SCAC announces eight FY27 fellows, setting record
Dedication, ability earn eight #SCArtists $10,000 grants
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina Arts Commission is excited to announce a record number of South Carolina artists representing five artistic disciplines as recipients of its $10,000 individual artist fellowships for FY27.
The SCAC awards fellowships each year to artists working in rotating disciplines. Independent, out-of-state reviewers score applicants against a published rubric, which this year resulted in three tied scores—a first for the fellowships program.
At its latest meeting in June, the SCAC Board of Commissioners approved reviewer recommendations of eight artists from five disciplines who exhibit hard work, exceptional ability, and dedication to their disciplines. Those receiving awards in FY27 are:
- Cinelle Barnes of Charleston (Prose).
- Kestlyn Blassengale of Greenville (Screenwriting).
- Elizabeth Landesberg of Columbia (Media Arts: Directing).
- Matthew Mebane of Charleston (Screenwriting).
- Glenis Redmond of Mauldin (Spoken Word/Slam Poetry).
- Ursula O. Robinson of Orangeburg (Media Arts: Performance).
- Asiah Thomas of Charleston (Spoken Word/Slam Poetry).
- Anthony Varallo of Charleston (Prose).
“The South Carolina Arts Commission is excited to recognize these eight fellows for the ways they demonstrate a high level of artistic excellence. Each one is deserving of the prestige and financial benefit that a fellowship brings, and we hope all South Carolinians share in our excitement and join us in taking pride in their accomplishments. We eagerly anticipate what Arts Commission support of their creative pursuits will help them do next,” SCAC Interim Executive Director Ashley Kerns Brown said.
“The fellowships program puts a spotlight on South Carolina’s creative talent while making a direct impact on artistic development, a key part of our strategic plan,” SCAC Artist Development Manager McKenzie Drake said. “Fellowships recognize an artist’s dedication and achievement with the added benefit of a financial resource that gives a fellow more ability to focus on creating art.”
Meet the FY27 Fellows on SouthCarolinaArts.com.
Top row (l-r): Anthony Varallo, Cinelle Barnes (by Anouk Barnes), Asiah Thomas, Glenis Redmond (by Will Crooks).
Bottom row (l-r): Elizabeth Landesberg, Kestlyn Blassengale, Matthew Mebane, Ursula O. Robinson.
New benefit
Beginning with this class of fellows, the SCAC is adding a new benefit to the fellowships program. Fellows may opt to select one artwork for inclusion in the State Art Collection, which is managed by the SCAC, in perpetuity. This recognition brings artwork by contemporary artists into the State Art Collection as a part of its digital archive; the SCAC will not own or physically house artworks but will present them through a gallery on its website.
Process
Out-of-state reviewers representing each year’s disciplines are recruited to review and score applications before recommending the top scorers to the SCAC board of commissioners for funding. Applicants are not anonymous, but reviewers use the SCAC’s rubric as they review work samples, artistic merit, noted achievements, and commitment to the discipline in which artists apply. Artists may apply in multiple categories with separate applications, though they may only be awarded in a single category.
Starting with the FY28 cycle, the grant guidelines will note which rubric section is to serve as the tiebreaker.
Looking ahead
This fall, the SCAC will open applications for FY28 Individual Artist Fellowships to Visual, Craft, Interdisciplinary, and Music artists. To be eligible, artists must be at least 18 years old and a legal U.S. resident with permanent residence in South Carolina for two years prior to the application date and throughout the one-year fellowship period. For more on discipline rotation, eligibility requirements, and the application process, visit SouthCarolinaArts.com.
About the South Carolina Arts Commission
The mission of the South Carolina Arts Commission is to expand access to the arts and foster 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 through grants, direct programs, staff assistance and partnerships in artist development, arts industry, arts learning, creative placemaking, and folklife and traditional arts. 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 Facebook, Instagram, and X for #Arts4SC and #SCArtists content.
