Columbia Streams Art public art program awards 12 local artists with more than $15,000 in micro-grant funding for creative projects
July 31, 2025
A jury pool of local artists/arts professionals reviewed seventeen micro-grant applications submitted
The City of Columbia’s Columbia Streams Art program has awarded $15,250 in micro-grants to 12 local artists, with funding ranging from $900 to $1,500. A panel of three jurors reviewed 17 applications submitted during the application period opened in early January and closed in early April of this year. The jurors were locally exhibited artists, who also work as arts administrators, educators, and urban arts planners.
Grant funded creative outcomes will include 2-D art paintings from different awarded artists, as well as projects encompassing metal fabricated or ceramic sculpture, stained glass, filmmaking/videography, dance, murals, photography, nature themed light productions and restoration of existing public artwork. The creative work will be publically exhibited in differing locations and events as the works are completed.
The awarded artists are:
- Yevheniia (Jenna) Bazaliy
- Jennifer Carmiel
- Brianna Childs
- Ron Hagell
- Barbie Mathis
- Gina Moore
- Sean Rayford
- Austin Reagan
- Victoria Rickards
- Andrew Sullivan
- Patro Ulmer
- Lindsay Radford Wiggins
The micro-grants process was open to artists who live in or work in the Columbia, SC area, with an emphasis on artists or art teams who have publically exhibited in the Columbia or larger South Carolina area. The application criteria for micro-grant funding stipulated the funded creative projects should amplify the rich history and story of Columbia; improve and expand public knowledge of our rivers and encourage public recreation activity at river access sites; and further sustainability with a focus on topics like climate change, heat reduction, beautification, and conservation.
Public notification and awareness of the micro-grant application and submission process was made throughout the four-month submission period by media release, social media postings across multiple channels, City of Columbia website, postings on arts grants notification platforms such as with SC Arts Commission, and in-person conversations with local artists.
