Announcing the Next Emerging #SCArtists Cohort

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COLUMBIA, S.C. – Seven artists establishing themselves in their artistic pursuits will benefit from the South Carolina Arts Commission Emerging Artists program, receiving a project-based grant and career mentoring.

The SCAC defines emerging artists as being at an early stage in their artistic career development—within the first five years—with no basis in age. It awards two new cohorts of emerging artists each fiscal year.

For the second round of FY25, the SCAC is announcing seven South Carolina artists who are each to receive Emerging Artist grants ranging in amount from $1,200 to $1,800 from the SCAC. They are:

  • Lacey Bates of Charleston (dance: performance/choreography)
  • Torres Fontain Jr. of Elgin (media production: multimedia/media arts)
  • Maggie Genoble of Jonesville (visual art)
  • Aulani Pau of Columbia (time-based art: animation)
  • Jason Rogers of Rock Hill (visual art: ceramics/pottery/sculpture)
  • Julia Vanderpool of Mount Pleasant (visual art: silkscreen/screen printing)
  • Nathalie Watson of Charleston (photography)

An online gallery of representative works by this class is available now on SouthCarolinaArts.com: https://www.southcarolinaarts.com/artist-development/programs/emerging-artists/.

In addition to financial support for forthcoming artistic projects outlined in their applications, the artists benefit from mentorship and professional support. The combined benefits are intended to deepen artistic practice and foster artistic excellence; encourage career growth, advancement, and sustainability; and provide professional development and opportunities for collaboration. The SCAC’s Emerging Artists program is managed by Artist Development Director Tanisha N. Brown.

“We are excited to help these seven artists expand their careers. The South Carolina Arts Commission gets to assist them with a grant providing full support of their projects, and I am honored to mentor them during the grant period,” Brown said.

Individual artists who reside in South Carolina and fit the criteria of an emerging artist are encouraged to apply for the first round of FY26 Emerging Artist grant funding. Applications are expected to open on or just after Tuesday, April 1, 2025. The full grant guidelines are available at https://www.southcarolinaarts.com/grant/emerging-artist-grants/.