Artistic Collaboration Project Grant

The Metropolitan Arts Council (MAC), based in Greenville, South Carolina, administers the Artist Quarterly Project Grants Program to support the professional and artistic development of individual artists residing in Greenville County. MAC is a local arts funding and advocacy organization committed to promoting a vibrant arts environment in the region. This program reflects MAC’s mission by offering financial support for projects that enhance the skills, visibility, or exposure of artists working across various disciplines including dance, music, literature, media, theater, and visual arts. The Artist Quarterly Project Grants Program provides funding to assist artists in covering actual project-related costs. It does not support ordinary living expenses but instead emphasizes opportunities that will significantly advance an artist’s practice. Acceptable uses of funds include participation in exhibitions, implementation of marketing or publicity strategies, engagement in professional development such as workshops and conferences, and similar growth-oriented activities. The program operates on a reimbursement model and is structured to co-invest with artists by requiring a 1:1 applicant-to-MAC funding match. Eligible applicants must be individual artists working in one of the supported disciplines. They must be at least 18 years old and cannot be enrolled as matriculating students at any time during the grant cycle. A crucial residency requirement is enforced; applicants must have been permanent residents of Greenville County for at least six months before the application deadline and must remain residents throughout the grant period. Proof of residency may be required during the panel review. Artists with incomplete reports or obligations from prior MAC grants are not eligible to apply again until those obligations are fulfilled. Furthermore, no more than two quarterly project grants will be awarded to the same applicant in a single fiscal year, and the same project cannot receive funds from more than one quarterly cycle. The maximum award for any single application is $1,500, matched equally by the applicant. The program is recurring with four quarterly cycles annually. Applications are now accepted exclusively online, and the submission deadline for each quarter is set at 11:45 p.m. on the listed date. No mailed or faxed applications will be considered. The 2025 quarterly deadlines are February 14 (for projects starting between May and July 2025), May 15 (for projects starting between August and October 2025), August 15 (for projects starting between November 2025 and January 2026), and November 14 (for projects starting between February and April 2026). Applications are reviewed by a panel and decisions are based on the strength of the proposed project, its potential impact on the applicant's professional growth, and the clarity and feasibility of the budget and timeline. MAC requires a final report to be submitted by all award recipients detailing the use of funds and outcomes of the funded activities. The program does not list specific application questions or provide an estimated time for completion, nor does it publish tips or examples of prior recipients. For further inquiries, applicants can contact the Metropolitan Arts Council office located at 16 Augusta Street, Greenville, SC 29601, or by phone at (864) 467-3132. Office hours are Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.