ArtsNOW & Columbia Museum of Art: 2026 S.C. Arts Awards Spotlight Series
Meet the Recipients
As the day nears for the 2026 South Carolina Arts Awards, The Hub is shining the spotlight on this year’s recipients, introducing them to you in greater detail.
This is the schedule:
- April 29: Tammy Leach and Laurel Horton
- May 1: Bill Harris and Beckee Garris
- Today: ArtsNOW and Columbia Museum of Art
- May 7: Tiffany Reed Silverman and Dr. Richard O’Malley
- May 12: Ian Welch
ArtsNOW | Governor’s Award, Arts in Education Organization Category
- Columbia, South Carolina
ArtsNOW is a nationally recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with over 20 years of experience empowering educators and students through arts-integrated learning that drives engagement, creativity, and academic growth.
Our mission is to transform lives through customized solutions that meet the unique educational needs of each school, leveraging arts integration and innovative strategies to strengthen both learning and school communities. ArtsNOW is the leading professional learning organization for resourceful and inventive approaches that equip educators, engage students, and cultivate meaningful, long-term impact on the future.
Our work strengthens school culture while cultivating the critical skills students need to thrive in today’s world. We integrate visual arts, dance, music, and theatre into academic subjects. At the same time, we connect these practices to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, transforming STEM into STEAM. This research-based approach develops essential 21st century competencies, including creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving, while fostering collaboration, communication, and social-emotional growth. Arts integration is a bridge between academic content and the arts that empowers both students and teachers to explore, innovate, and succeed.
ArtsNOW offers customized professional learning experiences designed to improve educational outcomes through arts integration. We partner with schools to embed arts integration across all grades and content areas, tailoring our work to each school community’s unique needs. From customized coaching and content-specific workshops to after-school and summer programs, our offerings are tailored to meet each school’s unique needs. Highlights include our annual Foundational Seminar, artist-in-residency programs, and collaborative planning sessions. We also provide robust virtual support through free online resources for educators and parents alike, including arts-integrated unit plans and at-home lessons.
We primarily serve educators and students across the Southeast, with a strong concentration in South Carolina and Georgia. Since 2006, ArtsNOW has partnered with schools throughout the region, reaching more than 448,000 students and 99,000 educators. Through innovative, arts-integrated learning, we prepare students to meet academic standards and develop the confidence, creativity, and critical thinking skills necessary for success in school, careers, and life. By equipping educators and engaging students, ArtsNOW transforms schools into vibrant learning communities where the arts inspire achievement and opportunity for every learner.
Columbia Museum of Art | Governor’s Award, Accessibility Category
- Columbia, South Carolina
The Columbia Museum of Art’s mission is to spark powerful connections through art from around the corner and around the world in an environment that is welcoming to all. At the Columbia Museum of Art, we believe in art’s unique ability to connect people, spark meaningful conversations, and deepen our understanding of one another. Art has the extraordinary power to illuminate the richness of human experience and inspire reflection on our shared journey. We are dedicated to creating a welcoming environment where everyone in our community can discover, experience, and be moved by art. Through thoughtful curation, engaging programs, and a warm, inviting atmosphere, this commitment shapes everything we do. We aim to make art accessible and meaningful to all who visit. We’re committed to being a gathering place where diverse perspectives are celebrated and where art serves as a bridge between people and ideas. As a team, we continuously strive to grow, learn, and better serve our community.
The CMA makes the following Experience Promises to everyone that visits the museum:
- Inspiring We promise to be inspiring. We are a place for you to learn about each other and yourselves through the art of the world. We provide a variety of experiences designed to move you to connect, contemplate, and create.
- Welcoming We promise to be welcoming. We strive to be warm, inviting, inclusive, and accessible. You belong here, and we promise to treat you that way.
- Community-Centered We promise to be community-centered. We are rooted in and reflective of our own diverse communities. We see ourselves as champions of a thriving Midlands.
- Playful We promise to be playful. We believe that art is an adventure, and we approach everything we do with a sense of open-minded exploration.
- Vibrant We promise to be vibrant. We provide dynamic experiences that engage the mind, enrich the spirit, and fuel artistic energy. Your art museum is bright in spaces, ideas, and possibilities.
Watch the 2026 South Carolina Arts Awards Sunday, May 17 at 7 p.m. EDT.
The SCAC is excited to present its streaming presentation of the awards, which include new short films documenting the recipients made by talented South Carolina filmmakers.
Viewers can access it via the SCAC YouTube Channel, and it will also be streamed through the SCAC Facebook page. Internet-connected smart TV’s or streaming devices with the YouTube app may be used for a more broadcast-style experience.