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SC Arts Commission Grants for Individual Artists

Purpose

This category is designed to support specific arts activities that promote individual artist's professional development or career advancement. Projects that promote excellence in an arts discipline and make such excellence accessible for general community-wide audiences are also encouraged. Quarterly project grants are awarded to help pay actual project costs; ordinary living expenses during the project cannot be supported with SCAC funds.

Description

The Arts Commission will not review or fund quarterly project grant applications from a resident of a county that has a subgranting arts council. In such counties, applicants must apply to the subgranting agency for quarterly project grants, rather than to the Arts Commission. (Call your local arts council or your SC Arts Commission Discipline Coordinator to determine the appropriate funding source.)

Eligibility Requirements

The applicant must:

1. Be a practicing artist in dance, literature, media, music, theatre or visual arts;
2. Be a legal resident of the US and SC with a permanent residence in the state for 6 months prior to the application date and throughout the grant period;
3. Be 18 years of age or older at the time of application;
4. Not be a degree-seeking, full-time student during the grant period.

Restrictions

1. Applicants may apply to the Arts Commission for quarterly support at any of the four deadlines.
2. Applicants may submit only one application per quarterly deadline.
3. Applicants may receive only two Quarterly Project awards per fiscal year.
4. Applications submitted for a previously funded project during the same fiscal year must be for a substantially different component of the project with a separate project budget.

Deadlines & Grant Periods

May 15 for projects beginning July through September
• August 15 for projects beginning October through December
• November 15 for projects beginning January through March
• February 15 for projects beginning April through June

 

Applications must be postmarked or hand-delivered to the SC Arts Commission offices before 5:00 PM, no later than the stated date, or, when the deadline occurs on a weekend or holiday, no later than the next business day.

 

All projects must end by June 30, 2009.

Funding Eligibility

Up to $1,000 per award.

Match

1:2 (applicant:SC Arts Commission). 100% of the applicant's match must be cash. No in-kind or creative time is allowed as part of applicant's match.

Filing Fee

None

 

Grant Payments

Payment will be on a reimbursement basis only and will be released upon receipt and approval of a Final Report.

 

Final Report

All grantees are required to file a Final Report (PDF) (How To Use PDFs) at the end of the grant period. The Final Report Due Date is printed on your contract. Failure to file the final report by the due date will result in cancellation of the award and repayment of funds received. SCAC will not fund applicants who have outstanding final reports. Submit only original final report forms with original signatures. Do not submit copies or fax your final report form.

Funding Credit

The Quarterly Grants program is funded in part by a generous award from the John and Susan Bennett Memorial Arts Fund of the Coastal Community Foundation of SC. In addition to giving credit to the SC Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts, credit must also be given this source in all advertising, news releases, printed materials, and promotion and publicity. Samples of promotional material should be submitted with your final report. Details about the Coastal Community Foundation of SC are available on their website at www.CCFgives.org.

Review Process

Please contact your SC Arts Commission Discipline Coordinator for guidance on completing the application form.
 
The initial staff review of applications focuses on the applicant’s eligibility, the project’s conformity to guidelines, accuracy and detail of budget, inclusion of a well-written narrative, completeness of packet, compliance with grant requirements, and confirmation of required support materials. Individual panelists (Arts Commission program staff and management) review and rate grant applications on the basis of specific criteria listed in the guidelines. Funding recommendations based on individual review and information requested from SCAC regional and discipline arts coordinators are determined by panel consensus. Final funding decisions are approved by the Executive Director.

 

Review Indicators

Pay close attention to Review Indicators for each section, as the reviewers will use them in assessing your application.

• Artistry Review Criteria - 60 points
  The applicant demonstrates the ability to maintain high professional standards and that the project will exhibit excellence, creativity and individuality.
  

  Indicators:

  • Résumés of applicant and other artistic personnel involved
  • Appropriate support materials that demonstrate experience and quality were submitted
    
    
• Career/Public Impact Review Criteria - 20 points
  The project benefits the artist and/or the community at large or SC artists.
  

  Indicators:

  • Demonstrated need for the project
  • Cooperative relationships and support from other artists and community organizations and/or businesses
    
    
• Project Management Review Criteria - 20 points
  The applicant has the ability to implement the project.
  

  Indicators:

  • Evidence that adequate financial resources are available to complete the project
  • Evidence that the project design is feasible and well-planned
  • Well-planned marketing/distribution efforts

 

How to Apply
Before applying, you are strongly advised to discuss the project with your arts discipline coordinator to determine whether your project meets the guidelines.

Please review the following steps carefully in preparing your application materials. Failure to include the required application materials may result in disqualification of your application. Incomplete applications will not be accepted.

Required Application Materials
Each page/item of materials must be labeled with the name of the applicant's name and be submitted in a format suitable for copying. Typeface must be legible, and no less than 12 point. Do not submit copies or fax your application. Do not use 3-ring binders, folders, or bind the application materials in any way other than with binder clips or paper clips.

Forms are in portable document format (PDF). (How To Use PDFs)

The application package must include one complete collated set of items in the following order:

 

1. Grant Application for Individuals form. Summarize your project budget on page 2 of the application form. Itemize all expenses and sources of revenue. The application form must be signed by the applicant.
   
   
2. Narrative. The narrative should not exceed 2 numbered pages, and must address the topics below. Each item in the Narrative should be identified by the appropriate letter and topic heading. Pay attention to Review Criteria Indicators listed above. The panelists will use these as guides for their review and rating of your application.
   
   
   1. Artistry
      1. What is the goal of this project? Describe what you plan to do, when the project will occur, where the project will take place, and how the activities will happen.
      2. Provide information on key personnel and collaborating organizations and use of other artists (if applicable). Indicate how and why these people and organizations were selected.
         
         
   2. Career/Public Impact
      1. Why is this project important to your career and/or your community?
      2. If the project has a public component, identify target audiences and populations to be served.
      3. Identify external support from the local cultural community, if any.
         
         
   3. Project Management
      1. If applicable, describe marketing/distribution, media, and other promotional activities. How will you reach and involve underserved populations?
      2. Clearly identify other sources of financial support to be provided throughout the project.
         
         
3. Résumés. Include brief résumés for principal artistic project personnel. Individual resumes should not exceed 3 pages – additional pages will not be copied.
   
   
4. Required Support Materials
   See Submitting Support Materials.

 

Use this optional grantee checklist (PDF) to ensure a complete Quarterly Project Support for Artists grant application package. (How To Use PDFs)

 

Incomplete applications will not be accepted. Mail to:
Quarterly Grants Program
SC Arts Commission
1800 Gervais Street
Columbia, SC 29201