South Carolina State Parks Artist in Residence Program 2027

Overview

The South Carolina State Parks Artist-In-Residence program invites artists to spend one week in a South Carolina state park, gaining inspiration from its natural and cultural resources. Selected artists receive free park lodging and must deliver an original artwork representative of their stay within 90 days for display in park facilities.

Key dates

• Application deadline: September 30, 2026
• Jury decisions completed by: October 19, 2026
• Notification date: November 3, 2026

Eligibility

Open to South Carolina residents and non-residents. SCPRT employees are not eligible. Collaborative proposals are welcome. All work must be original. Artists whose work manipulates park resources or uses materials from endangered or threatened species will be excluded; collecting materials from state park property is not permitted.

Media

• Basketry, Clay/Porcelain, Glass, Leather/Fiber, Original Printmaking, Metal Work, Oil/Acrylic, Pen/Ink, Photography, Stonework, Watercolor/Pastels, Woodwork, and Other

Application requirements

• Four (4) digital images of your work for jury review
• Images must reflect works created within the last five years
• Images are critical to acceptance and should focus on style and techniques used
• Jury fee: $25.00 (non-refundable, payable by credit card)

Program locations and lodging

• Traditional cabins (Barnwell, Givhans Ferry, Oconee, Santee): sleep 4-6, include kitchen, bathroom, electricity, water, linens; pets not allowed
• Carolina Camper Cabins (Colleton, Dreher Island): one-room, sleep 4, include beds, porch, heating/AC, Wi-Fi; no running water or restrooms inside; pets not allowed
• Campsites (Calhoun Falls): RV sites with water and 30-amp or 50-amp electric service
• Artists may opt to stay in their own camper or RV at the selected park
• Each park hosts only one or two artists for the 2027 season; placement determined by park interest in your medium

Artist responsibilities

Transportation to and from the selected park is the artist's responsibility. All participants must deliver an original artwork representative of their residency within 90 days for display in park cabins and facilities as deemed appropriate by the park manager.

Jury and selection

A panel of state park representatives will review submitted images. Acceptance determined by score. A minimum score-based waiting list will be maintained with cancellations filled from the waiting list. Application date serves as tiebreaker. Selections made without regard to race, religion, marital status, sex, age, or national origin.