Arts Project Support Grants

The Arts Project Support Grants by the South Carolina Arts Commission aim to fund quality arts projects and programs for artists and organizations. Eligible applicants include artists, nonprofit organizations, and government units, with funds supporting project costs such as technical capacity building and professional development. Priority is given to projects in specific counties within South Carolina. Applications should be submitted at least five weeks prior to project commencement, with all activities funded to occur between August 11, 2025, and May 31, 2026.

NOTE: Applications must be submitted at least five (5) weeks before grant-funded activities begin or purchases are made. However, earlier applications are encouraged. Applicants do not need to wait until five weeks before their project starts to apply. All grant-supported activities must be implemented between August 11, 2025 and May 31, 2026.
Purpose
The purpose of the Arts Project Support (APS) Grant from the South Carolina Arts Commission (SCAC) is to support an artist’s or organization’s quality arts project or program or their commitment to improving themselves and/or their work artistically. Among other things, the APS grant can be used to build and/or increase technical, online, or virtual capacity; for community arts development; and for career advancement and/or professional development for artists and arts administration staff.

Eligibility

Artists, nonprofit organizations, and units of governmentNonprofit organizations must becurrently registered as a charity with the S.C. Secretary of State’s OfficeNote: 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 documentswith federal tax exempt status with the Internal Revenue Service OR applying through a tax-exempt fiscal agent/receiver organizationGrant funds must be used for actual project costs, defined as consumable and non-consumable items needed to complete the proposed project (including, but not limited to):Technical, online, or virtual capacity building (e.g., website development, technical support)Equipment (e.g., kilns, lighting or sound equipment, musical instruments, storage)Furniture (e.g., easels, music stands)Professional services (e.g., performance space rental, web designer, consultant and/or cultural plan development fees)Professional development (e.g., public art facilitation training, conference, or membership fees)Artisits: The applicant must meet all of the following eligibility requirements:Be a practicing artist in one of the following disciplines:Dance (choreography or performance)Music (production or performance)Opera/musical theatre (production or performance)Theatre (acting or playwriting)Visual arts (painting, drawing, mixed-media, sculpture, or printmaking)Crafts (clay, fiber, glass, leather, metal, paper, plastic, wood, or mixed media)PhotographyDesign arts (architecture, fashion, graphic, industrial, or interior)Media arts (experimental film or film, including production or screenwriting, animation)Literature (poetry or prose)Spoken word/slam poetryTime-based arts (installation, sound, video art, animation, computer generated art, or performance art)Be a legal resident of the U.S. and S.C., with a permanent residence in the state for at least one year prior to the application and throughout the grant period.Be 18 years of age or older at the time of application.Not be a degree-seeking student during the grant period.Matching RequirementsFor Artists1:2 (grantee:SCAC – the grantee must match each SCAC dollar with fifty cents of their own funds)At least 50% of the applicant’s match must be cash.Up to 50% may be in-kind donation of materials and contracted services.An example of “in-kind” is a contracted fee that is waived or discounted as a donation to your project.In-kind may not include the applicant’s creative time or salary.Funds from another SCAC grant may not be used as matching funds.SCAC artist grant awards are considered taxable income.For Organizations1:1 (grantee:SCAC)At least 50% of the applicant’s match must be cash.Up to 50% may be in-kind donation of materials and contracted services.An example of “in-kind” is a contracted fee that is waived or discounted as a donation to your project.Funds from another SCAC grant may not be used as matching funds.Applicants may receive up to two APS grant awards per fiscal year. However, a grantee may not receive funding for the same purchase or project twice in the same fiscal year. Each APS grant awarded within a fiscal year must address a different project or a different component of a previously funded project.Organizations receiving SCAC Operating Support for Small Organizations funding are eligible to apply for arts projects and professional development opportunities.Organizations that are otherwise eligible, but are receiving SCAC General Operating Support funding, may not receive APS funding within the same fiscal year, except for professional development opportunities.

Ineligibility

Organizations: these grant funds cannot be used for:Fundraising activitiesGoods for resaleLobbyingCosts not directly related to the artsCapital expenses or purchasesScholarships or prizesEndowment fundsEntertainment expenses, such as receptions, staff/member parties, awards, flowers, etc.Food, beverages, alcohol, catering servicesArtists: these grant funds cannot be used for:Ordinary living expenses incurred during the projectSalary, honorarium, or stipend for granteeFood, beverages, alcohol, catering services