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These funds support projects engaging a traditional artist/ensemble for multi-day residencies in Southern communities.
View Full GuidelinesApplications for this program closed on February 15, 2023. The guidelines below are for reference only.
Traditional Arts Touring Grant applications require a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). Obtaining your UEI could take a minimum of 30 days. Read more about obtaining a UEI to begin the process today.
How to obtain a UEITraditional Arts Touring Grants increase the public awareness, understanding, and appreciation of the traditional arts in the South. These grants support in-person or live virtual residencies by Southern traditional artists in Southern communities. Traditional Arts Touring Grants are available for requests from $1,000 up to $5,000. This program requires a 1:2 match.
The South is home to an abundance of traditional art forms, whether they are indigenous to the region or reflect the traditions of recent immigrant communities. Traditional arts are shared aesthetics, practices, and values of families, geographic communities, occupational groups, ethnic heritage groups, etc. Traditional arts are learned orally, or by observation and imitation, often through a mentor artist instructing an apprentice. These traditions are usually maintained without formal instruction or academic training. Some traditional arts have a deep-rooted history with little change, while others are constantly evolving and adapting to their changing environment.
Examples of traditional art forms (performing and visual arts) practiced in the South include Afro-Cuban batá drum, Catawba pottery, Zydeco music, Indian Bharatha Natyam dance, Anglo American quilting, Peruvian retablos, African American Sacred Steel, Chinese Zheng, Cherokee storytelling, and Minorcan netmaking, among others.
The Traditional Arts Touring Grant Program works to increase public awareness, understanding, and appreciation of the traditional arts in the South, through funding projects that bring a traditional artist/ensemble for a residency of two or more days in Southern communities.
This funding program is open to a wide variety of organizations, including community cultural organizations, schools/colleges/universities, libraries, museums, performing arts presenters, etc. Although only these organizations are eligible to apply, the program funds activities that serve both communities and traditional artists.
South Arts staff can direct you to potential resources and networks to identify traditional artists. Applicants are strongly advised to contact Teresa Hollingsworth (Director, Traditional Arts), at thollingsworth@southarts.org or 404-874-7244 x814, to discuss your project before you submit your application.
Please check your email spam folder for application notification. Email notification will be from grants@southarts.org or thollingsworth@southarts.org.
South Arts has prioritized the following:
The following is a top-level list of the main eligibility requirements necessary to be considered for a Traditional Arts Touring 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.
While preparing your Traditional Arts Touring Grant application, please refer to the following guidelines.
Applications are reviewed and funding recommendations are made using the following criteria to evaluate each application:
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 a conflict of interest; and/or Application materials (submitted by the deadline) were not provided to reviewers.
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 Teresa Hollingsworth 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 and CEO no later than 15 calendar days following the receipt of the electronic 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 and CEO, who will render a decision within 30 days of the appeal. Mail your appeal to:
South Arts
ATTN: President and CEO
1800 Peachtree Street, NW
Suite 808
Atlanta, GA 30309
Mandatory: Letter of Intent/Contract
The letter of intent or contract between the 1) artist/ensemble representative, and 2) grant applicant must state the services (including the educational component), dates, and fee. It must be signed by both parties.
If Applicable: Proof of Government Status
If you are a governmental entity, please provide your government affirmation letter affirming your organization is a unit of government. For nonprofit presenters, you do NOT need to upload your tax-determination letter; your tax-exempt status will be verified by a third-party entity such as GuideStar.
Mandatory (at least one): Work Samples. Please carefully follow these important instructions.
Please plan plenty of time to organize and upload these required documents to Salesforce.
Please plan plenty of time to organize your application in our Salesforce system.
South Arts encourages applicants to contact us with questions more than 48 hours before the application deadline; due to the volume of requests, South Arts team members may not be able to respond to inquiries submitted after that time.
All grant applications must be submitted online using the Salesforce system. We recommend that you visit the site early to create your account and become familiar with the system. Complete your application in Salesforce and upload the required materials as detailed above.
Grantees will be required to adhere to grant requirements based on the grant program and program source of funds as set forth in the grantee's award letter and/or contract. These can include, but are not limited to, Grant Acceptance Terms and Conditions, Assurance of Compliance, and Federal Suspension and Debarment Requirements.
After reviewing program guidelines, log in to Salesforce to apply for a Traditional Arts Touring Grant, edit an application in process, and submit any required reports.
Log in to SalesforceReview recipient terms and conditions, download the appropriate logos, access final reporting requirements, and more.
Manage Your GrantFor questions about Traditional Arts Touring Grants, contact program director Teresa Hollingsworth.
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