- What's new for the 2024 Southern Prize and State Fellowships?
- Matriculated students in a graduate and undergraduate program that is not related to the fine arts are eligible to apply .
- About the Application
Why is this only for visual artists?
We have expanded our coverage or artistic disciplines to literary arts in 2023. We may have the Southern Prize serve additional other art forms in the future.
Is film/video/media art included in visual arts?
Film/video/media art is not eligible for this year’s Fellowships and Prize. However, if your experimental or mixed media work includes video/film and/or sound, you may apply. Additionally, if your work includes video or sound, you may include video or sound files within your total of 10 items.
Are architecture, design or graphic arts included in visual arts?
No.
My work incorporates several media into each piece. Is it eligible?
Yes. When completing your application, choose the “mixed media” category if your work is either traditional mixed media or if it is multimedia (incorporating video, projections, and/or sound).
I work in more than one visual art discipline. Is my work eligible?
Yes; please select the "multidisciplinary” category when completing your application.
I use a craft medium, but I make conceptual work. What category should I apply in?
If an artist uses a craft medium to make contemporary, conceptual artwork (rather than following traditional methods and pattern), then their work doesn't belong in the Craft category, and they should enter in the category that best fits the form of their work.
What if I create my work in collaboration with another/multiple artist(s)?
See Eligibility.
When does the work I am submitting need to have been created?
Submitted artwork must have been completed between January 2022 and the date of your submission (created within the last two years).
If your work is extremely time-intensive to create, you may include older pieces, but at least some of the work submitted must date between January 2022 and the date of your submission. Please mention the time-intensive nature of the work in the Additional Details field of the media submissions or in your artist statement.
What should my ten images include?
The applicant may use the image requirement as they see fit to represent their best work. They may choose to show multiple perspectives of a single piece or a range of different works within one of the disciplines, or the multidisciplinary, categories.
You may include one or more images that show multiple pieces/elements that are meant to be viewed together as a single work, or to show one or more pieces as installed in a gallery/space. Composite images (separate images combined into one image) are not acceptable.
Do photographs taken before 2022, but edited afterward, count as current work?
If it is a straight photographic imagery taken before 2022, then it does not qualify as current work. If you have significantly digitally (or physically) altered those photos into another artwork (digital collage, for example) on or after January 2022, it would count as current work.
Do the artwork images need to have a common theme or be a project, or is it just a cross-section of an artist’s work?
The applicant needs to submit the images that, in their opinion, best shows their work - whether it be in a series, or a cross-section of work. It is recommended that artists submit works that are conceptually related.
What if I don’t have an artist statement?
The artist statement is an opportunity for the jurors to understand the context and approach for the work they are viewing. Here’s an article that may be helpful in developing your artist statement.
Why do I need to submit a resume or CV if the jurors won’t review it?
South Arts anticipates a quick turnaround time between the jurors’ selection, and having the winners’ background information on hand will allow us to publicize the winners more quickly.
How long can my resumé be?
The resumé can be as brief as one page and up to five pages.
Fee Waiver Requests
If the $25 application fee creates a barrier for your participation, you may request a fee waiver. You must make your request by emailing us at southernprize@southarts.org no later than January 2, 2024. South Arts reserves the right not to respond to requests for fee waivers received after this deadline.
My current project is more about Europe than about the South. Will that be viewed negatively by the jurors?
There is no expectation that the artwork relates to the South; that's not relevant in the review process.
- About Eligibility
Can students apply?
The applicant must be at least 18 years of age and cannot be a full-time high school or undergraduate student. Graduate students may apply.
I am going to be moving to a state in your region soon. Can I apply?
No. The applicant must have been a legal resident within the nine states served by South Arts for a period of at least two years immediately before the application deadline.
I split my time between [state in our region] and [state outside of our region]. Am I eligible?
Applicants may be asked to provide proof of, or certify, their residency in one of our nine states later in the process, in order to confirm eligibility. You must be able to certify that your primary address is in a state in the South Arts region.
Why isn’t my state included?
South Arts is a Regional Arts Organization serving the following nine states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. While we’d love to serve everyone everywhere, our sister Regional Arts Organizations (Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation, Mid America Arts Alliance, etc) have excellent programs supporting the arts within their regions. Many State Arts Agencies also offer statewide fellowships and awards, and we encourage you to check out their programs.
What if I create my work in collaboration with another/multiple artist(s)?
A team of two co-creators is eligible. The team members must share equally, and be the sole participants, in the creation of the work (design and execution), and will share the prize equally if they win. Both must have their primary residence in one of South Arts’ member states. One of the artists should be named as the applicant; the nature of the collaboration should be explained in the Artist Statement; and, if selected for a State Fellowship, both artists must prove residency in a South Arts’ state. At this time, no teams larger than two are eligible.
- About the Judging
Who will select the winners?
The group of nine State Fellows will be selected through a two-tiered selection process by a national jury. A separate national panel of jurors will select the Southern Prize Winner and Finalist.
What is the selection criterion?
The jurors will make their selections based on artistic excellence that reflects and represents the diversity of the region.
Could I ask how my images are viewed? What is the screen/projected size? Will they be viewed two or three at a time?
Images are viewed typically on a computer screen by each individual juror. For each submission, they see thumbnails of your ten images, and enlarge each to be pretty much a full-screen size.
- About the Prizes
What are the prizes?
- South Arts State Fellowships; $5,000
- The South Arts State Fellowship is a state-specific prize awarded to the artists whose work reflects the best of the visual arts in the South. A two tiered selection process by a national jury will select one winner per eligible state, based on artistic excellence that reflects and represents the diversity of the region.
- A total of nine fellowships will be awarded. Each will be awarded a $5,000 South Arts State Fellowship, and will compete for one of the two South Arts Prizes. State Fellowship recipients will be required to attend an awards ceremony.
- South Arts Southern Prize; $25,000 and $10,000
- The nine State Fellowship recipients will compete for the South Arts Southern Prize. The $25,000 Southern Prize will be awarded to the artist whose work exhibits the highest artistic excellence, and one finalist will be awarded a $10,000 Prize, also based on artistic excellence. Both Southern Prize recipients will also receive a two-week residency at The Hambidge Center for the Creative Arts and Sciences. A national panel will convene to evaluate the body of work represented by the nine State Fellowship recipients and select the Prize winner and Finalist. Winners of the South Arts Prize will be announced at the awards ceremony.
Will the winners have their work shown in an exhibit?
An exhibition of works by the State Fellowship winners will be organized and open in Fall 2024 at Art & Culture Center/Hollywood, Hollywood, FL and then tour to other sites. All or most of the work represented in your work samples must be available for a touring exhibition beginning summer 2024 for up to 24 months.
Will the winners have their work shown in a catalogue?
A catalogue will be created to accompany the exhibit.
If I am a winner, what do I receive? What am I obligated to do?
Winners of the South Arts State Fellowships are required to attend the South Arts State Fellowship & Prize awards ceremony, which will take place in Fall 2024 at Art & Culture Center/Hollywood, Hollywood, FL to receive their cash prizes. Winners’ travel and accommodations for the awards ceremony will be paid for by South Arts. One round-trip flight (or rental car coverage) booked by the awarded artist and reimbursed by South Arts and one hotel room will be booked and paid for by South Arts. This offer does not extend to any of the winners’ guests.
The winners of the State Fellowships (and, therefore, the South Arts Southern Prize winner and finalist) will have their work included in a touring exhibition (dates and locations to be provided) opening in Fall 2024 and be on display for up to 24 months. All or most of the work represented in the submitted work samples must be available for exhibition. South Arts will assume the cost of shipping artwork.
If I am a winner, what can I spend the money on?
There is no requirement for how Fellowship and Prize winners use their awards. South Arts hopes the money would go towards pursuit of artistic achievement, but winners are not required to submit their use of the funds for approval. The funds are expected to be used between May 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025. State Fellowship and South Arts Southern Prize winners should note that the award money constitutes taxable income, and should file accordingly. Fellowship and Prize winners are expected to write a one-page final report and submit images (if appropriate) on how they used the fellowship winnings.
What is The Hambidge Center’s connection to these prizes?
The Hambidge Center manages the artist residency extended to the Southern Prize Winner and Finalist, scheduling the residency directly with the artists and providing space, lodging and meals during the 2-week residency.
- About the Exhibit
What are the details?
The nine South Arts State Fellowship winners will be included. Each artist will need to make available multiple pieces, which were represented in the images submitted with the application although works may be selected outside of the works samples submitted with the application. The final selection will be made with the exhibit curator and based on the entire range and size of work represented by the nine Fellows. South Arts will cover the shipping costs to and from the exhibit locations.
Work must be received at the exhibit location by an agreed upon date TBD in summer 2024. The exhibition, the South Arts 2024 Southern Prize Exhibition, will open in late Fall 2024 at Art & Culture/Hollywood, Hollywood, FL. The exhibit will then tour to other sites for up to 24 months.
Celebrating the breadth and diversity of the highest quality art being created in the American South, the Southern Prize Exhibition will bring together work from the nine esteemed State Fellowship winners, one from each state within the South Arts region – Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. One fellowship winner will then be named the Southern Prize winner and finalist during the awards ceremony in Fall 2024.
Will I have to give South Arts 10 pieces to tour for a potentially long period?
The exhibit curator will work with awarded fellows to make selections for the touring exhibition. The total number of pieces selected may vary from the 10 works submitted as work samples. We will do all we can to make mutual arrangements for selecting works.
Will the exhibited work be available for purchase?
If a potential buyer expresses interest in your work during the exhibition, South Arts and its touring exhibition partners will connect the buyer with the artist to discuss the possibility of purchasing the item(s). Any sales and/or shipping details would occur directly between the buyer and the artist; South Arts does not take any commission from the sale. If a piece is sold during the run of the exhibition, South Arts asks that the piece remain on display until the exhibition ends.
If a piece sells prior to the exhibition, the artist must be able to supply work that is similar to the work submitted in the application process.