South Arts offers grant programs for nonprofit performing and literary arts presenting organizations.

Use the navigation links on the right for more information about specific grant opportunities.

Regional Touring

Regional Touring grants support performing arts presenting organizations for engagements by guest artists (theatre, music, opera, musical theatre and dance) from outside of the presenter’s state. The project must include publicly accessible performances and educational activities that provide opportunities for people to participate in the arts.
Deadline: March 1, 2012

Regional Touring Block-Booked Tours encourages teams of three or more presenters in two or more South Arts states to block-book artists and ensembles. Eligible tours must include publicly-accessible performances and educational activities.
Deadline: March 8, 2012

Literary Arts

Literary Arts Touring grants support literary arts presenting organizations for engagements by guest writers (fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry) from outside the presenter’s state. These touring funds support publicly accessible readings and educational activities that provide opportunities for people to participate in the arts.
Deadline: May 1, 2012

Southern Fast Track

Southern Fast Track Touring grants are aimed at performing arts and literary arts presenters with annual operating budgets of $150,000 or less to support engagements by guest artists from outside the presenter’s state. Publicly accessible performances/readings and educational components which provide opportunities for people in underserved communities are eligible.
Deadline: Year-round, at least 60 days prior to the project start date.

Presenter Assistance

To strengthen program design and organizational capacity for presenters, funding up to $700 will support Planning Grants for artist residencies and Travel Grants for professional development. These grants are very limited and awarded on a first-come/first-served basis; so early submission is encouraged.
Deadline: Year-round, at least 60 days prior to activities.

Professional Development grants help enhance Southern arts organizations’ capacity through technical assistance and resources – specifically, professional development and travel subsidies to attend the Performing Arts Exchange in Miami Beach, FL, September 19-22, 2012.  The guidelines and application form will be available in the spring.
Deadline: August 3, 2012

Special Initiatives

During the year, additional grant opportunities may become available to take advantage of new regional opportunities. Currently, South Arts is inviting performing arts presenters in our nine-state region to submit an application to participate in a programming initiative to support dance presentation. The Dance Touring Initiative is a major effort to develop stronger dance presentation and audiences for modern dance and contemporary ballet.
Deadline:  April 9, 2012