South Carolina Arts Commission outlines FY26 School Art Support grant: $2,500 max, 4K now eligible

South Carolina Arts Commission grants staff on Nov. 6 presented guidance for the FY26 School Art Support grant, a reimbursement‑based award that provides up to $2,500 per request to help schools buy supplies, equipment, pay for professional development, support artist residencies and fund creative arts therapy services.

"This grant...help[s] schools acquire supplies, materials, equipment, professional development, or creative arts therapy services," said Mikaela Moore, arts learning coordinator, during the session. Moore and Krista Grenza, grants coordinator, said the application opened July 21 and the commission will accept submissions through Feb. 17 (end of day). The grant period runs from Aug. 18 through May 15; awardees must complete a final report within 30 days after their project end date or by May 31, 2026.

Why it matters: The commission moved this year to include 4K providers by folding the former 4K arts integration grant into the SAS program. That expands eligibility to some preschools and startup 4K classrooms and adds a pathway with a different match requirement. Staff said the change is intended to broaden access to arts funding at the earliest grades while preserving program integrity.

Who is eligible and what the money can pay for Applicants can include 4K startup classrooms/providers that are public school sites, South Carolina First Steps 4K providers, or CERDEP/CERDA providers; K–12 applicants include most public, private and charter schools in South Carolina. Private and charter schools must be registered as a…