News

South Arts Announces Express Grants and Grants for Professional Development and Artistic Planning

From South Arts –

Express Grants Provide Quick Support for Rural Arts Organizations

Awards of up to $2,000 to support the presentation of film, performing arts, literary arts, or visual arts.

COVID-19 Update: Until further notice, applications for virtual presentations and educational activities as well as engagements with Southern artists from within or outside of your state will be accepted.

South Arts believes that rural communities deserve great art, and can require specialized support to make that vision viable. Distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis, Express Grants support rural organizations and communities (cities of 50,000 or less) with expedited grants of up to $2,000.

To be eligible for funding, applicants must program arts experiences featuring an artist from within the South Arts region. Express Grants can be used to support fees for presenting Southern guest film directors, visual and performing artists, or writers. Touring support is awarded for film (documentary, fiction and animation), performing arts (theater, music, opera, musical theater and dance), literary arts (fiction, creative nonfiction and poetry), and visual arts (crafts, drawing, experimental, painting, photography, sculpture and mixed media). Projects must include both a public presentation (film screening, performance, reading or exhibition) and an educational component.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and must be submitted at least 60 days prior to the project start date. Projects must take place before June 30, 2021.

Grants for Professional Development & Artistic Planning

Awards of up to $1,000 to support the professional development needs of Southern presenters, programmers, or curators.

Covid-19 Update: We recognize that travel for professional development might not be possible. Applications will be accepted for virtual professional development opportunities as well as staff training.

Professional Development & Artistic Planning Grants are available for organizations to support the professional development needs of Southern presenters, programmers, or curators, strengthen program design, and increase organizational capacity. South Arts strongly believes professional development for presenters, programmers, and curators is integral to success, including traveling to see new works and attending convenings. This grant program is open to film, visual arts, performing arts, literary arts, and multidisciplinary presenting organizations.

This funding can support staff’s travel expenses to conferences, festivals, exhibitions, workshops, and other professional development opportunities, or artists’ travel expenses for onsite planning meetings with presenting organizations. These grants support travel expenses (for example, lodging and air/ground transportation), admission/registration fees, and other related expenses. In addition, these grants support expenses for virtual professional development opportunities and staff training (for example, diversity, equity and inclusion training or technology training for virtual engagements).

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and must be submitted at least 60 days prior to the project start date. Eligible projects must occur before June 30, 2021.