South Carolina Arts Commission shortens application window, adds arts-therapy option to School Art Support Grant

Amanda Noyes, arts and education accessibility director for the South Carolina Arts Commission, told teachers and school staff during a Dec. 5 applicant-coaching session that the School Art Support Grant is open now on a rolling basis and will remain available through Feb. 3. "So, I just wanna say that so that, don't wait to apply," Noyes said, urging early submissions because the commission shortened the application window this year.

The grant provides teacher- and school-level funding for supplies, materials, equipment, professional development, artist residencies and — newly this year — creative-arts-therapy projects. Individual awards can be up to $2,500; each school may receive up to two awards, for a total maximum of $5,000. Applicants must use their school district UEI number because reimbursement checks are routed to district finance offices rather than individual teachers.

Why it matters: The addition of arts therapy expands the kinds of in-class services schools may fund, but it carries extra safeguards and documentation requirements. Applicants must show how projects will affect student outcomes and include evaluation plans; evaluation measurement is weighted in the rubric used by external reviewers.

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