South Carolina Humanities has awarded $856,587 in emergency relief funds to 78 cultural organizations in South Carolina. These “Growth Grant” awards reach 31 counties and all seven Congressional Districts. Funding for the Growth Grants has been provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) as part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and the NEH Sustaining the Humanities through the American Rescue Plan (SHARP) initiative.

South Carolina Humanities Growth Grants were designed to offer operating and/or program support to humanities organizations throughout the state that are facing financial hardship as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. These grants provide immediate funds to help stabilize humanities organizations and allow them to prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from the coronavirus pandemic, ensuring their future success.

Dr. Tom Mack, Chair of the SC Humanities Board of Directors, said, “Regarding the current pandemic, we were all hoping to see light at the end of the tunnel by now.  Instead, the tunnel just appeared to get longer in 2021.  Museums, libraries, and other cultural sites with a focus on humanities-based programming have continued to struggle under adverse economic conditions.  This is why SC Humanities has been so happy to be able to provide Growth Grants under the auspices of the American Rescue Plan.  They offer the hope of a brighter tomorrow.”

The South Carolina Department of Archives and History received a Growth Grant from South Carolina Humanities, www.schumanities.org.  Funding for the Growth Grants has been provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) as part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and the NEH Sustaining the Humanities through the American Rescue Plan (SHARP) initiative.