2026 South Carolina Arts Awards date, time set
May 6, 2026
Streaming presentation on Sunday, May 17 at 7 p.m.
The South Carolina Arts Commission is announcing that it will recognize nine distinct and deserving recipients of the 2026 South Carolina Arts Awards during a special streaming presentation Sunday, May 17 at 7 p.m. EDT.
Executive Director David Platts will introduce viewers to nine arts practitioners, advocates and organizations who come from locations across the state via the Arts Commission’s website, YouTube Channel and its Facebook page. Details are available at SouthCarolinaArts.com.
Platts will present six recipients of the South Carolina Governor’s Award for the Arts—the state’s highest honor for outstanding achievement and contributions to the arts in South Carolina. They are:
- Columbia Museum of Art in Columbia (Accessibility category).
- Bill Harris of McConnells (Artist category).
- Tiffany Reed Silverman of James Island (Individual category).
- Dr. Richard O’Malley of Florence (Arts in Education, Individual category).
- ArtsNOW in Columbia (Arts in Education, Organization category).
- Ian Welch of Hampton County (Special Award).
There are three recipients of the Jean Laney Harris Folk Heritage Award:
- Beckee Garris of Lancaster: Artist category, Catawba Pottery and Basketry.
- Tammy Leach of Neeses: Artist category, Beadwork.
- Laurel Horton of Seneca: Advocate category, Quilting.
Helping to tell the stories of the award recipients through short films are South Carolina filmmakers Robert Adams, Reece Bell, Sergio Burgos & Catherine Bergman, Jack Bynum, Jessica Daily, Neil Lopez, Reid McCandless, and Ethan Swords, who documented two awards’ recipients this spring.
The 2026 South Carolina Arts Awards streaming presentation is an in-house production by the SCAC communications department. Run time should be roughly one hour and 15 minutes.
About the South Carolina Arts Commission
The mission of the South Carolina Arts Commission is to expand access to the arts and foster the cultivation of creativity in South Carolina. We envision a South Carolina where the arts are valued, and all people benefit from a variety of creative experiences.
A state agency created by the South Carolina General Assembly in 1967, the SCAC works to increase public participation in the arts through grants, direct programs, staff assistance and partnerships in artist development, arts industry, arts learning, creative placemaking, and folklife and traditional arts. Headquartered in Columbia, S.C., the SCAC is funded by the state of South Carolina, by the federal government through the National Endowment for the Arts, and other sources. Visit SouthCarolinaArts.com or call 803.734.8696, and follow @SCArtsComm on Facebook, Instagram, and X for #Arts4SC and #SCArtists content.
