The South Carolina Folk Heritage Awards were created by the South Carolina General Assembly to recognize and honor lifetime achievement in folk arts, music, and advocacy. In 1997 the name was changed to the Jean Laney Harris Folk Heritage Award in memory of state representative Harris's long-time support of South Carolina's cultural heritage. The award recognizes individuals or groups who have used their lives to create beauty and meaning for their communities and the state as a whole. These expressive traditions have lasted often for hundreds of years, and continue to provide identity and meaning today. Winners of the award represent those who have demonstrated excellence in folk art and have enriched the lives of people in their community, state and nation through their unique talents.
McKissick Museum and the South Carolina Arts Commission administer the awards process; an advisory panel appointed by the Lieutenant Governor and the Speaker of the House selects the winners. To learn more about the Award Winners, select a county of interest below.
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Brown, Elbert Brown, James Davis, Lena Harbin, James McKinley, Gale Smith, Alda 
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The African-American craft of making coiled baskets has been practiced in the South Carolina lowcountry for more than two centuries. Scholars acknowledge sweetgrass basketmaking as one of the most...
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James Brown was born in 1933 in Barnwell, SC, where he spent his early childhood. He developed his interest in music at an early age, performing gospel songs and first playing piano and later bass and...
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In 1993, the General Assembly added a special advocacy category to the Folk Heritage Award. The first advocacy award was presented to the Catawba Cultural Preservation Project of Rock Hill. An...
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Bill Kinney was born and raised in Bennettsville, South Carolina, where his parents were publishers of the local newspaper. Today, Kinney follows in the footsteps of his parents, serving as the editor...
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The Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture at the College of Charleston is the recipient of the Advocacy award for the preservation and promotion of the folk history and...
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In 1993, the General Assembly added a special advocacy category to the Folk Heritage Award. The first advocacy award was presented to the Catawba Cultural Preservation Project of Rock Hill. An...
