PRSF Awarded South Carolina Arts Commission Operating Grant
December 20, 2024
The Port Royal Sound Foundation (PRSF) has received a $29,988 General Operations Support (GOS) grant from the South Carolina Arts Commission. This grant supports PRSF’s ongoing arts initiatives and educational programming for children and adults.
Many of PRSF’s programs, from field trips to summer camp to public STEAM programs, incorporate art as a way for people to engage with nature. Activities include leaf printing, fish print painting, building bird houses, decorating pots for native plants, and more. At our annual STEAM Festival, participants are encouraged to take part in a community art project led by a professional artist. Art activities are always paired with a conservation message, building the connection between the way the Port Royal Sound inspires us and the responsibility we have to protect this valuable environmental, cultural, and artistic resource.
PRSF is also proud to host annual art contests for the community. Our first annual Photography Contest in 2024 had over 170 photo submissions, and engaged the public in voting for their favorite flora, fauna, landscape,
and cultural snapshots celebrating the Port Royal Sound. Our Recycled Art Contest just celebrated its 7th year, a program which encourages people to take time to clean up litter from the environment, and then use it to create art. All entries have a powerful theme of the importance of caring for the world around us.
“We were amazed by the number and variety of photographs we received in the first year of our photo contest from photographers of all ages and skill levels. From youth to beginners to professionals, everyone was excited to get out to capture and share the beauty and culture surrounding the Port Royal Sound.” -Joanna Boney, Naturalist and Photo Contest Coordinator
The mission of South Carolina Arts Commission (SCAC) is to promote equitable access to the arts and support the cultivation of creativity in South Carolina, envisioning a South Carolina where the arts are valued and all people benefit from a variety of creative experiences. SCAC receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts. The support of SCAC allows PRSF to engage people with environmental initiatives in new and creative ways. By including art programming in its work, PRSF encourages people to be inspired by the beauty of the natural world, deepen their connection to the local environment, and advocate for its conservation. PRSF is deeply grateful for the continued support and enthusiasm of SCAC to cultivate the creativity and well-being of our community.