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 2025.

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; 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. 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. Applicants who have been awarded a Summer Arts Education Project Grant for two (2) years of funding (Summer 2024 and Summer 2025) are not eligible to apply in the current grant cycle.

• Restrictions

  • Applicants may submit only one (1) application per deadline.
  • College and university departments are eligible, but only one (1)  application per department will be accepted.
  • Schools and school districts are not eligible.
  • Individual artists are not eligible.
  • Eligible project disciplines are: visual arts, performing arts, media arts, design arts, folk and traditional arts, and creative writing.
  • 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.
  • Students under age 3 may benefit from proposed programming, but programs should not be focused on students below the 3K level.
  • 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.

• 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

  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

  None.

• 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
     • Cherokee
     • Clarendon
     • Dillon
     • Edgefield
     • Hampton
     • Jasper
     • Laurens
     • Lee
     • Marion
     • Marlboro
     • Saluda
     • 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 16, 2024

  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.

  Grant Period

  May 1, 2025–August 15, 2025*

  * All projects must be implemented during the summer months of 2025 (May 1-August 15, 2025). If your proposed project is scheduled to extend beyond these dates, please contact us.

• Funding & Match

  Funding

  Up to $15,000

  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 may not be matched with another SCAC grant or with any federal funds.

• Grant Criteria

  Are you wondering what makes for a strong application?

  The SCAC recommends using the FY25/26 Summer Arts Education Projects Evaluation Rubric as a guide when writing your application. Grant panelists will score your application responses based on the criteria within this rubric.

  FY25/26 Summer Arts Education Projects Grant Evaluation Rubric
  Expanding Access to Arts Education: 50% of total score
  Community Need	0-1 points: There is little to no demonstrated community need for the project or program. The program is not supported with relevant evidence or data.	2-3 points: There is some demonstrated community need for the project or program. The program is supported with little evidence or data.	4-5 points: There is appropriate demonstrated community need for the project or program supported with evidence and data.	6-7 points: There is strong, clear demonstrated community need for the project or program supported with 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.
  Activities Details	0-1 points: The activities are not feasible within the stated timeline.	2-3 points: The activities are somewhat feasible within the stated timeline.	4-5 points: The activities are most likely feasible within the stated timeline.	6-7 points: The activities are clear and fully feasible within the stated timeline.
  Activities Support Educational Goals	0-1 points: The activities do not support the stated educational goals of the project.	2-3 points: The activities somewhat support the stated educational goals of the project.	4-5 points: The activities appropriately support the stated educational goals of the project.	6-7 points: The activities directly support the stated educational goals of the project.
  Student Engagement	0-1 points: The activities do not engage students in the production of artworks or use of arts-based learning strategies.	2-3 points: The activities somewhat engage students in the production of artworks or use of arts-based learning strategies.	4-5 points: The activities appropriately engage students in the production of artworks or use of arts-based learning strategies.	6-7 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	0-1 points: Evaluation plan does not include methods of measuring achievement of goals or student outcomes.	2-3 points: Evaluation plan includes some methods of measuring achievement of goals and/or student outcomes.	4-5 points: Evaluation plan includes defined methods of measuring achievement of goals and student outcomes.	6-7 points: Evaluation plan includes clear and defined methods of measuring achievement of goals and student outcomes.
  Organizational Capacity: 40% 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	0-1 points: The organization does not demonstrate a commitment to artistic quality.	2-4 points: The organization somewhat demonstrates a commitment to artistic quality and identifies measures to ensure that commitment is met.	5-7 points: The organization demonstrates a commitment to artistic quality and identifies effective measures to ensure that commitment is met.	8-10 points: The organization directly demonstrates a clear commitment to artistic quality and identifies effective measures to ensure that commitment is met.
  Project Timeline & Milestones	0 points: Project timeline is incomplete or not feasible.	1-2 points: Project timeline is present and feasible.	3-4 points: Project timeline is present, reasonably sequenced, and feasible.	5 points: Project timeline is clear, sequenced with intention, and feasible.
  Qualifications of Key Personnel	0-1 points: Leadership and Key personnel are not qualified to deliver effective programming.	2-4 points: Some leadership and key personnel are qualified to deliver effective programming.	5-7 points: Most leadership and key personnel are qualified to deliver effective programming.	8-10 points: All leadership and key personnel are highly qualified to deliver effective programming.
  Budget	0 points: The program budget is not balanced and/or is 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 point: 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.	2 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.	3 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 point: Letters of support from some community partners are present and represent an understanding of the role and scope of some partners involved.	2 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: Applicant does not demonstrate a clear and thorough 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: Applicant demonstrates 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: Applicant demonstrates a general 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: Applicant demonstrates 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 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.

• Your Grants Portal Account

  The applicant must have an active account in our Grants Portal.

  • If you have previously used Submittable to apply for other SCAC grants or programs, please note that the grants portal is a different system. Your Submittable credentials will not work; you will need a grants portal account to apply for this grant.
  • If you have used the grants portal as both an artist and as a contact 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

  The Grants Team will review submitted applications for completeness and compliance with guideline and application requirements. A review panel of arts professionals 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. Recommendations will be presented to the board of commissioners, which makes final award decisions. Award notification is expected in spring 2025, pending completion of the state budget process.

• If You Receive a Grant Award

  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.

  Grant Payments

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

  An accurate pay request, listing only expenses allowable under the program guidelines for the certified time period, must be submitted in order to receive payment for the grant award.

  Grantees in this category are eligible for interim payments, with the final grant payment released upon receipt and approval of the grantee’s final report.

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

  Final Report

  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.

  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.