South Arts opens touring grants for traditional artists
Serving traditional artists and communities across the South
APPLICATION DEADLINE: Sunday, May 15, 2022
The Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in Orlando, Florida, engaged poet and spoken word artist Shawn Welcome for a multi-day residency in February 2022 with the support of a Traditional Arts Touring Grant. Provided photo courtesy of the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts.
The Traditional Arts Touring Grant Program works to increase public awareness, understanding, and appreciation of the traditional arts in the South through funding projects that bring traditional artists/ensembles to Southern communities for two-day residencies.
This funding program is open to a wide variety of organizations, including community cultural organizations, schools/colleges/universities, libraries, museums, performing arts presenters, etc. The program serves both communities and traditional artists in South Arts’ nine-state region (which—you guessed it!—includes South Carolina).
South Arts staff can direct you to potential resources and networks to identify traditional artists. Applicants are strongly advised to contact Teresa Hollingsworth (director of traditional arts), at thollingsworth@southarts.org or 404.874.7244 x 814, to discuss your project before you submit your application.
Eligible projects must include the presentation of a traditional artist or ensemble for a residency of at least two days including a public performance and two or more educational/outreach components. Organizations may apply for up to $5,000 to support artist honorarium and travel. In understanding of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are accepting applications for in-person presentations, live virtual presentations, and education activities; we are also accepting applications for the engagement of local artists.
South Arts has prioritized the following:
- South Arts is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.
- We strongly encourage applications from Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC)-led and LGBTQIA+-led organizations, and organizations led by people with disabilities. We will prioritize applications that feature BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ traditional artists and traditional artists with disabilities.
- South Arts is committed to funding traditional arts projects in rural communities (with populations under 50,000).
Sunday, May 15, 2022 is the deadline to apply. Learn more here on SouthArts.org.