Atlanta, GA - South Arts, a nonprofit regional arts organization, has awarded 48 grants totaling $147,793 to arts organizations throughout the South. These funds, made possible through partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, support the presentation of touring performing and literary artists in public performances and readings along with educational activities throughout Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
“These grants are a major investment in the arts and artists from our region,” said Susie Surkamer, executive director of South Arts. “To be eligible, organizations must present an artist who resides in one of the nine states we primarily serve, and our funds must be matched at least dollar-for-dollar by other sources. Between our grants and each recipient’s matching funds, this round of grants support $463,000 that will be paid to working artists.”
Organizations applied for consideration earlier this year with projects planned between July 2019 and June 2020, making cases for the artistic merit of the proposed artists and the ability to develop audiences. An external panel of arts professionals reviewed each application for funding consideration.
These grants represent two programs from South Arts’ funding portfolio. Performing Arts Touring grants support engagements of guest Southern artists (theatre, music, opera, musical theatre, and dance) from outside of the presenter’s state. Literary Arts Touring grants support engagements of guest Southern writers (fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry) from outside the presenter’s state. A complete listing of all South Arts funding opportunities is available on their website.
“The southern states in our region are home to an endless range of talent, from masters of the traditional arts to cutting-edge innovators,” continued Surkamer. “Some of the highlights we are supporting this year include a 10-day multidisciplinary residency with Wideman Davis Dance and the Alabama Dance Council surrounding the commissioning of a new work that explores antebellum domestic spaces and memorializes the lives of enslaved individuals; first-time recipient O, Miami will present three poets in a public reading on Miami Beach as well as an educational workshop on the needs for increased visibility by critics of color; and the Native American Indian Association of Tennessee will present the Touch the Earth Dancers, who will perform and educate the community about traditional Native American dance and dress.
Applications for South Arts Performing Arts Touring and Literary Arts Touring grants for nonprofit and governmental organizations in the nine-state region open in the fall each year with deadlines in March and May.
About South Arts
South Arts advances Southern vitality through the arts. The nonprofit regional arts organization was founded in 1975 to build on the South’s unique heritage and enhance the public value of the arts. South Arts’ work responds to the arts environment and cultural trends with a regional perspective. South Arts offers an annual portfolio of activities designed to support the success of artists and arts providers in the South, address the needs of Southern communities through impactful arts-based programs, and celebrate the excellence, innovation, value and power of the arts of the South.
GRANT RECIPIENT LIST
Alabama:
- Alabama Dance Council of Birmingham received a $6,525 Performing Arts Touring grant to present Wideman/Davis Dance in January 2020.
Florida:
- South Florida State College of Avon Park received a $5,475 Performing Arts Touring grant to present South Carolina Ballet/Columbia City Ballet in August 2019.
- Broward College of Davie received a $3,550 Performing Arts Touring grant to present Ranky Tanky in March 2020.
- Broward Performing Arts Foundation of Fort Lauderdale received a $4,000 Performing Arts Touring grant to present Trey McLaughlin & The Sounds of Zamar in February 2020.
- Seminole Cultural Arts Theatre of Homestead received an $1,800 Performing Arts Touring grant to present Shana Tucker in October 2019.
- Florida State College at Jacksonville Foundation of Jacksonville received an $1,680 Performing Arts Touring grant to present Steve Trash in January 2020.
- Miami-Dade County – SMDCAC of Miami received a $3,900 Performing Arts Touring grant to present Ranky Tanky in April 2020.
- O, Miami of Miami Beach received a $2,000 Literary Arts Touring grant to present Daye, Calvocoressi, and Kaminsky in January 2020.
- Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts of Orlando received a $3,200 Performing Arts Touring grant to present Falashay Pearson in December 2019.
- The Artist Series of Tallahassee received a $2,050 Performing Arts Touring grant to present Itamar Zorman and Liza Stepanova in November 2019.
- Art4All Florida of Tampa received an $880 Performing Arts Touring grant to present Larry Mitchell in February 2020.
Georgia:
- Augusta University received a $1,997 Literary Arts Touring grant to present Ada Limon in January 2020.
- University of West Georgia of Carrollton received a $2,960 Performing Arts Touring grant to present Terrance Simien and The Zydeco Experience in July 2019.
- City of Carrollton received an $1,875 Performing Arts Touring grant to present Farewell Angelina in February 2020.
- Savannah State University received a $3,983 Performing Arts Touring grant to present Bright Star Children’s Tour Theatre Company in February 2020.
- Elm Street Cultural Arts Village of Woodstock received an $1,500 Performing Arts Touring grant to present Shana Tucker in June 2020.
Kentucky:
- Save the Grand Theatre of Frankfort received a $3,075 Performing Arts Touring grant to present Terrance Simien and The Zydeco Experience in October 2019.
- Kentucky Center for the Arts Foundation of Louisville received a $3,188 Performing Arts Touring grant to present Terrance Simien and The Zydeco Experience in September 2019.
- City of Wilmore received a $1,050 Performing Arts Touring grant to present Tim Lowry in September 2019.
Louisiana:
- Musicians for Music of New Orleans received a $1,600 Performing Arts Touring grant to present Egidio Balzola and Oriente in April 2020.
Mississippi:
- Delta Children’s Museum of Greenville received a $1,445 Performing Arts Touring grant to present Bits N Pieces Puppet Theatre in October 2019.
- Alcorn State University of Lorman received a $3,240 Performing Arts Touring grant to present Scott Johnson & SouthEast Jazz All-Stars in April 2020.
- Tupelo Ballet received a $6,000 Performing Arts Touring grant to present Alabama Ballet in January 2020.
North Carolina:
- Pack Place Performing Arts of Asheville received a $6,375 Performing Arts Touring grant to present Rosie Herrera Dance Theatre in March 2020.
- Western Carolina University of Cullowhee received a $2,153 Literary Arts Touring grant to present Kiese Laymon in March 2020.
- Duke University of Durham received a $5,000 Performing Arts Touring grant to present Leyla McCalla in February 2020.
- Surry Arts Council of Mount Airy received a $4,320 Performing Arts Touring grant to present Ballet Magnificat! in September 2019.
- Pamlico Musical Society of Oriental received a $1,065 Performing Arts Touring grant to present Kyshona Armstrong in September 2019.
- North Carolina State University of Raleigh received a $4,300 Performing Arts Touring grant to present Marcus Roberts and the Modern Jazz Generation in January 2020.
- Cape Fear Community College Foundation of Wilmington received a $6,600 Performing Arts Touring grant to present Wideman/Davis Dance in April 2020.
- Thalian Hall Center for Performing Arts of Wilmington received a $1,953 Performing Arts Touring grant to present Danielle Johnson in November 2019.
- Arts Council of Wilson received a $4,200 Performing Arts Touring grant to present Collage Dance Collective in March 2020.
South Carolina:
- Center for African American History, Art & Culture of Aiken received a $2,695 Performing Arts Touring grant to present The Princely Players in December 2019.
- City of Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs received a $1,628 Literary Arts Touring grant to present Jericho Brown in October 2019.
- The Poetry Society of South Carolina received a $414 Literary Arts Touring grant to present Tyree Daye in September 2019.
- Coker College of Hartsville received a $5,700 Performing Arts Touring grant to present Dance Now! Miami in April 2020.
- Arts Center of Coastal Carolina of Hilton Head received a $6,000 Performing Arts Touring grant to present Charlotte Ballet in March 2020.
- Spartanburg Philharmonic of Spartanburg received a $4,350 Performing Arts Touring grant to present Bela Fleck and Abigail Washburn in January 2020.
Tennessee:
- Chattanooga State Community College received a $2,328 Literary Arts Touring grant to present Daniel Wallace in April 2020.
- Lee University of Cleveland received a $641 Literary Arts Touring grant to present Jeremy Paden in October 2019.
- Germantown Performing Arts Center received a $4,150 Performing Arts Touring grant to present Ranky Tanky in April 2020.
- Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley of Knoxville received a $2,175 Literary Arts Touring grant to present Mike Artell in November 2019.
- Asian Culture Center of Tennessee of Knoxville received a $2,035 Performing Arts Touring grant to present Mystical Arts of Tibet in August 2019.
- Buckman Arts Center at St. Mary’s School of Memphis received a $4,400 Performing Arts Touring grant to present Dirty Dozen Brass Band in February 2020.
- Native American Indian Association of TN of Nashville received a $4,450 Performing Arts Touring grant to present Touch the Earth Productions in October 2019.
- Global Education Center of Nashville received a $2,350 Literary Arts Touring grant to present Jericho Brown in February 2020.
- The Porch Writers’ Collective of Nashville received a $438 Literary Arts Touring grant to present Silas House in February 2020.
- Paris Henry County Arts Council of Paris received an $1,100 Literary Arts Touring grant to present Kerry Madden-Lunsford in October 2019.