Grants up to $7,500 for organizations to present a Southern artist for a performing arts, literary arts, visual arts, or film engagement.
View Full GuidelinesThe application deadline for Presentation Grants has passed. The guidelines below are for reference only. We anticipate opening the next application in Fall 2022.
Presentation Grants will require a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) instead of a DUNS Number in recipients' final reports. Read more about obtaining a UEI to begin the process of acquiring yours today.
How to Obtain a UEISouth Arts is making an additional $2,000 (above the $7,500 maximum request) available for presenters engaging a modern dance or contemporary ballet company.
Presentation Grants are an opportunity for organizations in South Arts’ nine-state region to receive fee support to present Southern guest film directors, visual and performing artists, or writers from inside or outside of the presenter’s state. Artist fee support is awarded for film (documentary, fiction, experimental and animation), performing arts (theater, music, opera, musical theater and dance), literary arts (fiction, creative nonfiction and poetry), traditional arts, and visual arts (crafts, drawing, experimental, painting, photography, sculpture and mixed media). Projects must include both a public presentation (film screening, performance, reading or exhibition) and an educational component. These grants are limited and very competitive. Based on the artist fee, the maximum request is $7,500 and requires a 50% cash match (for example, an applicant that requests $7,500 must provide a $3,750 cash match for a project with a $11,250 artist fee).
South Arts is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. We have prioritized this commitment to ensure that Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) led and LGBTQIA+ led organizations are represented as both applicants and grantees. In addition, we encourage applications for projects that engage BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ artists. Our guidelines also acknowledge the current realities of the presenting and touring field. For the 2022-2023 grant cycle, we will again accept applications for virtual presentations and for the engagement of local artists, and we will temporarily adjust the cash match requirement from a dollar-for-dollar cash match to a 50% cash match. Finally, this grant program is now supporting a broader range of artistic disciplines than in previous years. Therefore, we strongly encourage applications for film, literary, and visuals arts projects.
New applicants are encouraged to contact Nikki Estes at 404-874-7244 x816 to discuss eligibility prior to submitting an application.
The following is a top-level list of the main eligibility requirements necessary to be considered for a Presentation Grant. Please refer to the full list of eligibility requirements in the program's Guidelines.
A full list of eligibility criteria and other project requirements is provided in the guidelines below.
The following webinar was recorded on December 7, 2021, providing additional detail about this program's guidelines, priorities, and application process.
While preparing your Presentation Grant application, please refer to the following guidelines.
You can request a review of the method for South Arts’ decisions concerning grant applications through the Appeals Process. If you did not receive funding or if your grant award was rescinded or reduced, you may submit an appeal based on the criteria listed below. Incomplete applications are not eligible for the appeals process. Dissatisfaction with the denial or amount of an award is not sufficient reason for an appeal. An applicant not funded may appeal South Arts’ decision if the applicant can demonstrate that the application was rejected for any of the following reasons:
If an applicant’s funds were rescinded or reduced, the applicant may appeal South Arts’ decision if the applicant can demonstrate that (a) the project activities outlined in the application were performed, and (b) the contract terms and conditions were followed and fulfilled. To appeal a funding decision, first contact the Program Director, Nikki Estes, to review considerations affecting South Arts’ decision. If you believe that you have grounds for an appeal, you must submit your appeal, in writing, to South Arts’ President & CEO no later than 15 calendar days following the receipt of the written notice from South Arts. The submission should contain evidence to support one or more of the allowable grounds for appeal. The decision on an appeal will be made by the President & CEO, who will render a decision within 30 days of the appeal.
Mail your appeal to:
South Arts,
ATTN: President & CEO
1800 Peachtree Street, NW
Suite 808
Atlanta, GA 30309
Applications are reviewed and funding adjudications are made using the following criteria to evaluate each application:
Helpful Resources:
In addition to organizational and project information, you will need to provide a narrative addressing the following:
(Maximum 500 characters including spaces)
Provide a one-sentence description of the project which South Arts will use in publicity if a grant is awarded, e.g. “XYZ Ballet Company will conduct a three-day residency, with two master classes, two workshops for older adults, a Q&A with the artistic director and local choreographers, and a public evening performance at the ABC Theatre.”
(Maximum 1,250 characters including spaces, approximately ¼ page)
List the chronological schedule of activities during the project including what, when, where, who, with/for whom; include ticket prices where applicable. NOTE: If your schedule is not complete at this time, provide as much detail as is known about how many activities will take place, and which community members or groups will be involved.
(Maximum 2,500 characters including spaces, approximately ½ page)
Evaluation on this criterion is based on the submitted artist's work samples (i.e., audio, video, film footage, images, and written work), support material (i.e., ensemble/company history, artist biography, or writer’s resume/biography), and a description of artistic excellence for the artist. Work samples should represent the quality/type of work the artist/company will have presented during your engagement and should be no more than three years old. For audio/video samples, include instructions identifying the particular selection to be played. Promotional videos, montages and poor video quality will prevent the reviewers from being able to make an assessment on this criterion and may result in a low score. If sample is part of a larger publication/book, please mark the passage/section to review.
Describe the artistic excellence of the artist included in project; be specific to include information about the artist’s impact or influence on the artform (local, regional, and/or nationally), the artist’s contributions to the artform, and/or if the artist or artistic expression is demonstrative of a historically underrepresented community.
(Maximum 5,000 characters including spaces, approximately 1 page)
Describe the project; include a detailed description of the presentation and explain why this artist/company was chosen. Explain why this project is important to your community. The educational and community engagement component* is the requirement that participants be engaged in learning activities that have lasting impact. Describe the educational and community engagement activities.
*An educational and community engagement component is a learning event that has a lasting impact upon the audience (e.g., workshops, lectures and master classes), and is not limited to student participants. The educational/community engagement component is an integral part of the engagement and should be carefully planned. A meaningful educational component should involve concentrated preparation by the artist(s) and presenter. The artist(s)/company must conduct the educational activity.
(Maximum 2,500 characters including spaces, approximately ½ page)
Audience development includes assessing audience and community needs, cultivating audiences, creating a plan for engagement, and developing effective partnerships. Describe the audiences and community segments that you are targeting and engaging with this project. Explain why they were selected for involvement in this project, how they are involved in planning, and what community partners are involved. Describe any plans to broaden or diversify your audiences, any additional efforts to reach those that lack access to arts programs, services, or resources, or how your organization is addressing diversity, equity and inclusion. Describe your marketing plan for target audiences.
(Maximum 2,500 characters including spaces, approximately ½ page)
Grantees are required to ensure accessibility to funded programs to people with disabilities. Beyond these minimum ADA requirements, describe actions you will take for programmatic and communications accessibility (e.g., planning/advisory committees include people with disabilities, large print programs/labels, American Sign Language interpretation, audio description, specific marketing strategies, etc.). Provide specific strategies on how you will reach those that lack access to the arts due to disability for this project specifically (not your organization’s work in general).
(Maximum 2,500 characters including spaces, approximately ½ page)
Describe your organization’s ability to carry out the proposed project. Provide a summary of your organization’s presenting/programming history. Describe the method(s) you will use to evaluate the success of the project.
South Arts is committed to making business continuity planning a priority in the arts, and encourages all arts organizations to develop and maintain readiness plans to ensure their sustainability. If you have a readiness plan, please attach a narrative (up to two pages) describing your plan and how/when you update it.
A readiness plan is a combination of documents, processes and training that formulate what your organization will do should the unexpected occur. It focuses on protecting your organization’s critical functions through an “all-hazards” approach, so you can resume business quickly after any type or size of disruption. Readiness plans should be comprehensive, updated at least annually, and be comprised of more than just a facility evacuation plan, or regular data backups. Plans should cover all aspects of your operations and assets by identifying how your organization will re-start post interruption. Critical functions can be programs, events, communications, people resources, finances, insurance, technology, exhibits, productions, and any other primary activities.
Readiness planning is a required component for organizations applying for our grants, and your organization will be evaluated on the quality of your readiness planning. Quality includes content, comprehensiveness and currency. Content should include documentation, policies, procedures, and trainings/drills of what you will do if your business is impacted or stopped by a crisis of any type. Comprehensiveness means that the plan addresses all of your critical business functions and all key personnel. Currency means the plan (documentation, procedures and trainings) is updated at least annually.
If you have a readiness plan, you will be asked to describe your plan and how/when you update it. You may contact South Arts staff for more information on readiness planning.
We do not require you to use any particular resource for developing your plan. For more information on readiness planning, read What is a Readiness Plan? and visit ArtsReady. Many state arts agencies are subsidizing arts organizations in their state to use the ArtsReady online tool, and many national service organizations offer discounts. The ArtsReady online tool guides users through developing a customized readiness plan and provides templates and examples of readiness plan elements.
Due to COVID-19, eligible projects have expanded to include:
We have temporarily adjusted the cash match requirement to a 50% cash match (rather than a dollar-for-dollar cash match). Example: For a project with an artist fee of $6,000, the applicant can request $4,000 and must provide a cash match of $2,000.
We have expanded the types of artists and presenting organizations eligible to apply for Presentation Grants. This program now offers fee support to present Southern guest film directors, visual and performing artists, or writers. Artist fee support is awarded for film (documentary, fiction, experimental and animation), performing arts (theater, music, opera, musical theater and dance), literary arts (fiction, creative nonfiction and poetry), traditional arts, and visual arts (crafts, drawing, experimental, painting, photography, sculpture and mixed media). Projects must include both a public presentation (film screening, performance, reading or exhibition) and an educational component.
All grant applications must be submitted online using the eGrant system. We recommend that you visit the site early to create your account, and become familiar with the system. Complete your application in eGrant and upload the required materials as detailed above. Applicants will be notified of funding decisions by email within 12 weeks of the deadline. For assistance, contact Nikki Estes at 404-874-7244 x816.
South Arts strictly adheres to deadlines and will NOT accept applications that are late or incomplete. Deadlines are not extended due to inclement weather. Applicants must agree to the Contract Terms of Agreement, Assurance of Compliance, and Federal Suspension and Debarment Requirements prior to submission.
Have a question about the guidelines or priorities above? It may be addressed in our Presentation Grants FAQ.
Read the FAQAfter reviewing program guidelines, log in to eGrant to apply for a Presentation Grant, edit an application in process, and submit any required reports.
Log in to eGrantReview recipient terms and conditions, download the appropriate logos, access final reporting requirements, and more.
Manage Your GrantSouth Arts is looking for leaders in the presenting field from our nine-state region to serve as panelists for this grant program.
Nominate yourself as a panelistIf you have a previous Performing Arts Touring Grant or Literary Arts Touring Grant (issued in FY21 or earlier) and need to review the terms, request modifications, or otherwise manage your award, please visit one of the links below.
Manage your Performing Arts Touring Grant Manage your Literary Arts Touring Grant
For questions about Presentation Grants, contact program director Nikki Estes.
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