The South Carolina Arts Commission (SCAC) is offering the Term Arts Education Project Grant for the 2025–2026 academic year to support arts education programs for preschool (3K–4K) and K–12 students. This competitive grant opportunity provides up to $15,000 in funding to support high-quality, standards-based arts instruction during the school term, including programming offered beyond the traditional school day. Applications are due by April 14, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, and the grant period will run from July 2025 through May 2026.

The grant is open to most nonprofit organizations in South Carolina (arts and non-arts), colleges and universities, and units of government. Applicants must be based in South Carolina and have valid IRS tax-exempt status or apply through a qualified fiscal agent. Organizations must also be registered with the S.C. Secretary of State’s Office (or provide proof of exemption) and have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). Schools, school districts, and individual artists are not eligible. Applicants who have already received Term Arts Education Project Grants for both the 2024–2025 and 2025–2026 terms are ineligible.

Grant funds must be used to expand and enhance, not replace, current arts programming. Eligible uses of funds include artist fees, program materials, critical supplies, workshops, exhibitions, transportation for students, and professional development for educators. Up to 10% of the total award may be used for indirect costs. Projects must align with the South Carolina 2017 College and Career Ready Standards for Visual and Performing Arts and, if involving preschool-aged children, must also support the Profile of the Ready Kindergartener. Programs should involve visual arts, performing arts, media arts, design arts, folk and traditional arts, and/or creative writing.

Priority will be given to proposals that serve students in Opportunity Initiative counties, form partnerships with schools or other organizations, and/or target underserved student populations, especially in rural or high-poverty areas. Organizations are encouraged to hire SCAC Verified Teaching Artists, especially if working with K–12 students in school environments.

All applications must be submitted through the SCAC grants portal, which is hosted on the Foundant platform. Assistance is available via the SCAC's Grants Coaching webpage and directly through Amanda Noyes, Arts Learning & Accessibility Director. Applicants may only submit one proposal per deadline and one per college or university department. For additional support, contact Amanda Noyes at anoyes@arts.sc.gov or the SCAC Grants Team at grants@arts.sc.gov.