Arts Enhancement Program (AEP)

The Arts Curricular Innovation Grants (ACIG) Arts Enhancement Program (AEP) for the 2024–25 cycle is administered by the South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE), specifically through its Office of Assessment and Standards. These grants are part of South Carolina's continued effort to elevate student performance and engagement through quality arts education. The AEP is designed to support schools and districts in creating or expanding programs in dance, music, theatre, and visual arts. Its focus is on improving student outcomes by enhancing access to and quality of arts instruction across the state, particularly in high-need schools. This grant opportunity is available to all South Carolina Title I and Priority schools as designated by SCDE. It provides financial support to individual schools for the development and implementation of school-based arts initiatives. Schools may choose to target one or multiple disciplines within the arts, although inclusion of all four (dance, music, theatre, and visual arts) is not required. Importantly, schools are restricted to applying for only one grant type—either the AEP or the Distinguished Arts Program (DAP)—in a single application cycle. However, multiple schools within a district can receive AEP funding, provided that the district itself does not submit a DAP proposal. The total funding available for this grant cycle is $350,000, with a maximum award of $10,000 per school. The project term for funded initiatives will begin on July 1, 2024, and run through May 30, 2025. These funds are intended to support a wide range of arts programming expenses, although specific eligible uses are detailed in the Request for Proposals document. There is no matching requirement noted, making this grant accessible even to schools with limited supplementary resources. The application process requires submission through an online platform, and applicants are encouraged to consult key supporting documents, such as the Request for Proposals and Budget Summary and Narrative template, both published on April 9, 2024. To assist applicants, the Office of Assessment and Standards hosted a pre-application technical assistance session on May 2, 2024. The recording of this session is available upon request by contacting Stephen Stokes via email. The application deadline is June 3, 2024. While no pre-application steps like letters of intent or concept papers are required, early engagement with grant documentation and SCDE contacts is encouraged. Proposal evaluations will likely consider alignment with state educational goals, feasibility, and potential for student impact, although specific criteria are not detailed in the public-facing information. Award notifications are expected before the start of the project term in July 2024. For further inquiries, applicants may contact Roger Simpson ([email protected], 803-734-0715) or Stephen Stokes ([email protected], 803-734-3461) at the SCDE Office of Assessment and Standards. Additional details, including downloadable forms and application portals, are available on the SCDE Visual and Performing Arts webpage. The program reflects the department’s ongoing commitment to enriching educational experiences and outcomes through the integration of comprehensive arts programming in schools across the state.