About Us About Us Strategic Plan Board Staff Jobs Find Us This Website How We Serve Vision We envision a South Carolina where the arts are valued and all people benefit from a variety of creative experiences. Mission The mission of the South Carolina Arts Commission is to promote equitable access to the arts and support the cultivation of creativity in South Carolina. Values Six core values inform our vision and how we set about accomplishing it through our work every day. Accountability We are committed to transparency, honesty, and integrity. Courage We are committed to and call for courageous leadership that advances equitable access to the arts through policy and practice. Creativity We value innovation, creative expression, and a commitment to quality in artistic experiences. Learning We believe education is a right that must be accessible to all. Learning in and through the arts should be integral to a continuum of lifelong growth. Relationships We believe building connections and working in partnership deepen impact and advance the arts. Social Justice We value diversity, equity, access, and inclusion. We believe in our collective responsibility to support culturally relevant and responsive art. Statement of Solidarity We wish to speak out about the racial violence and systemic injustice prevalent against Black people in our country. We acknowledge the pain that Black colleagues, artists, family, and friends feel. We realize that the silence of institutions has historically erased and helped perpetuate racially-motivated, anti-Black violence. We stand in solidarity with efforts for justice and equality. Where We Began On June 7, 1967, Governor Robert E. McNair signed legislation that established the South Carolina Arts Commission, an autonomous state agency charged with guiding the development of the arts. Where We Are For more than 50 years, the agency has worked to build a thriving arts environment that benefits all South Carolinians, regardless of their circumstances or where they live. Click here to see a map of our statewide impact in FY2021, the most recently completed year. Visit the Government Links page for official state accountability and budget transparency documents. How we accomplish our mission Arts Education Artist Development Community Arts Development Our Strategies Staff Assistance Direct Programs Partnerships Grants Funding The Arts Commission’s primary source of funding is state tax dollars appropriated by the S.C. General Assembly. Grants from the federal government through the National Endowment for the Arts comprise the Commission’s secondary source of funding. Additional support for Arts Commission projects is provided by private foundations and community sponsors. Initiatives The South Carolina Arts Commission has produced nationally recognized initiatives in: arts curriculum reform rural arts development dance touring and audience development community design electronic communications media arts traditional arts infrastructure development