SC Arts Commission Denies Grants to Two LGBTQ Cultural Groups
The South Carolina Arts Commission voted 5-3 on Oct. 1 to deny state arts grants to the Greenville Gay Men’s Chorus and the Proud Mary Theatre Company, choosing to fund 180 other cultural organizations with $3.7 million instead, charlestoncitypaper.com reported. The decision blocks state support for two regional groups based on what the commission labeled “ideological” missions.
The October 1 Board Vote And Denied Grants
During an emergency Zoom meeting on Oct. 1, board members Russell “Rip” Parks of Easley, Jessica Rourke, Linda Stern, Bhavna Vasudev, and Danielle Thompson cast the five opposing votes against funding the Greenville Gay Men’s Chorus and the Spartanburg-based Proud Mary Theatre Company. Board members Heidi Carey, David Hodges, and Barbara Nwokike voted in favor of the grants. Prior to the vote, the commission issued a communication on Sept. 15, declaring that the mission of each organization was deemed ideological. The agency stated that art does not inherently promote ideology, adding that any expression subject to more than one interpretation is art, while expression that can only be interpreted as promotion of an ideology is not art.
Before raising concerns about ideology, the commission asked the targeted groups for proof of artistic merit. The five board members who voted against the grants include a real estate agent, a wedding planner, hospitality professional, family foundation vice president, and architectural firm marketing director.
Gov. McMaster Appointed Commission Members and Opposed LGBTQ+ Rights
Every no-voting member of the commission was appointed by South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster. The governor holds a documented record opposing LGBTQ+ rights. In 2021, McMaster requested an investigation into the graphic memoir Gender Queer: A Memoir by Maia Kobab, which subsequently resulted in the book being removed from high school bookshelves in the Fort Mill School District. In 2022, according to reporting by The Post and Courier, McMaster stated that he would support South Carolina’s voided bans on same-sex marriage if the U.S. Supreme Court ever overturned its 2015 ruling that guaranteed marriage equality to gay couples nationwide.
Artists across South Carolina frequently sustain their creative work through substandard pay, side jobs, and limited physical space, making grant funding vital to maintaining operations.
S.C. Arts Alliance Tracks Developments for Affected Organizations
The S.C. Arts Alliance continues to track developments through its platform at S.C. Arts Alliance, serving as an information hub for affected organizations.