Watch: ArtsNOW Celebrates South Carolina Governor’s Award

by | Aug 8, 2026

A colorful flyer titled "Where Creativity Meets Career" promotes 175+ career opportunities in arts and academics. Icons represent Dance, Visual Arts, Theatre & Drama, Music, and STEAM as career paths.
Watch ArtsNOW celebrate at the Columbia Museum of Art here!

As educators and students return to classrooms for a new school year, ArtsNOW is celebrating a milestone that reflects the power of creativity, partnership, and a shared commitment to meaningful education.

In 2026, ArtsNOW received the South Carolina Governor’s Award for the Arts. Presented by the South Carolina Arts Commission, this recognition celebrates ArtsNOW’s leadership and impact in advancing arts-integrated learning throughout the state. This summer, ArtsNOW gathered at the Columbia Museum of Art to recognize this achievement alongside members of our team, partners, and supporters. Our new two-minute video captures the spirit of that celebration and partnerships that make our work possible.

This award belongs to the educators who welcome creativity into their classrooms, the school leaders who invest in innovative approaches to teaching and learning, and the students who bring learning to life through visual arts, music, dance, digital arts, and theatre. It also reflects the commitment of the partners and supporters who understand that the arts are not an extra. They are a powerful pathway for building student engagement, strengthening academic understanding, and helping students develop the confidence to express their ideas.

Across South Carolina, ArtsNOW works alongside schools and districts to provide customized professional learning, practical classroom strategies, and sustained support for educators. The Governor’s Award recognizes the progress made through these partnerships while inspiring us to continue reaching more educators, students, and school communities.

As a new school year begins, we are carrying this momentum forward. We remain committed to equipping educators, strengthening classrooms, and expanding access to arts-integrated learning across South Carolina and beyond.

Watch the video and join us in celebrating the educators, students, partners, and supporters who made this milestone possible. Together, we are bringing learning to life.