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  1. Home
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  3. State Profiles

South Carolina

Facts and Figures

In the past five years, the National Endowment for the Arts distributed $9,443,852 in federal funding, either directly or through state and regional partners, in South Carolina.

In the most recent information (2023) from the Arts and Cultural Production Satellite Account (ACPSA), which is produced jointly by the National Endowment for the Arts’ Office of Research & Analysis and the Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Commerce Department, South Carolina…

  • Added 2.9 percent or $9.4 billion to the state economy from arts and cultural production
  • Employed 67,784 workers in the arts and cultural industries, with workers earning wages and benefits totaling $4.6 billion

Nearly 40 percent of South Carolina’s adults attended live music, theater, or dance performances, while more than 19 percent attended art exhibits, according to the 2022 Survey of Public Participation in the Arts, conducted in partnership with the U.S. Census Bureau.

In addition to offering direct grants, the NEA supports national initiatives benefiting people across the country. Over the past five years:

The Blue Star Museums program provided free admission to thousands of active military personnel and their families at 59 participating museums in South Carolina. 

More than 1,684 students from 37 high schools in South Carolina participated in Poetry Out Loud. 

The NEA Big Read program generated community events focused on reading outstanding American literature and involving more than 4,859 adults and students in South Carolina.


South Carolina Fact Sheet

On this page, find information on the arts and culture for South Carolina, and how the National Endowment for the Arts has supported the arts in communities throughout the state. 

To find a list of grants awarded by the agency to South Carolina, go to our Recent Grant Search. 

State Highlights

Mary Jackson 2010. Photo by Tom Pich
Mary Jackson
Feb 24, 2011
The NEA National Heritage Fellow tells us about the art and tradition of sweetgrass basketmaking.
Listen to Audio
headshot of a woman.
Lissa Frenkel
Jul 16, 2024
Lissa Frenkel, CEO of the Gaillard Center in Charleston, South Carolina, discusses this cultural cornerstone which presents vibrant art, honors local history, and fosters community dialogue through innovative programming and partnerships.
Listen to Audio
photo of young Black woman with long braids standing on stage with her back to audience and lights blazing behind her
Spotlight on 2018 Poetry Out Loud National Champion Janae Claxton
May 04, 2018
A talk with 2018 Poetry Out Loud National Champion Janae Claxton from South Carolina.
Read Blog

State & Regional Contacts

South Carolina Arts Commission 
1800 Gervais Street
Columbia, SC 29201
803/734-8696
mhough@arts.sc.gov

South Arts (Regional Arts Organization)
1800 Peachtree Street, Suite 808
Atlanta, GA 30309
404/874-7244
southarts@southarts.org

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