Chapman Cultural Center Community Grants
Chapman Cultural Center is committed to broadening and strengthening Spartanburg’s creative community. Because of this commitment, a major part of the work we do is centered around funding Spartanburg’s arts and cultural community. Through our Community Grants program, quarterly grants of up to $5,000 per application are awarded. The grant program is open to both individual creatives and non-profits/government agencies.
The purpose of the grant program is to support arts projects & programs which promote artistic excellence, community arts development, career advancement, and/or professional development.
Funding for these grants is provided by the South Carolina Arts Commission and matched by Chapman Cultural Center's United Arts Annual Fund thanks to generous donations from our supporters.
Eligibility:
Any individual artist (ages 18+) that is legal resident of the US and Spartanburg County for 12 months before applying. NOT ELIGIBLE: any degree-seeking, full-time student during the grant period.
These funds may help with:
- Equipment purchase/rental
- Travel/research expenses for a new project
- Master-level workshops/skill development opportunities (non degree-earning classes)
- Marketing/promotion
- Much more…see application for the full breadth of funding opportunities.
These funds may NOT help with:
- Scholarships
- Capital improvements and real property
- Classes/practicums that earn college credit
- School-related projects (preK-12, Colleges & Universities)
- In-school, curriculum-based projects with significant non-student participation
- Projects not open to the general public
- Ordinary living expenses such as rent and utilities.
- Past projects - i.e. reimbursement for an already completed project
Deadlines (2022-2023):
- August 15, 2022: Projects lasting Oct 1, 2022 - June 30, 2023 (9-month time frame)
- November 15, 2022: Projects lasting Jan 1, 2023 - June 30, 2023 (6-month time frame)
- February 14, 2023: Projects lasting April 1, 2023 - June 30, 2023 (3-month time frame)
Equipment and Materials Grant
The purpose of the Equipment and Materials Grant is to assist local creatives with the tools they need to create their art. Creatives may request up to $750 per year to help them purchase raw materials and basic items they need in order to make and/or properly display/present their art.
Eligibility:
Any individual creatives (ages 18+) of any medium, living or working in Spartanburg County, SC.
Examples of items you may request funding for:
- Musical instruments or amplifiers
- Software to mix music or edit video
- Cameras
- Any art supplies
- Display items such as frames or pedestals
- Safety equipment
- Dance shoes or costumes
- Lighting
- Software subscriptions are eligible, up to 12 months.
NOT ELIGIBLE:
This grant may NOT be used to pay for ads or other promotional materials, website design costs, rental costs, labor or basic living expenses, self-published books, CDs, or other merchandise. No nonprofit or other official groups or organizations may apply.
Small independent groups of artists may be considered, based on their specific request. Artists who have not received other grants from Chapman Cultural Center within the past year will be given preference for receiving this grant. Grants are awarded on an ongoing basis and once funds are exhausted for the year, new grants will not be awarded again until July 1. We anticipate to award 5-8 grants per year.
Deadlines:
This is a rolling application. Grants will be continually awarded until grant funds are exhausted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have questions about the process, your eligibility, or whether your project qualifies? Check out our FAQ's below! Is your question not addressed? Contact our Outreach department and they will gladly address your concerns! - Lucy Southwell, Outreach Coordinator, lSouthwell@chapmanculturalcenter.org
Who can apply for a grant?
Community grant applicants must meet the criteria below to be eligible:
- A practicing artist in dance, music, opera, musical theatre, theatre, visual arts, design arts, crafts, photography, media arts, folk arts, and/or literature;
- A legal resident of Spartanburg County with a permanent residence in the county for at least one year prior to the application date and throughout the grant period;
- 18 years of age or older at the time of application.
The applicant must not be a degree-seeking, full-time student during the grant period.
Equipment and Materials Grantees must meet the criteria below to be eligible:
Any individual creatives (ages 18+) of any medium living or working in Spartanburg County, SC.
How much money can I apply for?
Community Grants:
Applicants can request up to $5,000 per application.
Equipment and Materials Grant:
Applicants can request up to $750 per application.
Can I apply for more than one grant?
You may apply for multiple CCC grants, however, you will only be awarded one. Community Grant recipients will not be eligible to apply for another grant for at least 24 months.
Equipment and Materials Grant recipients will not be eligible for a period of one year after receiving an award.
What can the money be used for?
Community Grant funds may be used for:
- Equipment purchases and rentals, travel costs, and research expenses, for a new project
- Master-level workshops or skill development opportunities (non-degree-earning classes)
- Marketing /promotion
- Much more…see an application for the full breadth of funding opportunities.
The Equipment and Materials Grant funds may be used for:
Requests may be used to help creatives purchase raw materials and basic items they need in order to make and/or properly display/present their art. Examples of items you may request funding for: any musical instruments or amplifiers, software to mix music or edit video, cameras, any art supplies, display items such as frames or pedestals, safety equipment, dance shoes, costumes, lighting, etc. Software subscriptions are eligible, up to 12 months.
NOT ELIGIBLE: this grant may NOT be used to pay for ads or other promotional materials, website design costs, rental costs, labor or basic living expenses, self-published books, CDs, or other merchandise. No nonprofit or other official groups or organizations may apply.
What other CCC grants are available?
There are not currently any other grants offered by Chapman Cultural Center. However, there are grant opportunities through the South Carolina Arts Commission and South Arts for artists and nonprofits.
In the past, artists and nonprofits were not eligible for grants through the South Carolina Arts Commission because they needed to apply directly through CCC. That is no longer the case. Artists and nonprofits may now apply through CCC and the South Carolina Arts Commission for any grant opportunity.
For more resources for artists and creatives, please view our resources page or the Chapman Cultural Center Artists Opportunities Facebook group.