South Carolina Arts Foundation

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South Carolina Arts Foundation

The SC Arts Foundation is dedicated to recognizing, encouraging and supporting the art and artists of South Carolina. What do the arts mean to you?

When was the last time a work of art left you nearly breathless? Or brought back a fond memory? Or inspired you to take action? Was it a piece of symphonic music or a painting by a South Carolina artist? Was it a piece of public art that enhances your walk to lunch, or a singer's thrilling ending to a song? We want to know: what's your arts story this year? In the past, we've told you about 1536 g

reat reasons to lend your support to the arts in South Carolina. Your generous donations have helped artists, arts organizations and schools to do what they do best: make art while also making our state a more vibrant and liveable place. For more than four decades, the South Carolina Arts Commission has developed the arts, making them accessible to South Carolina citizens through consulting, training, grants and statewide leadership for the arts community. This investment has increased arts activities, awareness and participation in every part of this state, and there's a good chance it's benefited you and your family. Tell us your story, and make sure others can be enriched with their own stories by donating to the Arts Growth Fund and by attending the South Carolina Arts Gala in May.

06/09/2026

A Sunday Gathering for the Love of the Arts 🎨 🥂

A look back at a wonderful afternoon spent celebrating creativity, community, and the artists who help make South Carolina's cultural landscape so vibrant.

Thank you to everyone who joined us in sharing a love for the arts.

05/29/2026

Charleston's Marion Square is once again being transformed into an open-air gallery as part of the 46th Annual Piccolo Spoleto Outdoor Art Exhibition.

Running from May 22 through June 6 (with an optional exhibitor day on June 7), the exhibition features local and regional artists showcasing original works in oil, watercolor, acrylic, photography, mixed media, and more. Visitors have the opportunity to meet artists, explore their work, and experience creativity in one of Charleston's most vibrant public spaces.
Events like Piccolo Spoleto remind us that art doesn't only live inside museums and galleries. It thrives in public spaces, sparks conversation, and brings communities together.

At the South Carolina Arts Foundation, we are proud to celebrate the artists whose creativity continues to enrich communities across our state.

05/19/2026

South Carolina recently lost one of its most recognizable self-taught artists.

Pearl Fryar, the visionary behind the famous Pearl Fryar Topiary Garden in Bishopville, passed away earlier this year at 86. Through sculpted trees, found objects, and imaginative landscapes, Fryar transformed his garden into a work of living art that drew visitors from around the world.

What made his work so powerful was its originality. His designs were unconventional, deeply personal, and created with a sense of joy and curiosity that made art feel accessible to everyone who encountered it.

Over the years, the garden became more than a destination. It became part of South Carolina’s cultural identity and a reminder that creativity can grow in unexpected places.

Artists like Pearl Fryar leave lasting marks on communities, not only through what they create, but through the inspiration they pass on to others.

Supporting the South Carolina Arts Foundation helps preserve and celebrate the artists, stories, and creative traditions that continue to shape cultural life across the state.

05/14/2026

For 65 years, South Carolina Ballet has been part of the cultural heartbeat of the state.

This spring, that legacy was celebrated at the Koger Center, where Artistic Director William Starrett received the Order of the Palmetto, South Carolina’s highest civilian honor, recognizing decades of contribution to the arts.

But milestones like this are about more than an anniversary.

They reflect years of performances that moved audiences, arts education that reached young dancers, and creative work that became part of community life across South Carolina.

The arts leave lasting marks on people and places. They bring generations together, create shared experiences, and remind us how much creativity can shape the identity of a community.

Supporting the South Carolina Arts Foundation helps make those experiences possible by continuing to invest in artists, arts education, and creative communities across the state.

For more than six decades, South Carolina Ballet has helped shape South Carolina’s cultural life through performance, education, and community engagement.

05/06/2026

For a few weeks, Lake City became something else entirely.

ArtFields 2026 turned the town into a living, walkable gallery, where art appeared in storefronts, cafés, galleries, and unexpected corners.

From April 10 through May 2, hundreds of works filled more than 40 spaces across the community, inviting people to experience art as part of everyday life.
You didn’t just visit one exhibition.

You moved through many, one step at a time, one space into the next.
Moments like this stay with a place.
They shift how it feels, how it’s seen, and how people connect within it.
Even after it ends, that energy continues. It carries forward in the artists, the community, and the work that grows beyond the festival.

Supporting the South Carolina Arts Foundation helps ensure that moments like this, and the creative work behind them, continue to reach new audiences and take shape across the state.

04/22/2026

In 1987, artist Howard Woody transformed the sky over Charleston into a moving work of art.

Carolina Sail, part of his Sky Sculpture series, was created to respond to the invisible forces of nature, turning wind, temperature, and atmosphere into motion. Measuring 100 feet by 60 feet and constructed from metalized mylar, the sculpture was launched from Brittlebank Park during the Spoleto Festival.

Over the course of 98 minutes, it traveled 7 miles at an altitude of 1,500 feet before landing on Daniel Island. Tracked from above by a Cessna aircraft, the flight became one of the more intimate journeys in Woody’s larger body of work, where some sculptures traveled hundreds of miles across continents.

Commissioned for the State Art Collection by the South Carolina Arts Commission, Carolina Sail reflects a unique moment where art, science, and environment came together in the open sky.

Works like this remind us that art is not always something you stand in front of. Sometimes, it moves above you.
Supporting the South Carolina Arts Foundation helps preserve and share works like this, ensuring that art in all its forms continues to reach communities across the state.

04/15/2026

As we finalize plans for Cocktails with Friends.

We’re looking forward to an evening that celebrates art, connection, and community, hosted by Elizabeth Franklin-Best, President of the South Carolina Arts Foundation.

If you haven’t yet responded, there is still time. We would love to have you join us. Please send us a message to receive the event details.

04/08/2026

You’re invited.

Join us for an evening of connection, conversation, and community at Cocktails with Friends, hosted by Elizabeth Franklin-Best, President of the South Carolina Arts Foundation, in support of the Foundation’s work across the state.

This gathering is an opportunity to come together with others who value the arts and the role they play in enriching communities across South Carolina. Whether you have long supported the arts or are simply interested in learning more, we would love to have you there.

Date: Saturday, April 18
Time: 5-7pm EST
Location: Private residence

To attend, please email us for the address and additional details. We’d be happy to share more information.

Supporting the South Carolina Arts Foundation helps ensure that artists, programs, and creative opportunities continue to thrive throughout the state.

We hope to see you there.

03/18/2026

The 2026 recipients of the Jean Laney Harris Folk Heritage Awards have been announced, recognizing South Carolina artists and advocates who help preserve the state’s rich cultural traditions.

This year’s honorees include Becky Garris for Catawba pottery and basketry, Tammy Leach for beadwork, and Laurel Horton for her advocacy of traditional quilting. These awards highlight the importance of folk and heritage arts in keeping South Carolina’s history, stories, and craftsmanship alive for future generations.

Celebrating and supporting artists across the state is an important part of strengthening South Carolina’s cultural community. The work of these artists reflects the creativity, skill, and traditions that make our state unique.

We are always proud to see artists and advocates recognized for the role they play in preserving and advancing the arts in South Carolina.

03/11/2026

Art is everywhere in South Carolina right now, and it is exciting to see the creative energy growing across the state.

This spring alone, there are several events and exhibitions highlighting the work of artists and the role the arts play in our communities. The 2026 ArtFields Festival in Lake City (April 10–May 2) will once again bring together artists from across the Southeast to showcase their work and compete for major prizes while turning the entire town into a gallery.

In Columbia, the 34th Annual Artista Vista (April 17–19) will celebrate the visual arts with gallery events, exhibitions, and community activities throughout the Vista district.

Museums across the state are also continuing to spotlight South Carolina artists. Exhibitions such as “In the Making: Contemporary Craft from South Carolina” highlight the work of artists working in ceramics, fiber, wood, metal, and mixed media, demonstrating the breadth of creativity across the state.

Moments like these remind us how vibrant the arts community in South Carolina truly is. Artists, galleries, museums, and local organizations all play a role in keeping creativity alive in our state.

If you believe in supporting artists and expanding opportunities for the arts in South Carolina, we invite you to support the work of the South Carolina Arts Foundation. Your support helps strengthen programs, expand access, and ensure that artists across our state can continue creating and sharing their work with our communities.

Address

1026 Sumter Street, Ste 200
Columbia, SC
29201

Telephone

+18037348696

Website

http://www.southcarolinaarts.com/Foundation/index.shtml

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