Arts Organization Project Grant Program

The Metropolitan Arts Council (MAC), based in Greenville, South Carolina, is a local arts agency dedicated to enhancing the quality of life in the Greenville community by promoting, supporting, and advocating for the arts. MAC works to increase public awareness of and participation in the arts, ensure accessibility, and help arts organizations and artists thrive through consistent support and visibility. Among its funding initiatives is the Arts Organization Quarterly Project Grant Program, which is designed to provide project-specific support to nonprofit arts and cultural organizations operating within Greenville County. The program’s primary purpose is to fund projects that significantly impact the local community through artistic programming and services. Emphasis is placed on projects that create reliable funding mechanisms for artist-related expenses, promote cultural tourism by attracting visitors to local arts offerings, and expand the artistic, organizational, and administrative capacities of arts organizations. It also encourages initiatives that make the arts more accessible to all residents and visitors, foster new arts audiences, and stimulate local economic and community development through creative endeavors. Eligible expenses under this grant include artist fees, production or exhibition-related costs, and promotional or marketing campaigns. While staff and overhead costs may be considered, these are reviewed on a case-by-case basis and are not guaranteed. A key funding constraint includes a match requirement of 2:1, meaning the applicant must contribute two-thirds of the total project budget. Applicants that currently receive General Operating Support (GOS) from MAC are de-prioritized and are instead encouraged to participate as partners on applications led by non-GOS organizations. To be eligible, applicants must be a unit of government or a charitable organization that is registered with the Office of the Secretary of State of South Carolina. Furthermore, the applicant must be located in Greenville County and serve its residents. Demonstrated capacity to raise the required matching funds is also mandatory. Organizations with incomplete or outstanding reporting requirements from prior MAC funding cycles are ineligible until they meet all compliance criteria. The application process is fully online as of 2025, with quarterly deadlines and a specific project implementation timeline tied to each quarter. Submissions are due by 11:45 PM on the date of the deadline. The quarterly schedule for 2025 is as follows: February 14 for projects starting May–July; May 15 for August–October; August 15 for November–January; and November 14 for February–April of the following year. Late submissions will not be considered, and mailed or faxed applications are no longer accepted. Applications are reviewed quarterly, and the number of awards is limited, with a maximum of two grants per applicant per calendar year. A single project may not be funded by more than one quarterly grant. Interested applicants can access the application and final report forms via MAC’s website. Contact for questions or further guidance is available through MAC’s administrative office located at 16 Augusta Street, Greenville, SC 29601. The office can be reached at (864) 467-3132. More information on the program, deadlines, and applicant support is also available through MAC’s online platform.