2025 Call for Nominations for the Annual South Carolina Awards in the Humanities

South Carolina Humanities is pleased to announce that nominations for the Governor’s Awards in the Humanities and the Akers Prize are now being accepted through Sunday, June 15, 2025. Established in 1991, the Governor’s Awards celebrate the Palmetto State’s humanities academics and advocates. The Akers Prize, formerly the Fresh Voices in the Humanities Award, recognizes innovative … Read more

Fast Track Literary Grants

Fast Track Literary Grants are intended to support new or existing public literary programs such as (but not limited to) writers series, festivals, conferences, workshops, or writer’s residencies at schools. Awards are $5,000 or less. For the FY2025 deadlines, we will begin accepting Fast Track Literary Grant applications through our new online Grants Portal. Fast … Read more

2024 Governor’s Awards in the Humanities and Akers Prize Winners Announced

South Carolina Humanities is pleased to announce the 2024 recipients of the Governor’s Awards in the Humanities and the Akers Prize. Established in 1991, the Governor’s Awards recognize outstanding achievement in humanities research, teaching, and scholarship; institutional and individual participation in helping communities in South Carolina better understand our cultural heritage or ideas and issues related … Read more

SC Humanities Announces its 2024 Student Scholarship Recipients

In 2024, South Carolina Humanities awarded scholarships to two graduate students who are enrolled in advanced degree programs in the humanities. After careful consideration, the Board of Directors of SC Humanities chose Claire Jackson, who is pursuing a MS in Historic Preservation at Clemson University, and Shyanne Hamrick, who is working on a Masters in English at … Read more

2024 Call for Nominations for the Governor’s Award in the Humanities and the Akers Prize

South Carolina Humanities is pleased to announce that nominations for the Governor’s Awards in the Humanities and the Akers Prize are now being accepted through Saturday, June 15, 2024. Established in 1991, the Governor’s Awards celebrate the Palmetto State’s humanities academics and advocates. The Akers Prize, formerly the Fresh Voices in the Humanities Award, recognizes innovative … Read more

2023 Governor’s Awards in the Humanities and Akers Prize Winners Announced

South Carolina Humanities is pleased to announce the 2023 recipients of the Governor’s Awards in the Humanities and the Akers Prize. Established in 1991, the Governor’s Awards recognize outstanding achievement in humanities research, teaching, and scholarship; institutional and individual participation in helping communities in South Carolina better understand our cultural heritage or ideas and issues related … Read more

SC Humanities Announces its 2023 Student Scholarship Recipients

South Carolina Humanities offers an annual scholarship for one undergraduate and two graduate students who have declared a major or are enrolled in a Master’s degree program in the humanities. After careful consideration, the Board of Directors of SC Humanities chose Frances Ludwig, an art history major at Coastal Carolina University, as the recipient of the Undergraduate Student … Read more

Now Accepting Board of Directors Nominations

South Carolina Humanities is accepting nominations to become a member of our Board of Directors. New members will begin three-year terms in November 2023. Board members initiate and develop projects, seek to make the humanities accessible statewide, and take active roles in fundraising. SC Humanities, now in its 50th year of service as our state’s humanities council, has … Read more

2023 Call for Nominations for the Governor’s Award in the Humanities and the Akers Prize

South Carolina Humanities is pleased to announce that nominations for the Governor’s Awards in the Humanities and the newly-renamed Akers Prize are now being accepted through Wednesday, May 31, 2023. Established in 1991, the Governor’s Awards celebrate the Palmetto State’s humanities academics and advocates. The Akers Prize, formerly the Fresh Voices in the Humanities Award, … Read more

2022 Governor’s Awards & Fresh Voices in the Humanities Recipients Announced

South Carolina Humanities is pleased to announce the 2022 recipients of the Governor’s Awards in the Humanities and the Fresh Voices in the Humanities Awards. Established in 1991, the Governor’s Awards recognize outstanding achievement in humanities research, teaching, and scholarship; institutional and individual participation in helping communities in South Carolina better understand our cultural heritage … Read more

Now Accepting Board of Directors Nominations

South Carolina Humanities is accepting nominations to become a member of our Board of Directors. New members will begin three-year terms in November 2022. Board members initiate and develop projects, seek to make the humanities accessible statewide, and take active roles in fundraising. SC Humanities, now in its 50th year of service as our state’s humanities … Read more

SC Humanities Announces its 2022 Student Scholarship Recipients

South Carolina Humanities offers an annual scholarship for one undergraduate and one graduate student who have declared a major or are enrolled in a Master’s degree program in the humanities. After careful consideration, the Board of Directors of SC Humanities chose Jordan Green, an English major at Clemson University, as the recipient of the Undergraduate Student … Read more

2019 Fresh Voice: Scott Gwara

Scott Gwara spends his days surrounded by the past…literally.  For more than two decades, this University of South Carolina professor has been assembling, studying and publicizing a collection of rare handwritten books. These “manuscripts” from medieval and Renaissance Europe pre-date 1600 AD, most are written in Latin and range in subject matter from Holy Writ … Read more

2019 Fresh Voice: Marlanda Dekine

Marlanda Dekine is Sapient Soul, a poet and social worker residing in South Carolina. She is the author and recording artist of i am from a punch & a kiss, a multimedia project exploring black queer identity, the legacy of white supremacy, and spirituality in the South. Her poetry and thoughts have been shared with … Read more

2019 Fresh Voice: Marcus Amaker

Marcus Amaker is a karaoke singer, a Kate Bush fan and a donut eater. He is also an award-winning graphic designer for a national music magazine (No Depression), and works with nonprofits to create websites, posters and videos. In 2010, he founded a weekly arts publication, Charleston Scene, for the Post and Courier daily newspaper. … Read more

2019 Governor’s Award Winner: Steven Naifeh

Steven Naifeh is an award-winning author, an internationally-exhibited visual artist, a businessman and a historic preservationist. Naifeh, along with his partner and co-author Gregory White Smith, has written 18 books.  These include Jackson Pollock: An American Saga, which won the Pulitzer Prize in 1991, and Van Gogh: The Life, which Leo Jansen of the Van … Read more

2019 Governor’s Award Winner: Ron Daise

Ron Daise, a native of St. Helena Island, SC, is an author, performing artist, and educator who has shared stories, music, and lectures about history, culture, and faith across the country. Since 2004, he has served as Vice President for Creative Education at Brookgreen Gardens in Murrells Inlet, SC, and has created and implemented programs, … Read more

2019 Governor’s Award Winner: Greenville Chautauqua

Caroline McIntyre Administrator and Historical Interpreter George Frein Founder and Historical Interpreter Sally Potosky Chair of the Board of Directors Greenville Chautauqua (pronounced “Shuh-TALK-wa”), celebrating its 20th season, has grown from a one-week program to year-long programmatic activities in Greenville, Asheville, Spartanburg and Brevard.  Their scholarship based, oral history performances bring people and events to … Read more

2018 Governor’s Awards in the Humanities Announced

SC Humanities has announced that four outstanding individuals will receive the prestigious 2018 Governor’s Awards in the Humanities.  The honorees are Anne Cleveland, Director of the Charleston Library Society; Bobby Donaldson, historian and educator; Sara June Goldstein, literary arts advocate; and Cecil Williams, celebrated South Carolina photographer. Additionally, in 2018, SC Humanities established the new … Read more

Fresh Voices in the Humanities Award

With its annual Governor’s Awards In the Humanities, the Board of South Carolina Humanities has long recognized established leaders who have made enormous contributions to the state and nation in educational, cultural, and community-building roles.  In 2018, SC Humanities has established a new award to be presented at the Governor’s Awards in the Humanities luncheon … Read more

A Call for Nominations for the 2018 Governor’s Awards in the Humanities

Established in 1991, the Governor’s Awards in the Humanities recognize outstanding achievement in humanities research, teaching, and scholarship; institutional and individual participation in helping communities in South Carolina better understand our cultural heritage or ideas and issues related to the humanities; excellence defining South Carolina’s cultural life to the nation or world; and exemplary support … Read more

2017 Governor’s Awards in the Humanities

SC Humanities is pleased to announce that four extraordinary South Carolina individuals received this year’s annual Governor’s Awards in the Humanities, presented at a luncheon on Thursday, October 19, 2017 at the Hilton Columbia Center. The winners are: Karen Alexander (The Auntie Karen Foundation), arts-based community programs; Orville Vernon Burton, historian and author; Dixie Goswami, literacy education … Read more

A Call for Nominations for the Governor’s Awards in the Humanities

Established in 1991, the Governor’s Awards in the Humanities recognize outstanding achievement in humanities research, teaching, and scholarship; institutional and individual participation in helping communities in South Carolina better understand our cultural heritage or ideas and issues related to the humanities; excellence defining South Carolina’s cultural life to the nation or world; and exemplary support … Read more

2016 Governor’s Awards in the Humanities

SC Humanities is pleased to announce that three extraordinary South Carolina individuals were recipients of this year’s annual Governor’s Awards in the Humanities, presented at a luncheon on Thursday, October 20, 2016 (reception starting at 11:30 a.m. and luncheon starting at 12:30 p.m.) at the Hilton Columbia Center. Charles T. “Bud” Ferillo, Jr., activist and filmmaker, and Betsy Newman, an … Read more

A Call for Nominations for the Governor’s Awards in the Humanities

Established in 1991, the Governor’s Awards in the Humanities recognize outstanding achievement in humanities research, teaching, and scholarship; institutional and individual participation in helping communities in South Carolina better understand our cultural heritage or ideas and issues related to the humanities; excellence defining South Carolina’s cultural life to the nation or world; and exemplary support … Read more

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South Carolina Humanities inspiring. engaging. enriching. The humanities are how we understand ourselves and our world and how we communicate that understanding to others. South Carolina Humanities is one of 54 state and jurisdictional humanities councils that receives funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities. SC Humanities funds, promotes, counsels, and coordinates all manner … Read more

2015 Governor’s Awards in the Humanities Awarded

SC Humanitiesis pleased to announce that three extraordinary South Carolina individuals were recipients of this year’s annual Governor’s Awards in the Humanities, presented at a luncheon on October 22, 2015 at the Hilton Columbia Center. The three recipients were: Dr. Charles Israel, retired college professor and writer; Dr. Valinda Littlefield, Director of African American studies … Read more

A Call for Nominations for the Governor’s Awards in the Humanities

Established in 1991, the Governor’s Awards in the Humanities recognize outstanding achievement in humanities research, teaching, and scholarship; institutional and individual participation in helping communities in South Carolina better understand our cultural heritage or ideas and issues related to the humanities; excellence defining South Carolina’s cultural life to the nation or world; and exemplary support … Read more