COLUMBIA, S.C. – 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.