Commission approves up to $10,000 to kick off Robert Smalls monument fundraising

The commission authorized the use of existing cash on hand, in an amount not to exceed $10,000, to underwrite initial fundraising and publicity for the Robert Smalls monument on the statehouse grounds. Representative Cox moved the proposal, saying it was intended to pay for early outreach and event costs; the motion specified that all disbursements would be disclosed to commission members. The motion passed by voice vote.

The authorization follows completion of the legislative steps required to allow the monument. The chair summarized the history: a 2007 moratorium on new monuments on the statehouse grounds was excepted by Act 183 of 2024; the commission completed artist and location recommendations (adopted January 2025), the State House Committee approved the recommendations in May 2025, and a concurrent resolution (H4962 2) approving the design and location was recorded on 02/03/2026. With the legislative work finished, the commission said it is now focused on fundraising and public outreach.

Commission leadership provided a preliminary cost estimate for the project and discussed how to raise the funds. The chair said, “I think that the cost overall will be somewhere between $1,000,000 and $2,000,000,” and noted that costs beyond the sculptor’s fee—pedestal, stone, lighting and security cameras, and a contract with the chosen sculptor (designated in the record as Mr Watts)—will add to the total. As precedent the chair cited a recent University of South Carolina desegregation monument by sculptor Basil Watson.

Members described a two‑pronged fundraising strategy: grassroots outreach using QR codes and school programming to engage local communities (Beaufort and Colleton counties were mentioned) alongside targeted solicitation of larger donors and corporations located in the state. Representative Johnson suggested tying outreach to Juneteenth events and using statehouse visitor materials or a QR code at the statehouse so visitors can learn about Robert Smalls and contribute.

Legal counsel’s guidance shaped the procedural step: the chair said David Avant advised that, because the commission receives and disburses funds in a trustee-like role, any use of corpus funds should be authorized by a motion of the commission. The motion approved in the meeting is intended as a limited, initial authorization; members said they can reconvene if the commission needs to use additional corpus funds.

A few administrative details remain unresolved in the record. The chair reported the current corpus balance verbally as “35” in the transcript; the commission did not specify the units or whether that refers to $35, $35,000 or another figure. The meeting concluded with a plan for staff to coordinate a ceremonial groundbreaking while the legislature is in session.

The motion to permit up to $10,000 for fundraising was moved by Representative Cox; the seconder was not identified in the transcript. The motion passed by voice vote. The commission did not record a roll‑call tally in the transcript.