COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina Arts Commission is calling for nominations to recognize persons or organizations in South Carolina who exhibit the highest levels of achievement, influence, or support of present-day and traditional artforms.
Honorees of two separate awards managed by the SCAC will be recognized in spring 2026 during the South Carolina Arts Awards streaming production. Changes abound for both awards this cycle.
South Carolina Governor’s Award for the Arts
The South Carolina Arts Commission is accepting nominations for the South Carolina Governor’s Award for the Arts, which recognizes persons or organizations in South Carolina who exhibit outstanding achievement or support of the arts. Changes for this cycle include:
The nomination process begins with a simple website form, rather than letter, to be reviewed by the panel.
A scoring rubric is now available to guide nominators as to what makes for a strong nomination.
A new Accessibility category will recognize an organization that receives operating support from the SCAC and shown a commitment to improving or providing access to the arts for individuals with disabilities.
The SCAC is now offering separate Arts in Education categories for individuals and organizations.
Rounding out the categories are Artist, Individual, Government, Business/Foundation and Organization.
Nomination form submissions are due Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. ET. For complete nomination guidelines, category descriptions and other information about the South Carolina Governor’s Awards for the Arts, visit SouthCarolinaArts.com or contact Communications Director Jason Rapp: jrapp@arts.sc.gov or 803.734.8899.
Jean Laney Harris Folk Heritage Award
The South Carolina General Assembly created the Jean Laney Harris Folk Heritage Award in 1987 to recognize lifetime achievement in the traditional arts and presents them annually to honor the work of stewarding and furthering the traditional arts significant to communities throughout the state.
Changes for the 2026 cycle of the Folk Heritage Award include:
SCAC is happy to welcome the University of South Carolina Lancaster as a joint manager of the program.
A scoring rubric is now available to guide nominators as to what makes for a strong nomination.
The Folk Heritage Award nomination process also begins with a form submission accepted through the USCL website.
Nomination form submissions are due Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. ET. For complete nomination guidelines, category descriptions and other information, visit the USCL website or contact Professor Brittany Taylor-Driggers at taylorbd@mailbox.sc.edu.
About the South Carolina Arts Commission
The mission of the South Carolina Arts Commission is to expand access to the arts and foster the cultivation of creativity in South Carolina. We envision a South Carolina where the arts are valued and all people benefit from a variety of creative experiences.
A state agency created by the South Carolina General Assembly in 1967, the SCAC works to increase public participation in the arts through grants, direct programs, staff assistance and partnerships in artist development, arts industry, arts learning, creative placemaking, and folklife and traditional arts. Headquartered in Columbia, S.C., the SCAC is funded by the state of South Carolina, by the federal government through the National Endowment for the Arts, and other sources. Visit SouthCarolinaArts.com or call 803.734.8696, and follow @SCArtsComm on Facebook, Instagram, and X for #Arts4SC and #SCArtists content.
About the University of South Carolina Lancaster
The University of South Carolina Lancaster is a public two-year campus of the University of South Carolina, devoted to preparing students to continue their education in the University and throughout life. The campus offers four associate degrees and 30 bachelor’s degrees through partnerships with USC Palmetto College and other collaborative arrangements. Established in 1959, USCL is the oldest and largest of USC’s four regional campuses.
To learn more about USCL, visit our website and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
