COVID-19 survey reveals ‘frightening situation’ for creativity, culture
Sectors surviving on emergency funding, more needed
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COLUMBIA, S.C. – A recent survey of South Carolina nonprofit organizations revealed more than half serving in the creative and cultural sector lacked the funding to continue operations—and still face potential closure—without emergency funding for a sector that adds $9.7 billion to the state economy.
Together SC, in partnership with a mix of foundations and funders from across the state,
commissioned a late-winter survey of non-profit groups served by those funders to determine their financial health considering COVID-19. The
South Carolina Arts Commission (SCAC) and Lowcountry-based
Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation (GDDF) provided questions geared toward arts, culture, and the humanities non-profits they serve.
The survey was designed, collected, analyzed, and reported by
Kahle Strategic Insights Managing Director Robert W. Kahle, Ph.D. with Gloria Roderick, MPA.
Key findings
- Statewide, the outlook is bleak, with 48% of creative and cultural (arts, culture, and humanities) survey respondents claiming they can operate for six months at most without additional revenue.
- Job losses at responding organizations reached 16% from March 2020 to March 2021.
- Though a slight, 6% rebound is expected by June 2021, the resulting 11% aggregate drop could grow again once funding expires with the fiscal year on June 30.
“We have known for some time that creativity and culture are being hammered by this pandemic. These survey results show that difficult times are far from over,” SCAC Executive Director
David Platts said. “As resilient as the organizations served by the arts commission and Donnelley Foundation are, they are telling us the pandemic is not over for them. These are neighbors and friends in every community who need help and their options to support themselves are simply too limited to sustain them.”
Most respondents received PPP (Paycheck Protection Program) loans and either federal or state CARES Act funds. However, those funds were limited and only filled the gap for a few months. The SCAC requested additional funding in its proposed FY22 state budget.
Platts points out that even though data from the survey shows SCAC
respondents estimate needing a total infusion of $3.2 million to operate past June, the need is far greater because response rate to the survey was 32%.
“We can only guess at the actual number, but creativity and culture here are facing a frightening situation,” he said.
Many barriers prevent these organizations from a near-term return to pre-pandemic operating conditions that could generate self-sustaining revenue. With many sponsors and individual donors feeling effects of the pandemic, that leaves federal and state emergency funds as critical lifelines used to close the gap.
Though significant majorities of respondents reported integration of digital programming, the survey showed that it is difficult to monetize. Among SCAC respondents, 75% reported at least some digital programming and 90% of GDDF respondents reported it. However, three quarters of both group’s respondents said digital programming was only able to make up, at most, 19% of their income. Cost was identified as the most significant barrier to digital programming.
“The survey points to the immediate critical need to support our arts and culture organizations. We will know the non-profit sector has recovered when the arts and culture sector has recovered,”
David Farren, GDDF executive director said. “These organizations and their staffs are a vital part of the quality of life and economy in our communities. We all need to step up to ensure they are able to return, when it is safe to do so, viable and ready to serve the community.”
About the South Carolina Arts Commission
The mission of the South Carolina Arts Commission (SCAC) is to promote equitable access to the arts and support the cultivation of creativity in South Carolina. We envision a South Carolina where the arts are valued and all people benefit from a variety of creative experiences.
A state agency created by the South Carolina General Assembly in 1967, the SCAC works to increase public participation in the arts by providing grants, direct programs, staff assistance and partnerships in three key areas: arts education, community arts development, and artist development. Headquartered in Columbia, S.C., the SCAC is funded by the state of South Carolina, by the federal government through the National Endowment for the Arts, and other sources. Visit
SouthCarolinaArts.com or call 803.734.8696, and follow @scartscomm on social media.
About the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation
The Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation supports land conservation, artistic vitality, and regional collections for the people of the Chicago region and the Lowcountry of South Carolina. The Foundation supports a wide spectrum of arts groups that reflect the vitality and diversity of the Lowcountry, providing general operations grants to arts organizations, as well as other assistance to support, strengthen and connect the Lowcountry arts ecosystem.
For more information on the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, visit
www.gddf.org or contact Lowcountry Program Director, Kerri Forrest, at
kforrest@gddf.org.
According to a news release, Dawkins joined the organization in 2016 and has assisted the president & CEO in managing payables, vendor relationships, crisis management, operational needs, and supervising the cultural center facilities and security. Prior to joining Chapman Cultural Center, Dawkins worked in the field of property management in Atlanta.
The facilities director is responsible for the efficient operation, maintenance, and management of the facilities owned and operated by Chapman Cultural Center Inc, including Chapman Cultural Center and Mayfair Art Studios. The grounds of the Chapman Cultural Center consist of approximately five acres of parking lots, facilities, and land. Mayfair Art Studios is a 20,000 square foot facility operated by Chapman Cultural Center adjacent to the Arcadia Station Lofts in Spartanburg.
As the facilities director, Dawkins is responsible for supervising the facilities maintenance technician, security personnel, Mayfair Art Studios operations manager, the office and event services manager, and theatre services manager, plus contracted custodial personnel.
Deane Bowers (provided photo)
The Seabrook Island artist (right) says it best: "I decided I needed to find a way to bring people together, even if it was only a small one. I thought that if I could gather people, even people physically separated, to work towards something bigger than ourselves, that collectively we might find joy, fellowship and fun-and we could make a difference. I wanted to be a part of the solution, to offer something positive to a hurting world."
So Bowers put out an open call for art on social media and used some personal contacts. Artists of diverse backgrounds and locations, 19 in all from eight states, were culled to lend their talents to a collective large piece.
Thus, Together While Apart was born, a group of artists coming together amidst pandemic conditions with the collective wish to combat isolation, loneliness, and unhappiness during an unsettled time. Health worries, economic insecurity, racial strife—we're all aware.
"I sent each artist several 6” x 6” square pieces of cut cardboard from these recycled boxes with one simple instruction: think outside of the box! My goal was that through the creative process, each artist would find an outlet for his or her feelings and eventually these emotions would transform into joy. Ultimately, our collective joys would be multiplied and shared with many others through our artwork," she said.
"As the weeks passed, and I started receiving the squares back, I was repeatedly amazed by the imagination, talent and effort that each artist put forth in their cardboard. The result was so much more than I could ever imagine. The creative energy of the group was palpable, and our pieces seem to flow together with beautiful synergy. It was my honor to be the artist who pieced the squares together ... What started as discarded cardboard boxes stacked in my garage, ended as an incredible artistic collage of many beautiful souls who poured themselves into their work..."
Good morning! 
Beginning June 21st, she will take on a new role as the president and CEO of the United Arts of Central Florida. Based in Orlando, UACF is the second largest United Arts organization in the U.S. and provides more than $6 million in grants to over 60 arts, science and history organizations, and provides arts education programs to more than 1 million children.
"We are elated for this next chapter in her career and wish her tremendous success and know that the Spartanburg community will miss her dearly," Bynum said.
In February, the S.C. Arts Commission 
Fletcher Williams III (Photo by Andrew Cebulka)
Each fellowship—one per state in the South Arts region—comes with a cash award of $5,000 and inclusion in an exhibition opening this fall at the Bo Bartlett Center in Columbus, Georgia.
The State Fellows are also now in consideration for the two larger Southern Prize awards. One fellowship recipient will be named the Southern Prize winner receiving an additional $25,000 cash award, and another fellow will be named the Southern Prize Finalist receiving an additional $10,000; both Southern Prize recipients will also receive a two-week residency at the Hambidge Center for the Creative Arts and Sciences. The two winners will be named at a virtual ceremony on June 17 celebrating the work of all ten State Fellows.
The 2021 State Fellowship recipients are:
Says Hirsch: “I am honored to be the new director of the Halsey Institute. It is a true privilege to lead the talented team that brings innovative artists to Charleston and beyond. I am eager to connect with our community in this new role, and to share the compelling programming that the Halsey has planned.”
School of the Arts Dean Dr. Edward Hart says of the appointment, “We are thrilled that Katie Hirsch has accepted the appointment as the new Director of the Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art. She brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the position, and her artistic vision, leadership skills, and enthusiasm will benefit this world-class institution for years to come.”
