Literary Arts Project Grants

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As part of its Literary Arts Initiative, South Arts is pleased to announce Literary Arts Project Grants supporting literary arts organizations and small presses that focus on contemporary literary arts.

These grants advance South Arts’ commitment to amplifying the literary traditions and artistic practices of the American South by directly supporting the development, production, and public engagement of high-quality literary projects.

Literary Arts Project Grants support projects in poetry, fiction, creative or literary nonfiction, young readers’ literature, and drama (scriptwriting). Projects must demonstrate artistic excellence, editorial rigor, and meaningful public or community impact.

Award Amount

South Arts will award up to $5,000 per project to eligible literary arts organizations and small presses.

Important Dates and Deadlines

  • Applications Open: August 12, 2026
  • Application Deadline: October 7, 2026
  • Award Notifications: November 2026
  • Final Report Due: June 30, 2027

South Arts reserves the right to adjust announcement dates based on application volume and review timelines. Incomplete or improperly submitted applications are ineligible and will not be considered.

Eligibility

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

  • Be an independent nonprofit literary arts organization, independent publisher, or small press, including literary journals
  • Maintain a literary arts mission
  • Be headquartered in South Arts’ nine-state region (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee)

Ineligible Applicants

  • Units of government
  • Colleges and universities
  • Organizations funded in the previous Literary Arts Project Grant cycle
  • Applicants proposing the same project to another South Arts grant program

Supported Project Types

Literary Arts Project Grants support projects in two categories:

1. Creative Literary Work Creation and Publishing

Projects that support the development, editorial production, and dissemination of contemporary literary content in print, digital, or audio formats. Eligible projects include:

  • Literary journal or magazine issues
  • Book publishing projects
  • Anthologies or curated literary collections

Projects must demonstrate editorial judgment, artistic vision, and public access.

2. Community Engagement

Projects that actively engage audiences and communities with contemporary literary arts, including but not limited to:

  • Reading series
  • Literary festivals
  • Podcasts or digital public programming

Projects may be local or regional in scope and should reflect collaboration, innovation, and equitable access.

Competitive proposals should demonstrate:

  • Clear project activities aligned with the organization’s mission
  • Identification of intended audiences and demonstrated public value
  • High-quality editorial or curatorial processes
  • Strong artistic vision and innovation
  • Fair compensation for writers and project personnel
  • Commitment to providing broad public access, fair participation, and accessibility in project planning, implementation, and outcomes
  • Clear marketing and distribution strategies reflected in the budget

Allowable Expenses

Eligible project-related expenses include:

  • Personnel and artist fees
  • Editorial, design, production, and distribution services
  • Travel (air, ground, lodging, per diem)
  • Office and project supplies
  • Marketing and promotion
  • Facility rental
  • Insurance

All expenses must occur between July 1, 2026, and June 30, 2027.

Unallowable Activities

Literary Arts Project Grants do not support:

  • General operating support
  • Full seasons of programming
  • Social or fundraising events (galas, dinners, receptions)
  • Degree-related coursework or academic programs
  • For-profit or commercial ventures
  • Construction, renovation, or vehicle purchase
  • Regranting or sub-granting
  • Projects without editorial or curatorial selection processes

Required Application Materials

Organizations must submit:

  • Organization Mission Statement - Mission statements should address organizational goals, leadership qualifications, artistic history, and governance structure.
  • Representative Work Samples directly related to the proposed project

Selection Criteria

Panelists will make recommendations based on the following criteria:

Artistic Excellence (50%)

  • Quality of published or proposed literary work
  • Originality, innovation, and editorial strength
  • Artistic partners and relevance to audiences

Artistic Merit (50%)

  • Feasibility of the project and timeline
  • Realistic budget and matched resources
  • Track record of the organization
  • Fairness in compensation and working conditions
  • Alignment with mission and community impact

Reporting Requirements

Grant recipients must submit a final report at the conclusion of the grant period describing:

  • Use of funds
  • Project outcomes
  • Public acknowledgment of South Arts support
  • Copies of supported publications

Who to Contact

Please contact grants@southarts.org for technical assistance with Salesforce or application issues.

For all other inquiries, Applicants are encouraged to contact Lisa Smalls, Director, Arts Access and Learning at lsmalls@southarts.org. You may also use this link to schedule a meeting.

FAQs

Have a question about the guidelines or priorities above? It may be addressed in our FAQs.

FAQs

Application Portal

After reviewing program guidelines, log in to Salesforce to apply for a Literary Arts Grant, edit an application in process, and submit any required reports.

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Questions

For questions about the Southern Prize for Literature, contact Lisa Smalls, Director of Arts & Learning.

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