Artists

This page offers a comprehensive guide to licenses, performance opportunities, markets, studio and residency programs, classes, film organizations, arts agencies, exhibition spaces, and open calls to support and connect artists in Columbia.

Resources for Artists

Licensing

Artist Licenses

Learn about different types of licenses through the City of Columbia and determine which fits your work.

Busking in Columbia

Permit Application

Buskers perform in public areas, accept donations, and must obtain a permit. Performances include acting, singing, instruments, dancing, puppetry, and more.

Selling Your Work / Vendor Opportunities

Participate in local markets and festivals:

Rosewood Art & Music Festival

Soda City Market

Busking is allowed.

West Columbia Artisan Market

Sept–Nov, $10 license, optional weekly participation

First Thursday: Art in the Arcade

Cottontown Art Crawl

Studio & Residency Opportunities

Stormwater Studios

701 Center for Contemporary Art

Richland Library

Applications are live quarterly. Please contact Ashley Warthen, Arts Coordinator at 803.929.3430 or email artful@richlandlibrary.com

Art Supplies & Classes

City Art

supplies and classes

Columbia Museum of Art

classes

City of Columbia Art Center

classes

Film & Media Organizations / Festivals

Columbia’s film and media-making community is growing and thriving. If you’re a filmmaker, media-maker or an avid supporter of film and media arts, here are just a few festivals and organizations you should consider participating in as a creator or even as a volunteer.

Carolina Film Network (CFN)

networking and education for filmmakers

Frame x Frame Film Club

independent and marginalized voices

FreedomFest

highlight underrepresented groups

Luminal Theater

curated Black cinema experiences

Nickelodeon Theatre / Columbia Film Society

education and screenings

South Carolina Underground Film Festival (SCUFF)

inclusive independent film festival

Arts Agencies

Local: One Columbia
State: South Carolina Arts Commission, South Carolina Arts Hub
National: Americans for the Arts, SouthArts, Arts Grow SC

Exhibition & Office Space

Office/Conference space: We have a conference room, and extra office space that can be used by any arts group in Columbia in need of a place to meet or work. Please complete this form and we will be in touch!

Any art or history related event taking place in Columbia may also be submitted here to our website to be featured.

For more information or any questions, you can call our office at (803) 254-5008 or fill out our contact form.