Arts Readiness, Relief, and Recovery Grant

Purpose

The Arts Readiness, Relief, and Recovery Grant will provide financial support to artists in need affected by Hurricane Helene and/or Hurricane Milton and provide activities that help artists collectively prepare for or mitigate the impact of such disasters in the form of disaster preparedness education.

Program Description

The Arts Readiness, Relief, and Recovery Grant provides $1,000 grants to artists in South Arts’ nine-state region residing in the FEMA disaster areas of Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee impacted by Hurricanes Helene and/or Milton. Artists working in craft, traditional arts, design, literary, media/film, performing arts, visual arts, and interdisciplinary/multidisciplinary arts may apply for a grant to safeguard their studios, protect their practices, and prepare for emergencies. This opportunity is open to professional artists 18 years or older whose artistic practice generates any portion of their income. This recovery grant is for individual artists only who have not received relief or recovery funding from South Arts, ArtsAVL, CERF+, or any other arts agency or organization providing financial assistance to artists impacted by Hurricane Helene or Hurricane Milton.

All program funding is contingent on the availability of funds for the program. In the event that a program is terminated, grant awards will not be made, and applicants could have to return unspent funds.

Explore FAQs

Eligibility

• Must currently reside in FEMA disaster areas in Florida (Helene), Florida (Milton), Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, or Tennessee.
• Be 18 years of age or older and actively engaged in their artistic practice to generate any portion of their income.
  Have active artistic practice in craft/traditional arts, design, literary, media/film, performing, visual, or interdisciplinary/multidisciplinary arts.
• Have not received relief or recovery funding from South Arts, ArtsAVL, CERF+, or any other arts agency or organization providing financial assistance to artists impacted by Hurricane Helene or Hurricane Milton

Organizations and artists located outside of FEMA-designated areas due to Hurricanes Helene and Milton are ineligible.

Review Criteria & Selection Process

South Arts will review all applications for the Southern Arts Recovery Grant to ensure that the applicant:

1. Is a verified resident of one of the FEMA-designated areas impacted by Hurricane Helene or Hurricane Milton included in South Arts’ nine-state region.
2. Has an active, professional artistic practice.
3. Has not received relief or recovery funding from South Arts, ArtsAVL, CERF+, or any other arts agency or organization providing financial assistance to artists impacted by Hurricane Helene or Hurricane Milton.

South Arts will select eligible applicants meeting the above criteria, using an internal process based on supporting FEMA-designated areas. The review and selection process will occur from the application’s closing date through October, and South Arts will announce funding recommendations in November 2025.

Due to the volume of applications, we are unable to provide feedback.

Contracts & Payments

If South Arts selects your application for funding: 

• You will receive an email with the Award Letter attached.
• You must submit your signed Award Letter and upload the W-9 and EFT Authorization Form as instructed.

Use of Funds & Reporting Requirements

This grant provides financial support to artists in need affected by Hurricane Helene and/or Hurricane Milton and provides activities that help artists collectively prepare for or mitigate the impact of such disasters in the form of disaster preparedness education, including activities to safeguard their studios, protect their practices, and prepare for emergencies. Grantees have five months to use the funds, must document activities, and submit all receipts with the Final Report.

Supported Activities

• Emergency tools, supplies and equipment
• Upgrading studio and/or equipment to improve studio health and safety and reduce disaster risk
• Contractor consulting
• Purchasing safer materials and supplies
• Emergency tools, supplies, and equipment
• Increased business insurance coverage
• Business continuity and contingency planning
• Documentation and archiving
• Secure record-keeping systems
• Digitizing artwork and/or related records
• Financial planning

Prohibited Use

• Art-making projects and related expenses
• Debris removal and cleanup
• Construction costs
• Cosmetic work such as exterior and/or interior painting and furnishings
• Repairs to and/or replacement of vehicles
• Mortgage/Rent
• Monthly utility expenses
• Groceries
• Health-related expenses

Applications that include prohibited expenses will not be considered.

Application

Eligibility 

Eligible applicants must have primary residence in one of the FEMA designated disaster areas and have not received relief or recovery funding from South Arts, ArtsAVL, CERF+, or any other arts agency or organization providing financial assistance to artists impacted by Hurricane Helene or Hurricane Milton.

Have you received relief or recovery funding from South Arts, ArtsAVL, CERF+, or any other arts agency or organization providing financial assistance to artists impacted by Hurricane Helene or Hurricane Milton? (Required. “Yes” cannot proceed with application.)

Contact Information

First Name, Last Name, Email, Telephone Number, Residential State, Residential County/Parish/Township

Proof of Residency

For the purposes of this grant, we define residency as the place you inhabit most and where you will file taxes.

Applicants must upload the following:

1. valid driver’s license or government ID,
2. W-9, AND
3. one of the following additional documents with the address consistent amongst all documents:

• Automobile registration or insurance
• Voter registration card
• Utility bill dated within 30 days of the application process

Demographic Information

Primary Discipline: Dance, Music, Opera/Musical Theatre, Theatre, Visual Arts, Design Arts, Crafts, Photography, Media Arts, Literature, Interdisciplinary, Folklife/Craft/Traditional Arts, Humanities, Multidisciplinary, Non-Arts/Non-Humanities
Race/Ethnicity: Asian, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, American Indian/Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, White, No single race/ethnic group.

Age Range: Under 30, 30-44, 45-54, 55-64, 65-79, 80 or older

Gender Identity: Male, Female, Not Listed, Decline to Respond

Do you identify as a member of the disability community? Yes, No, Decline to Answer

Disability Type: Cognitive, Communication, Hearing, Mental Health, Movement, Vision, Decline to Answer

Artistic Category: Which option best describes your artistic medium.

• Craft: ceramics, glass, fiber, metal, or wood
• Folk/Traditional: music, literature, storytelling
• Design: graphic design, fashion design, interior design
• Literary: writing, journalism
• Media: graphic and web design, radio, television, film
• Performing: theatre, dance, music, and other types of performance
• Visual: painting, sculpture, photography, mixed media
• Interdisciplinary: has a significant presence in more than one of the arts mediums

Website or Social Media Links: Share a publicly accessible website that demonstrates your artistic work. If you do not have a website, you may instead share your work with a link: Website hosted by another entity that displays your art; Your public Instagram or Facebook page; Media platform like Vimeo or YouTube. Websites that are not indicative of your artistic practice will deem your application ineligible. (Required)

Resume or CV: Upload your resume or CV, including exhibits/performances within the last 12-18 months. (Required)

Promotional Materials: Upload promotional materials that are representative of your active artistic practice. Examples include a flyer, brochure, program, or news article dated within the last 12-18 months. (Required)

Artistic Practice

Artistic Practice Description – Artist Statement: Briefly tell us about what kind of artist/ arts professional/ arts business you are (i.e., painter, musician, etc.) and a brief description of your work. (500 Character limit including spaces.)

Funding Impact Description: Briefly describe the readiness and preparedness activities this grant will fund and how they will impact your artistic practice.