Traditional Arts Touring Grants

Traditional Arts Touring Grants aim to increase the public awareness, understanding, and appreciation of the traditional arts in the South by bringing artists together 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.

What are Traditional Arts?

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 the 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. They 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 being practiced in the South (both performing and visual arts) include Afro-Cuban batá drum, Catawba pottery, Zydeco music, Indian Bharatha Natyam dance, Anglo American quilting, Peruvian retablos, African American gospel music, Chinese Zheng, Cherokee storytelling, and Minorcan netmaking, among others.

Program Goals

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 traditional artists/ensembles to Southern Communities for two-day residencies.

This funding program is open to a wide variety of organizations, including community cultural organizations, schools/colleges/universities, libraries, museums, performing arts presenters, etc. The program serves 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 x 814, to discuss your project before you submit your application.

Important Dates & Deadlines

• Application Opens: March 1, 2022
• Application Deadline: May 15, 2022
• Applicants will be notified within two weeks of the deadline.
• Projects must take place between August 1, 2022 - June 30, 2023.

South Arts' Commitments

South Arts has prioritized the following:

• South Arts is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. 
  • We strongly encourage applications from Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC)-led and LGBTQIA+-led organizations, and organizations led by people with disabilities. We will prioritize applications that feature BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ traditional artists and traditional artists with disabilities.
• South Arts is committed to funding traditional arts projects in rural communities (with populations under 50,000).

Eligibility Requirements

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.

• Applicant must be a nonprofit organization, official unit of government, or an educational organization based within South Arts' nine-state service area.
• Eligible projects must include the following:
  • Engagement of a traditional artist or ensemble (meeting the traditional art form description above) that resides in South Arts’ nine-state region
  • A residency of a minimum of two days
  • At least two live educational/outreach components
  • At least one public presentation of at least 60 minutes, open and marketed to the public and serving a wide audience
• Applicant must provide a 1:2 cash match.
• Organizations currently receiving funding through South Arts’ Presentation Grants or Literary Arts Touring Grants are not eligible for this grant program. 
• NEW FOR FY2023: All applicants must have a UEI (Unique Entity ID) number. Applications will not be accepted from organizations that do not have a UEI number. Visit www.sam.gov for additional information about UEI numbers as well as instructions on how to receive one. If your organization has used a DUNS (Data Universal Numbering System) number in the past, this link also provides instructions on transitioning to a UEI. This new SAM UEI is required for our grantees in programs supported by the National Endowment for the Arts. Review more about how to obtain a Unique Entity ID here.

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. 

Eligibility

• Organizations within South Arts’ nine-state region are eligible to apply. This region includes Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
• Organizations must have not-for-profit, tax-exempt status, or be an official unit of local, county, or state government. Governmental organizations must provide proof of government status. Educational institutions (schools, school systems, colleges, and universities) are also eligible. South Arts does not accept applications from fiscal agents for this grant program.
• NEW FOR FY23: All applicants must have a UEI (Unique Entity ID) number. Applications will not be accepted from organizations that do not have a UEI number. Visit www.sam.gov for additional information about UEI numbers as well as instructions on how to receive one. If your organization has used a DUNS (Data Universal Numbering System) number in the past, this link also provides instructions on transitioning to a UEI. This new SAM UEI is required for our grantees in programs supported by the National Endowment for the Arts. Review more about how to obtain a Unique Entity ID here.
• Organizations that have failed to submit final reports for any previous South Arts grant by the time of this application will not be considered for funding in this grant cycle.
• Organizations that fail to properly acknowledge South Arts’ AND the National Endowment for the Arts’ support in programs and press materials will not be considered for additional funding.
• Organizations are eligible for only one Traditional Arts grant throughout South Arts’ fiscal year: July 1, 2022-June 30, 2023.
• Organizations currently receiving funding through South Arts’ Presentation Grants or Literary Arts Touring Grants are not eligible for this grant program.

Guidelines

• Traditional Arts Touring applications may be submitted beginning March 1, 2022, for projects taking place between August 1, 2022-June 30, 2023. The project must take place by June 30, 2023.
• The grant deadline is May 15, 2022. Applications must be submitted by 11:59 PM ET.
• Traditional Arts Touring Grant awards may only be used for artist honorarium and artist travel.
• Only one traditional artist/ensemble per grant application is allowed.
• Projects may include performing arts (music, dance, and storytelling) and/or visual arts/crafts.
• Eligible projects must include the following:
• Engagement of a traditional artist or ensemble (meeting the traditional art form description above) that resides in South Arts’ nine-state region
• A residency of a minimum of two days
• At least two live educational/outreach components
• At least one public presentation of at least 60 minutes, open and marketed to the public and serving a wide audience
  • Please note that if a grantee fails to meet this requirement, funding will be rescinded.
  • NOTE: Presentations at conferences and school-focused presentations (primarily engaging students, whether taking place at the school or a performance venue) will not be considered public presentations that are open and accessible to the public; however, school-focused presentations will satisfy the educational components requirement.
• We acknowledge the current realities of cultural arts programming due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. For the FY23 grant cycle, we will accept applications for in-person presentations, live virtual presentations, and education activities; we will also accept applications for the engagement of local artists. In-person projects must take place in the applicant’s state.
• The traditional artist/ensemble is required to fully participate in the public presentation. The traditional artist or members of the ensemble must also conduct the educational/outreach components.
• The educational/outreach components are an integral part of the engagement and should be carefully planned. A meaningful educational component should involve concentrated preparation and include a learning event that has a lasting impact upon the audience (e.g., workshops, lectures, and/or master classes). The traditional artist/ensemble must conduct the educational activities live. Please be aware that failure to include two live educational/outreach components will result in ineligibility.
• Projects are not required to serve the entire geographic community but should have targeted participants.

Policies

• Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.
• South Arts does not fund historical reenactments, benefits, or fundraisers.
• Grants are NOT transferable to other events. All changes to a project must be submitted in writing to South Arts before the event. Awards may be revised or revoked considering such changes.
• Traditional Arts grant awards require a 1:2 cash match. (Example: For an artist fee of $1,500, the applicant can request $1,000 and provide the remaining $500 cash match.)
• The minimum grant request is $1,000. The maximum request is $5,000.
• Although a readiness plan is not required and will not impact application review, all applicants will be asked if their organization has a readiness plan. For more information about readiness, please visit ArtsReady.
• All grant recipients are required to provide accessibility for constituents with disabilities at grant-funded events. For these guidelines, accessibility relates to your overall facility and project being accessible to all. In addition to physical access (ramps, accessible parking/box office/restrooms/seating, etc.), communications and programmatic accessibility is not only required, but can also help your organization build audiences and strengthen engagement. Grant applications should show evidence of thoughtful planning and implementation efforts. The National Endowment for the Arts has resources to assist arts organizations in making accommodations. Please visit the NEA's website for more information. Applicants must commit to the Endowment’s Assurance of Compliance.

Review Process

• A panel of folklorists, arts professionals, and other individuals with relevant experience will review all applications according to the review criteria. Panelists may or may not be familiar with your organization and community, so please be clear and specific in your application.
• Applicants will be notified of funding decisions by email within two weeks of the deadline. 

Review Criteria

Applications are reviewed and funding decisions are made using the following criteria to evaluate each application:

• Artistic Excellence (20%) – Quality of artist/company
• Project’s Artistic Merit (40%) – Quality of project
• Audience Development/Community Involvement (20%) – Quality and degree of audience development efforts and community participation
• Accessibility (10%) – Quality and degree of facility and program accessibility
• Organizational Capacity/Evaluation (10%) – Presenter’s ability to carry out and evaluate the project.

Appeals Process

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 provided.
• Funding decision was influenced by panel/staff/committee member who failed to disclose a conflict of interest.
• 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’ Executive Director 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 Executive Director, who will render a decision within 30 days of the appeal. Mail your appeal to:

South Arts
ATTN: Executive Director
1800 Peachtree Street, NW
Suite 808
Atlanta, GA 30309.

Helpful Resources

• A  Sample Application from a past grantee. It is clear, succinct, well-organized, and was evaluated very highly in the review process.
• The Evaluation Rubric/Matrix used to score applications.

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 below. NOTE: Please print a copy of your completed application forms for your records.

Please allow for plenty of time to organize and upload these required documents to eGrant. Applicants are encouraged to submit grant applications early.

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

Applicants are required to submit the following materials:

1. Application
2. Proof of government entity status
3. Signed letter of intent or contract between the artist(s)/ensemble and the applicant organization
4. Artist/ensemble support material – Artist biography, ensemble history, digital photos, etc.
5. Audio or video sample (for performing artists) – A representative work sample of the artist/ensemble
6. Digital photos (for visual artists) – A representative work sample of the artist’s work
7. Supplemental documents (optional): Other support material (e.g., still images, reviews, letters of support, or brochures) directly related to the application may be submitted. Supplemental documents should not exceed five (5) pages.
8. Proof of Government Status (if applicable)
   1. 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.
9. Letter of Intent/Contract
   1. The letter of intent or contract between 1) the artist(s), and 2) the applicant organization must state the services (including the public presentation and educational components), dates, and fee. It must be signed by both parties.
10. Support Materials and Work Samples: Please carefully follow these important instructions.
    1. Please clearly label support and work samples.
    2. For performing artists/ensembles, video/audio work samples are required. Video/audio samples may vary in length; however, the reviewer(s) is only required to view/listen to five minutes of material. Poor video quality may prevent the reviewer(s) from being able to make an assessment of artistic excellence and may result in a low score.
    3. For visual/craft artists, digital photo work samples are required.
    4. Recommended Formats: For audio files, we recommend uploading an MP3 (however, all standard file formats are acceptable). For written documents, we recommend uploading a PDF. For photos, we recommend high resolution JPEG format.
    5. Please provide URLs to work samples available online, such as videos uploaded on YouTube or Vimeo. The link should go directly to the requested information; the reviewer(s) should not have to search for the material. Hard copies of materials, including CDs and DVDs, will NOT be accepted.

Applicants must agree to the Contract Terms of Agreement for Traditional Arts Touring Grants, Assurance of Compliance, and Federal Suspension and Debarment Requirements prior to submission.