For Immediate Release
September 25, 2026
From the Office of Communications
Phone: 803.435.4435
CCSD and Schools Earn Arts Grants
Three Clarendon County Schools Receive Arts Curricular Innovation Grant Funding
Clarendon County, S.C. — Clarendon County School District is pleased to announce that three schools have been awarded arts grants totaling $38,000 for the 2026–2027 school year. In addition, the South Carolina Arts Commission has awarded the district a $25,000 District Arts Support Grant to expand arts education opportunities across Clarendon County. The grants will support innovative visual arts, music, theater, media arts and STEAM programming, while providing students with meaningful opportunities to create, perform, collaborate and develop critical-thinking skills.
Walker Gamble Elementary School
Walker Gamble Elementary School has been awarded an $18,000 Distinguished Arts Program Grant for the 2026–2027 school year. The Academic Arts team will use the funding to showcase student artwork throughout the school and in the community. The grant will emphasize the artistic processes of presenting, performing, responding and connecting.
Grant funds will provide:
- Bulletin boards and frames to display student artwork throughout the school
- Materials to create a glow gallery
- Music stands and recording equipment to enhance student musical and theatrical performances
- Photography materials to expand media arts opportunities
- A 3-D printer to support Design Thinking projects in the STEAM lab
Professional development is also an important component of Walker Gamble Elementary’s Academic Arts Program. A portion of the grant will support arts teachers’ participation in the Summer Arts Institute, as well as professional learning through the South Carolina Art Education Association and South Carolina Music Educators Association conferences.
East Clarendon Middle High School
East Clarendon Middle High School has received a $10,000 Art Enhancement Program Grant to strengthen its Wolverine Academic Arts program. The grant will directly benefit approximately 200 visual arts students and 20–30 theater students during the 2026–2027 school year.
Under the direction of Mrs. Charlotte Driggers, the grant will expand hands-on visual arts experiences through the introduction of glass fusing and slumping techniques. Funding will also replenish essential ceramics supplies and support the installation of two new classroom cleanup stations. The grant will further support Ms. Deon Jones’s Student Theatre Production Lab by providing technical equipment, costume-construction materials and production supplies. These resources will culminate in a public community play. In addition to supporting classroom instruction, the grant will fund professional development for Mrs. Driggers to attend the South Carolina Art Education Association conference. The training will help her integrate innovative, 21st-century art strategies into the curriculum.
Rose H. Wilder Elementary School
Rose H. Wilder Elementary School has also been awarded a $10,000 Art Enhancement Program Grant to expand arts opportunities for approximately 250 students in grades 4K through fifth grade.
The grant will provide 3-D printers and supplies, giving students hands-on opportunities to explore digital design, creativity, problem-solving and technology. The art classroom will also receive new tables and chairs, a drying rack and a document camera, along with essential supplies including paper, markers, colored pencils, clay, glue and a variety of paints. The funding will strengthen Rose H. Wilder Elementary’s music program by providing student-sized orchestra instruments for students beginning in third grade and Orff bell sets for students in 4K through second grade. These resources will help students develop musical skills, coordination, confidence and an appreciation for the performing arts.
The grant represents an important investment in arts education at Rose H. Wilder Elementary, giving students new opportunities to create, collaborate, perform and explore their artistic talents.
Districtwide Arts Support
The South Carolina Arts Commission has also awarded Clarendon County School District a $25,000 District Arts Support Grant for the 2026–2027 school year.
District funds will be used to enhance arts education programming across Clarendon County through:
- Two artist-in-residence programs
- The acquisition of general arts supplies
- A series of competitive mini-grants for arts teachers
These investments will provide additional support for educators and help expand access to high-quality arts experiences for students throughout the district.
“I am excited about the arts programming that will be positively impacted by these grant funds,” said Jessie Welch, District Arts Coordinator. “Receiving these grants showcases the dedication our teachers have to their students, their communities and their craft.”
“Engaging arts programs are an essential part of a well-rounded education,” said Dr. Shawn Johnson, Superintendent of Clarendon County School District. “They give students opportunities to express themselves, think creatively, solve problems, collaborate with others and develop the confidence to approach challenges from multiple perspectives. These grants will strengthen arts education throughout Clarendon County School District and help ensure that every student has the opportunity to create, perform, explore and thrive.”
Clarendon County School District is grateful to the South Carolina Arts Commission and its school-based arts educators for their continued investment in students and the transformative power of the arts.
Printable version can be found HERE.
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Media Contact:
Dr. Keisa Carr
Executive Director of Communications, Safety, & Workforce (CTE)