What’s that? Accessibility Grants from the SCAC

‘Trustus in the Round’ a result of grant

It’s a small grant category, but it helps South Carolina organizations do big things in the arts.

Notice we didn’t say “arts organizations” there. That’s because Accessibility Grants are intended help South Carolina organizations make arts programs and existing facilities accessible to persons with disabilities. Non-profit organizations, units of government, and designated S.C. Department of Disabilities & Special Needs boards who provide arts programming can use an Accessibility Grant to get up to $2,500 to improve access to that programming.

Sounds nice, and you should definitely read more about these grants, but what does it look like in real life? Well…

Trustus Theatre in Columbia wanted its audiences to experience “theater in the round” for three consecutive productions in early 2020. Extensive renovation to the main stage would be required to convert it to a round configuration. But a problem arose: even though it’s temporary, the round stage would nonetheless compromise current accessibility enjoyed by Trustus’ disabled patrons.

The answer was to remove 88 fixed seats to integrate accessible seating into the temporary stage structure which, when complete, would be able to reintegrate some of the removed fixed seating while allowing ramp access to patrons who need it. A $2,500 Accessibility Grant from the S.C. Arts Commission made that happen. And, because partnerships are a key way SCAC accomplishes its work, it’s here that we’ll note Trustus partnered with ABLE SC to develop a viable solution.

The round stage debuts Feb. 7 with the theater’s production of A Streetcar Named Desire.