activities somewhat engage students in the production of artworks or use of arts-based learning strategies.	6-8 points: The activities appropriately engage students in the production of artworks or use of arts-based learning strategies.	9-10 points: The activities directly engage students in the production of artworks or use of arts-based learning strategies.
  Educational Standards	0 points: Activities do not address South Carolina’s 2017 College and Career Ready Standards for Visual and Performing Arts Proficiency or the SC Profile of the Ready Kindergartener.	1-2 points: Some activities address South Carolina’s 2017 College and Career Ready Standards for Visual and Performing Arts Proficiency and/or the SC Profile of the Ready Kindergartener in a reasonable way.	3-4 points: Most activities address South Carolina’s 2017 College and Career Ready Standards for Visual and Performing Arts Proficiency and/or the SC Profile of the Ready Kindergartener in a meaningful and reasonable way.	5 points: All activities address South Carolina’s 2017 College and Career Ready Standards for Visual and Performing Arts Proficiency and/or the SC Profile of the Ready Kindergartener in a clear, meaningful, and reasonable way.
  Student Outcomes	0-2 points: Evaluation plan does not include methods of measuring achievement of goals or student outcomes.	3-5 points: Evaluation plan includes some methods of measuring achievement of goals and/or student outcomes.	6-8 points: Evaluation plan includes defined methods of measuring achievement of goals and student outcomes.	9-10 points: Evaluation plan includes clear and defined methods of measuring achievement of goals and student outcomes.
  Project Growth	0 points: The organization has not demonstrated growth or change within their grant project or program from previous years.	1-2 points: The organization has demonstrated little growth and/or change to their grant funded project or program from previous years.	3-4 points: The organization has demonstrated growth and/or change in their grant funded project or program from previous years.	5 points: The organization has demonstrated significant growth and/or change in their grant funded project or program from previous years.
  Organizational Capacity – 30% of Total Score
  Organization and Mission	0 points: The project or program is not within the scope of the organization’s mission.	1-2 points: The project or program is somewhat within the scope of the organization’s mission.	3-4 points: The project or program is within the scope of the organization’s mission.	5 points: The project or program is clearly within the scope of the organization’s mission.
  Commitment to Artistic Quality	0 points: The organization does not demonstrate a commitment to artistic quality.	1-2 points: The organization somewhat demonstrates a commitment to artistic quality and identifies measures to ensure that commitment is met.	3-4 points: The organization demonstrates a commitment to artistic quality and identifies effective measures to ensure that commitment is met.	5 points: The organization directly demonstrates a clear commitment to artistic quality and identifies effective measures to ensure that commitment is met.
  Qualifications of Key Personnel	0 points: Leadership and Key personnel are not qualified to deliver effective programming.	1-2 points: Some leadership and key personnel are qualified to deliver effective programming.	3-4 points: Most leadership and key personnel are qualified to deliver effective programming.	5 points: All leadership and key personnel are highly qualified to deliver effective programming.
  Budget	0 points: The program budget is not balanced and/or an unrealistic estimate of project expenses and sources of income to support the project.	1-2 points: The program budget somewhat demonstrates a balanced and realistic estimate of project expenses and sources of income to support the project.	3-4 points: The program budget demonstrates a balanced and realistic estimate of project expenses and sources of income to support the project.	5 points: The program budget clearly demonstrates a balanced and realistic estimate of project expenses and reliable sources of income to support the project.
  Partnerships	0 points: The project represents no community partnerships between organizations, schools, and/or other entities to meet 3k-4k or K-12 educational goals through the arts.	1-2 points: The project represents unclear community partnerships between organizations, schools, and/or other entities to meet 3k-4k and/or K-12 educational goals through the arts.	3-4 points: The project represents defined community partnerships between organizations, schools, and/or other entities to meet 3k-4k and/or K-12 educational goals through the arts.	5 points: The project represents strong, defined community partnerships between organizations, schools, and/or other entities to meet 3k-4k and/or K-12 educational goals through the arts.
  Partnership Letter of Support	0 points: No letters of support from community partners are present.	1-2 points: Letters of support from some community partners are present and represent some understanding of the role and scope of some partners involved.	3-4 points: Letters of support from most community partners are present and represent understanding of the role and scope of the partners involved.	5 points: Letters of support from all community partners are present and represent a clear understanding of the role and scope of all partners involved.
  Populations Served – 10% of Total Score
  Populations Served	0 points: There is no clear understanding of the student population that will be served through this project. Missing information including which and how many students will benefit and any special characteristics or needs.	1-2 points: There is little understanding of the student population that will be served through this project. Includes incomplete information about which and how many students will benefit and any special characteristics or needs.	3-4 points: There is an understanding of the student population that will be served through this project, including which and how many students will benefit and any special characteristics or needs.	5 points: There is a clear and thorough understanding of the student population that will be served through this project, including which and how many students will benefit and any special characteristics or needs.
  Distinct Group Populations	0 points: There is no connection between the selected group populations served and the details and reasoning behind how and why these groups were selected.	1-2 points: There is little connection between the selected group populations served and the details and reasoning behind how and why these groups were selected.	3-4 points: There is reasonable connection between the selected group populations served and the details and reasoning behind how and why these groups were selected.	5 points: There is clear and reasonable connection between the selected group populations served and the details and reasoning behind how and why these groups were selected.

  Printer-friendly rubric.

How to Apply

Applications are accepted through our grants portal, which uses Foundant.

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.

• Starting Your Application

  1. Click 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 “Summer Arts Education Projects” in the list of available grant applications, and click the “Apply” button to the far right.
     • Note: Be sure you are applying for “Summer Arts Education Projects,” not “Term Arts Education Projects” without the “Summer” designation.

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 after the February 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

  Payments are reimbursement-based. This means any expenses must be financed up front by the grantee and/or a cooperating entity.

  If you are using a fiscal agent/receiver, grant funds will be released to your fiscal receiver, who will then pay you.

  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.

  In addition, failure to file a complete Summer Arts Education Project Final Report by the due date will result in a reduction of 15% to future grant awards.

  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.