2026 Fellowships for South Carolina’s Exceptional Individual Artists

The Individual Artist Fellowships offered by the South Carolina Arts Commission (SCAC) provide $10,000 in recognition of the artistic achievements of practicing individual artists in South Carolina. These highly competitive fellowships are awarded based on artistic merit, achievements, and commitment to a particular discipline. Up to five fellowships are awarded each year, and the awards are intended to honor artists while bringing recognition that may lead to further resources and opportunities. Key Dates: Application Deadline: February 11, 2025, by 11:59 PM ET. Grant Period: July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026. Eligibility: Must be a practicing individual artist (not duos or ensembles). Must be a U.S. citizen and a legal resident of South Carolina for at least two years prior to the application. Must be 18 years or older at the time of application. Artists must not be degree-seeking students during the grant period. Disciplines for FY26: Eligible disciplines for this cycle include Visual Art, Craft, Design Arts, Media Production, and Public Art. Different disciplines rotate each year, and future cycles will include disciplines like Prose, Spoken Word, and Folklife. Restrictions: Artists may only receive two SCAC Fellowships in their lifetime, with a 10-year ineligibility period after their first fellowship. Artists who received fellowships before FY16 are eligible to apply for FY26. Fellowship recipients may not receive any other SCAC grants during their fellowship year. Application Process: Applications are submitted through the Foundant platform. Prospective applicants are encouraged to review the platform FAQ before starting the process. Applicants can register for an Applicant Coaching call on October 24, 2024, to receive guidance on the process. Each fellowship is worth $10,000. There are no restrictions on how the fellowship funds can be used. No matching funds are required. Fellowship awards are considered taxable income. This program offers artists in South Carolina an excellent opportunity to gain financial support and recognition for their work.