S.C. Phil announces support from S.C. Arts Commission
November 29, 2017
- Budget veto would cut award 17%
- Cut jeopardizes community engagement initiatives
The South Carolina Philharmonic was awarded $26,551 in operating support for fiscal year 2018 by the S.C. Arts Commission to help fund services across the community.
The support comes via a grant that enables the S.C. Phil to continue innovative educational outreach programs that engage young people, seniors, and special needs individuals with live, classical music throughout the Midlands. Musician and staff compensation may also come from grant dollars.
However, among Gov. Henry McMaster’s vetoes of the FY 2017-18 state budget was veto #24, which would eliminate $350,000 in funds allocated to the S.C. Arts Commission’s FY18 budget by both the House and Senate. Cutting that money would reduce the S.C. Phil’s grant – intended to support ongoing operations, programs, and staff development – by 17%. Funds will also support targeted grants in rural, underserved counties.
With its grant, the S.C. Phil would send musicians to engage South Carolinians at Babcock Center, Epworth Children’s Home, the S.C. Dept. of Juvenile Justice (right, credit Jarid Munsch/DJJ) and Transitions Homeless Center – all in Columbia. It would also send musicians to perform for patients at Columbia area healthcare facilities, including Dorn VA Medical Center and multiple Palmetto Health campuses. A cut to the award could force the Philharmonic to scale back some or all of these programs.
“The S.C. Philharmonic appreciates the S.C. Arts Commission’s 50-year legacy of support that enables us to leave the stage and reach all segments of society,” Philharmonic Executive Director Rhonda Hunsinger said. “We urge the General Assembly to override veto #24 and validate the enrichment this grant helps us provide.”
The S.C. Arts Commission requires each grant recipient to match its gift three times. Corporate support from BlueCross BlueShield of S.C., The Braddock Group of Janney Montgomery Scott, Aflac, AllSouth Federal Credit Union, BB&T, Foreign Academics, and Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP combined with personal gifts from donations to the orchestra’s Annual Fund met the match and raised the gift to $106,204.
ABOUT THE SOUTH CAROLINA PHILHARMONIC
The South Carolina Philharmonic entertains, educates, enriches, and excites diverse audiences through live symphonic music. As the Midlands’ only professional orchestra, the S.C. Phil is a non-profit, 501c3 that has served the community’s needs for cultural development, education, and entertainment since 1964. The S.C. Phil believes exposure to the arts is an essential element that helps people realize their full potential, connect to others in the community, and be introduced to new cultural experiences. The S.C. Phil’s vision is to see lives changed through the transformative power of music and has established education and outreach programs designed specifically to engage and educate diverse groups throughout the Midlands.
ABOUT THE SOUTH CAROLINA ARTS COMMISSION
The South Carolina Arts Commission is the state agency charged with creating a thriving arts environment that benefits all South Carolinians, regardless of their location or circumstances. Created by the South Carolina General Assembly in 1967, the Arts Commission works to increase public participation in the arts by providing services, grants and leadership initiatives in three areas: arts education, community arts development and artist development. Headquartered in Columbia, S.C., the Arts Commission is funded by the state of South Carolina, by the federal government through the National Endowment for the Arts and other sources. For more information, visit SouthCarolinaArts.com or call 803.734.8696.
