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Artists, apply for up to $2,000 to take advantage of a milestone opportunity in your career.
View Full GuidelinesSouth Arts is extending the deadline to apply for the Individual Artists Career Opportunity Grant until 11:59 p.m. ET on March 24, 2023.
South Arts recognizes that an invitation to participate in a major milestone opportunity is not always enough. Even with stipends or payments, overall expenses can make such an opportunity inaccessible. To ensure that artists from our region can take full advantage of major opportunities, South Arts offers Individual Artist Career Opportunity Grants.
The Individual Artist Career Opportunity Grant supports a milestone opportunity in an individual artist’s career that is likely to lead to substantial and significant career advancement. Grants of up to $2,000 are available to support opportunities taking place between July 1, 2023 and July 31, 2024.
Individuals receiving this award ARE eligible to apply for other South Arts funding (including the Southern Prize and State Fellowships, Jazz Road, and others) unrelated to this project. South Arts funds cannot be used as a match for this program.
South Arts is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (DEIA). Artists with disabilities, artists who are black, indigenous or other people of color (BIPOC) and those who self-identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and asexual (LGBTQIA+), are particularly encouraged to apply.
Prior to applying, artists are strongly encouraged to discuss their application with Program Director Emmitt Stevenson at estevenson@southarts.org or 404.874.7244 x825.
Examples of opportunities that match the intent of this program include, but are not limited to:
Examples of opportunities that do NOT match the intent of this program:
Other types of eligible opportunities not listed here exist. It is incumbent upon the applicant to make a strong and compelling case for the importance of the opportunity and the likely impact it will have on their career.
In addition to the guidelines below, the South Arts team held the webinar below on February 28, 2023, to provide additional guidance and share best practices when assembling an application.
While preparing your Individual Artist Career Opportunity Grant application, please refer to the following guidelines.
To be considered for this grant, the applicant must:
Individual Artist Career Opportunity Grants will pay up to 2/3 of the total cost of the opportunity, with a minimum award of $500 and a maximum award of $2,000. The individual artist must cover the remaining expenses. South Arts requires a 2:1 match meaning that (as an example) if the total opportunity cost is $3,000, the applicant may request $2,000 and provide the remaining $1,000 from other sources. This is a competitive grant program and South Arts expects to award between 10 and 15 grants during this cycle.
Grant recipients should note that award money is taxable income and must be reported as such. Grantees must comply with all applicable city, state, and federal laws, ordinances, codes, and regulations.
To receive final payment, grant recipients are required to submit receipts/documentation of expenses after the completion of the funded activity.
Grant funds will be disbursed as follows: 75% of grant award up to 45 days prior to the event/activity, and 25% of grant award upon receipt of final report and applicable receipts/documentation of expenses.
Potential applicants are encouraged to contact Director for Arts Engagement, Emmitt Stevenson to discuss the opportunity before submitting an application at estevenson@southarts.org; or 404-874-7244 x 825.
Individual Artist Career Opportunity Grant recipients must use the grant funds as stated in their application and budget. Grants are not transferable to other events or activities except in extenuating circumstances and with written approval from Program Director Emmitt Stevenson. Any proposed changes from the original application must be submitted in writing to, and approved by, South Arts before the activity. South Arts retains the right to approve, revise or revoke the award due to such changes.
Arts professionals will review applications according to these criteria, using the narrative, evidence of invitation or opportunity, budget, work samples, and resumé. The criteria are weighted on a 100-point scale:
Career Impact (50%) – Likelihood that the proposed activity will lead to substantial and significant career advancement. The opportunity, at this time, is a milestone career-impacting activity. The opportunity may be significant because your artistic practice is informed by being an artist who self-identifies as LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, or as an artist with a disability.
Artistic Quality (30%) – Artistic excellence of the applicant as demonstrated through work samples and resumé; and the artistic excellence of the opportunity (the host organization; any other artist(s) invited or selected for the opportunity; etc.). LGBTQIA+, BIPOC here?
Capacity/Budget (20%) – The applicant demonstrates the ability to complete the proposed activity and leverage the experience into career advancement. This is demonstrated through answers to narrative questions as well as the proposed use of grant funds.
The applicant must answer each question. Applicants should include 3-5 links for websites relevant to the application (e.g. the applicant’s website; that of the host/inviting organization or program in which the applicant wants to participate; etc.).
Applicants must also include letters of invitation or opportunity for exhibitions, residencies, performances, or programs (if applicable); relevant information about venues/locations, festivals, screenings; and any information about other guest artists or participants and their credentials that are likely to aid in career advancement.
Brief Description
Career Impact 50% (limit 1,500 characters)
Artistic Quality 30% (limit 1,500 characters)
Capacity/Budget 20% (limit 1,500 characters)
Grants will pay up to 2/3 of the total cost of the opportunity, with a maximum award of $2,000. The applicant must cover remaining expenses, and South Arts requires a 2:1 match (2 South Arts: 1 grantee). Artists may include self-funding in the match. Example: If the total opportunity cost is $3,000, the applicant can request $2,000 and provide the remaining $1,000 from their own resources.
Budget details should identify the source of funds (including self-funding, institutional stipends, or additional grant funding) not covered by this grant request. Total projected expenses must meet or exceed the request by 50%.
Funds can be used for these eligible expenses directly related to participation in proposed activities
Artists may submit a total of three samples of their own work. All work must have been completed within the last five years and should be dated. A mix of media is acceptable. Work samples will be used to evaluate artistic quality. Work samples should be uploaded, or links to online samples be provided, through the online application form. If files are larger than 25MB, artists are encouraged to link to a web-hosted sample of work.
Samples should not be mailed to South Arts. No hardcopy or physical samples will be accepted.
Applicants must submit a current curriculum vitae or resumé as an attachment; we recommend these documents be no more than two pages.
Demographic information is for South Arts’ use only; this information will not be shared
Are you prepared for a crisis? Don’t let an unexpected event, whether natural disaster or human-caused, devastate your career. CERF+/The Artists Safety Net provides multiple resources for artists of any discipline to protect their work, studio, records and physical health and safety.
Applicant affirms that all information in the application is correct and agrees that they have read the guidelines and will abide by the grant terms.
To Schedule one-to-one IACOG technical assistance consultation please use the following link:
https://calendly.com/estevenson-2/one-to-one-iacog-ta
View frequently asked questions and information on managing your grant.
FAQsAfter reviewing the priorities and guidelines above, visit our Salesforce portal to begin your application or edit an application in progress.
Log in to SalesforceFor questions about Individual Artist Career Opportunity Grants, contact Emmitt Stevenson.
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