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These grants offer up to $1,000 to support artistic planning and the professional development needs of Southern presenters, programmers, or curators.
View Full GuidelinesProfessional Development and Artistic Planning Grants now require a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) instead of a DUNS Number. Read more to begin obtaining your UEI today.
How to obtain a UEIProfessional Development and Artistic Planning Grants are available to support the professional development needs of Southern presenters, programmers, or curators, for strengthening program design or increasing organizational capacity. South Arts strongly believes professional development for presenters/programmers/curators is integral to success, including traveling to see new works and attending convenings. This grant program is open to film, visual arts, performing arts, traditional arts, literary arts, and multidisciplinary organizations.
This funding can support staff’s travel expenses to conferences, festivals, exhibitions, workshops, and other professional development opportunities. Funding also supports guest artists’ or guest curators’ travel expenses for onsite planning meetings with presenting organizations. These grants support travel expenses (for example, lodging and air/ground transportation), admission/registration fees, and other related expenses. In addition, these grants support expenses for virtual professional development opportunities and staff training (for example, diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility training or technology training for virtual engagements).
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 organizations, LGBTQIA+ led organizations, and organizations led by people with disabilities are represented as both applicants and grantees. In addition, we encourage applications for projects that engage BIPOC artists, LGBTQIA+ artists, and artists with disabilities.
New applicants are encouraged to contact Nikki Estes at 404-874-7244 ext. 816 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 Professional Development and Artistic Planning 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.
Due to COVID-19, travel for professional development might not be possible. Applications will be accepted for virtual professional development opportunities as well as staff training.
The experience was invaluable. Meeting face-to-face with [our] contemporaries in North Carolina and witnessing the performances in action will help us ensure that the Miami performances successfully resonate with our own
Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing ArtsWhile preparing your Professional Development and Artistic Planning 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:
Application was reviewed using criteria other than those published; Funding decision was influenced by panelist/staff/committee member who failed to disclose conflict of interest; and/or Application materials (submitted by the deadline) were not provided to panel members or reviewed by staff/committee.
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
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.
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:
Provide a one-sentence description of the professional development activity which South Arts will use in publicity if a grant is awarded, e.g. “Jane Doe will attend a spring conference and participate in daily workshops and networking sessions in Knoxville, Tennessee.” or “Three visual artists will visit Atlanta for a two-day planning session with the gallery staff to discuss the upcoming group exhibition and community engagement ideas.”(Maximum 500 characters including spaces)
Provide an itemized budget of the projected expenses. Include cost estimates for air/ground transportation, lodging, admission/registration fee, and other related expenses. (Maximum 1,250 characters including spaces, approximately ¼ page)
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 4 weeks of the application submission. For assistance, contact Nikki Estes at 404-874-7244 ext. 816.
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 applicable Contract Terms of Agreement, Assurance of Compliance, and Federal Suspension and Debarment Requirements prior to submission.
After reviewing program guidelines, log in to eGrant to apply for a Professional Development and Artistic Planning 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 GrantFor questions about Professional Development and Artistic Planning Grants, contact program director Nikki Estes.
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