The South Carolina Arts Commission is happily announcing six unique and deserving 2025 recipients of the state’s highest recognitions for exceptional practice or support of contemporary and traditional art forms.
Two different awards are presented each spring. This year, there are five recipients of the South Carolina Governor’s Awards for the Arts and one posthumous recipient of the Jean Laney Harris Folk Heritage Award.
South Carolina Governor’s Awards for the Arts
Nominations are solicited every year for people or organizations deserving recognition for outstanding achievement and contributions to the arts in South Carolina. The appointed members of the South Carolina Arts Commission Board of Directors vote on nominees recommended by a panel for the Governor’s Awards for the Arts.
In 2025, the SCAC board approved the recommendations of the following 2025 honorees from their respective categories:
- ARTIST: Wade Sellers, Columbia
- INDIVIDUAL: Dr. Gail V. Barnes, Columbia
- ARTS IN EDUCATION: Engaging Creative Minds, Charleston
- GOVERNMENT: Koger Center for the Arts, Columbia
- ORGANIZATION: Sumter County Gallery of Art, Sumter
A panel appointed by the SCAC Board of Directors reviews all nominations, received during a two-month window every fall. After a rigorous process and multiple meetings, the panel sends the board a recommendation from each category with a nomination for its approval. Serving on the panel in 2025 were Jason Crowley (Charleston), Dr. Minuette Floyd (Columbia), Robin Hallyburton (Irmo), Dr. Sarah Lynn Hayes (Rock Hill), and Meg Reid (Spartanburg).
Jean Laney Harris Folk Heritage Award
Named for the late State Rep. Jean Laney Harris of Cheraw, respected as an outspoken advocate and ardent supporter of the arts and cultural resources of the state, the Folk Heritage Awards recognize ambassadors of traditions significant to communities throughout the state. These traditions embody folklife’s dynamic, multigenerational nature and the way it fuses artistic and utilitarian ideals.
The 2025 recipient is Caroleen Sanders (posthumous) in the artist category for Catawba pottery. Sanders, at right, was a member of the Catawba Nation and lived on the Catawba Indian Reservation in Rock Hill.
Nominations for the Folk Heritage Awards are sought from citizens across the state to recognize exemplary artistic achievement/advocacy. An independent advisory panel appointed by the lieutenant governor and president of the South Carolina Senate selects the recipients, who must be living at the time of nomination and practicing in the state. Sanders passed away Feb. 9 after an illness.
“Through their unwavering dedication, talent, and commitment, this year’s recipients exemplify the very essence of South Carolina’s artistic spirit. Their contributions not only enrich our cultural landscape but also ensure that the arts are accessible to all. The awards are a sincere appreciation for their invaluable role in shaping and enhancing life and culture across our state, and stand as a testament to their exceptional achievements,” SCAC Executive Director David Platts said.
Recipients of the South Carolina Governor’s Awards for the Arts and Jean Laney Harris Folk Heritage Awards are honored during a broadcast presentation of the South Carolina Arts Awards, which is expected to stream on the SCAC YouTube Channel this May at a date and time to be announced later.
Written by the South Carolina Arts Commission.