July 5, 2024
Governor McMaster signed the 2024-2025 State Budget this week, which includes an additional $3M in Statewide Arts Funding.
On June 26th, both chambers of the SC General Assembly adopted the Budget Conference Committee Report, which recommended atotal of $3 million in additional statewide arts funding. This past Wednesday, Governor McMaster issued 21 line item vetoes on the budget before sig
ning the bill later in the afternoon. For the seventh year in a row, he chose not to veto any statewide arts funding.
Note: An arts organization who secured a one-time budget allocation (earmark) did see their funding vetoed. The SCAA does not take positions on individual earmarks and focuses solely on statewide support. More about earmark funding below.
What’s In the Budget
The budget includes a $1 million increase in recurring funding for the South Carolina Arts Commission, as well as an additional $2 million in non-recurring (one-time) funding. Although the agency originally requested $3 million in recurring funding for the implementation of Arts Hub Regions throughout the State, the final budget fully funds the project for at least the upcoming year.
This is a huge win for arts advocates, as it is higher than the funding level included in both the House and the Senate versions of the bill.
In addition to increasing resources and access to the arts in our State, the Regional Arts Hubs will play a huge role in continuing the revolutionary arts learning work of Arts Grow SC, which will officially move from a COVID-relief funded program to a permanent, state-funded institution this fall.
Please contact your legislators and thank them for their continued support for the arts. We’ve made it easy to do so here >>
Key Data Points:
- The additional $1 million in recurring funds takes total statewide grant funding in the arts from $1.43 per capita to well over $1.50 per capita. Considering that in 2020, per capita funding was below $1.00, this continued investment by the General Assembly shows the important role the arts play in strengthening our communities, promoting tourism, and improving student learning.
- State statute requires the agency to grant out at least 70% of it’s total funding, maximizing the investment with the help of teachers, schools, municipalities, organizations, and artists who bring value to their communities through the arts.
- A recent study by the Darla Moore School of business showed that our State’s Creative sector is responsible for a $14.1 billion dollar economic impact, including over 123,000 jobs and $360 million in annual tax revenue.
Earmarks
The Governor again called for a reformation in the way member-requested (earmark) projects are funded. Currently, members may request specific line item funding for organizations and city governments (among others) be included in the budget outside of agency funding. Arts-related earmark funding totaled to approximately $6 million for the upcoming year.
Go Deeper
Read the full budget document here. Recurring grants funding is in Part 1A, Section 28, and non recurring funding appears in Part 1B, Section 118.20 (B)(Item 23).
