Professional Development Grants for Arts Organizations

Program Description

South Arts strongly believes that skill and knowledge building for arts organizations are integral to success and sustainability. These grants are designed to support the professional development needs of Southern arts organizations for increasing organizational capacity to achieve long-term sustainability, growth, and/or operational stability. This grant program is open to film, visual arts, performing arts, traditional arts, literary arts, and multidisciplinary arts organizations.   

Funding can support arts administrators’ or board members’ participation at conferences, workshops, and other professional development opportunities and events. In addition, these grants can support expenses for in-person and virtual professional development for organization-wide staff learning and training. Funds support travel expenses (for example, lodging and air/ground transportation), admission/registration fees, or other related expenses (for example, consultant/service fees for staff learning/training sessions).     

Due to limited funds, this grant is open to arts organizations with operating budgets of $500,000 or less. New applicants are encouraged to contact Program Director Nikki Estes at 404-874-7244 x816 to discuss eligibility before submitting an application.    

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. 

Important Dates and Deadlines

• Applications open on April 15, 2026, and are accepted on a rolling basis.  
• Applications must be submitted at least 60 days prior to the professional development start date.  
• Applicants will be notified by email within four weeks of submission. Please note that Professional Development Grants are subject to funding availability.  
• Projects must take place between July 1, 2026 and June 30, 2027. 

Eligibility Requirements

The following is a top-level list of the main eligibility requirements necessary to be considered for a Professional Development Grant. Please refer to the full list of eligibility requirements in the Guidelines.   

• Be a tax-exempt nonprofit, an official unit of local, county, or state government, or a federally recognized tribal community based within South Arts' nine-state service area (AL, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, SC, or TN)  
• Be an arts organization, including but are not limited to artist ensembles, producing and presenting organizations, visual and performing arts centers, museums, film festivals, arts service organizations, community arts organizations, and art councils  
  • Ineligible applicants include:  
    • Organizations based outside of AL, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, SC, or TN  
    • Fiscally sponsored organizations  
    • For-profit businesses or organizations  
    • Individual artists  Non-arts organizations  
• Have an operating budget of $500,000 or less  
• Be for “first time” opportunities and relate to the applicant’s arts programming/services  
  • Have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI)  
• Provide a dollar-for-dollar cash match  

A full list of eligibility criteria and other project requirements is provided in the guidelines below. 

Guidelines

While preparing your Professional Development Grant application, please refer to the following guidelines. :

Eligibility

• Only arts organizations with operating budgets of $500,000 or less (for the last completed fiscal year) are eligible for this grant program. Arts organizations can include but are not limited to artist ensembles, producing and presenting organizations, visual and performing arts centers, museums, film festivals, arts service organizations, community arts organizations, and art councils. Arts organizations must work with and compensate professional artists and/or artistic staff. Schools and community ensembles such as community theaters and community choirs are strongly encouraged to contact South Arts to discuss eligibility.    
• Only nonprofit and governmental arts organizations in South Arts’ nine-state region are eligible to apply. South Arts’ nine-state region includes Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.  
• Applicants must have 501(c)(3) not-for-profit, tax-exempt status; be an official unit of local, county, or state government; or be a federally recognized tribal community. Applications are accepted from any tribal community with not-for-profit, tax-exempt status. For nonprofit applicants, tax-exempt status will be verified by a third-party entity. Governmental applicants must provide proof of government status. South Arts does not accept applications from fiscal agents for this grant program.  
• Applicants must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). Applications will not be accepted from organizations that do not have a UEI. Obtaining your UEI could take a minimum of 30 days. Read more about How to Obtain a UEI.  
• Applications are only accepted for new professional development opportunities. For the purposes of these guidelines, new opportunities are defined as events/activities that the organization has not participated in previously or “first time participation” opportunities. Proposed projects must relate to the applicant's arts programming/services and support increasing organizational capacity to achieve long-term sustainability, growth, and/or operational stability (e.g., skill and knowledge building for organizational capacity or stability). Eligible participants include arts administrators and board members.  
• Applicants are limited to one Professional Development Grant application per South Arts fiscal year or grant cycle.  
• Applicants who have failed to comply with the grant terms and conditions by the application deadline for this program will not be considered for funding from this grant program until they have completed a conversation with program director Nikki Estes. This includes applicants who did not properly acknowledge South Arts' AND the National Endowment for the Arts' support in programs/press materials for any previous South Arts grant or applicants who did not submit the final report for any previous South Arts grant. 

Guidelines

• Professional Development Grant applications must be submitted at least 60 days prior to the activities.  
• The activities must take place between July 1, 2026 and June 30, 2027.  
• All grant recipients are required to provide accessibility for participants or constituents with disabilities at grant-funded events (if applicable). The National Endowment for the Arts has resources to assist arts organizations in making accommodations. Please visit the Endowment's website for more information.  
• Applicants must commit to the Endowment's Assurance of Compliance. 

Policies

• Grants are not transferable to other services, activities, or events. All changes in the activities must be submitted in writing to South Arts before the activities begin. Awards may be revised or revoked in light of such changes.  
• Grant awards require a dollar-for-dollar cash match. Applicants can request a grant up to 50% of the project expenses, up to $1,000 (subject to funding availability). For example, a project with expenses of $2,000 or more means the applicant can request $1,000 and must provide a cash match of $1,000.  The minimum project budget for this grant program is $500. 
• The minimum grant request is $250. The maximum grant request is $1,000.  
• Grant recipients are required to submit receipts to document expenses (excluding mileage and meals). Mileage will be reimbursed at the South Arts rate (.60 per mile) and a per diem of $50 per day will be provided for meals and non-alcoholic beverages for the travel dates (if applicable).  
• Due to federal sanctions, an application involving international travel must be discussed with South Arts prior to submission.  
• An application may be submitted to support multiple staff/board members (as long as the maximum request is not exceeded).  
• Applications to attend a convening sponsored by a local/state arts agency will not be accepted in this grant program; we encourage applicants to contact their State Arts Agency for assistance.  
• Applications for professional development activities already supported by South Arts (such as scholarships or travel subsidies) will not be accepted in this grant program; we encourage applicants to apply for the available program assistance. 

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 a 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.  

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 program director Nikki Estes to request a review of the considerations affecting South Arts' decision. Subsequently, if you believe there are 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 President & CEO will make and render a final 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 

REVIEW CRITERIA 

Applications are reviewed and funding adjudications are made using the following criteria:      

• Artistic Excellence of the Professional Development Opportunity  
• Artistic Merit of the Project:  
  • Relevance + Value  
  • Audience, Reach + Engagement  
  • Feasibility  
  • Goals, Outcomes + Learning  
  • Capacity  
  • Strategic Contribution to the Arts Ecosystem      

We will also consider the geographic locations, artistic disciplines, and organizational budget sizes to ensure that a diverse group of organizations are supported.   

NARRATIVE INSTRUCTIONS

In addition to organizational and project information, you will need to provide a narrative addressing the following:    

Project Synopsis (Maximum 500 characters including spaces)  Provide a brief synopsis of your proposed project.      

Relevance + Value: Describe the professional development opportunity. What is the primary goal or focus of the proposed professional development activity?  

Provide a clear overview of your proposed professional development. Explain what the project involves, how it will be carried out, and why it is meaningful. (Maximum 5,000 characters including spaces)    

Describe the purpose of the opportunity, such as acquiring new skills, deepening your artistic or cultural practice, expanding professional competencies, or gaining specialized knowledge. Explain why this activity is important at this stage of your career.  (Maximum 3,000 characters including spaces)       

Audience, Reach + Engagement: Who will benefit from this opportunity, and how will it advance your work or community engagement? (Maximum 3,000 characters including spaces)  Identify who will directly or indirectly benefit — yourself, your audiences, collaborators, or community members. Explain how the experience will strengthen your practice, expand your reach, or create new forms of engagement or service.      

Feasibility: What is the timeline and what are the key milestones for the professional development activity? (Maximum 1,500 characters including spaces)  Provide the dates, phases, and major steps involved in the opportunity, such as preparation, travel, coursework, mentorship, or post-activity implementation. Include milestones that demonstrate planning and feasibility.      

Goals, Outcomes + Learning: What outcomes do you anticipate from this experience, and how will you measure success? (Maximum 3,000 characters including spaces)  Describe the growth you expect—new competencies, expanded networks, artistic development, or strengthened community connections. Identify how you will evaluate success (e.g., applying new skills, sharing knowledge, integrating learning into your work).      

Artistic Excellence: How does this opportunity impact artistic excellence, innovation, or cultural significance in your field? (Maximum 3,000 characters including spaces)  Explain how the opportunity will elevate the quality of your practice or programming, expose you to innovative methods or ideas, or deepen your engagement with culturally significant traditions or artistic forms.       

Capacity: What resources, partnerships, or support systems will help you maximize this opportunity? (Maximum 2,500 characters including spaces)  List any mentors, instructors, host institutions, peer networks, or financial and logistical supports that will help you fully benefit from the experience. Emphasize how these resources enhance your ability to participate successfully.      

Strategic Contribution to the Arts Ecosystem: How will this professional development contribute to the cultural, artistic, or community landscape in meaningful ways? (Maximum 2,500 characters including spaces)  Discuss how you plan to share, apply, or translate what you gain—whether through community engagement, new artistic work, cultural stewardship, teaching, collaborations, or other contributions that extend benefits beyond your personal practice.

Helpful Resources

• Read a sample application from a past grantee that demonstrates a clear, succinct, and well-organized application that was evaluated highly in the review process. Please note that the sample application does not include our new application narrative questions. 

Readiness Planning

As part of your application submission, you will be asked whether your organization has a readiness plan. South Arts is committed to making business continuity planning a priority in the arts and encourages all arts organizations to develop and maintain readiness plans to ensure their sustainability. South Arts and our partners at the Northeast Document Conservation Center (NEDCC) have launched dPlan|ArtsReady to guide arts and cultural organizations through the process of developing a readiness plan.   

A readiness plan is a combination of documents, processes, and training that formulates what your organization will do should the unexpected occur. It follows an “all-hazards” approach, because anything can and may happen to your organization. Creating a readiness plan means making decisions about how you will respond, and collecting all of the information and documents that you will need, before a crisis hits, so you can respond and get your organization back up and running smoothly. A readiness plan is critical to preserve precious time and energy when seconds matter. ArtsReady takes an "all hazards" approach to planning: focusing on your essential business needs so you will be prepared for any crisis. The tool walks you through a series of modules—Risk Assessment, Action Items, Critical Stuff, Reports, and Guides and Resources—that explore the critical business functions most arts and cultural organizations rely on every day. By working through the tool with your staff and leadership, dPlan|ArtsReady is your one-stop shop to creating a plan and repository of vital information that you can turn to at any time before, during, or after a crisis.   

We encourage you to watch the five-part readiness webinar series to better prepare for disruptions. Whether you use dPlan|ArtsReady to develop and maintain your plan, put one together on your own, or use another service, it is important to have a plan. If ArtsReady is not the right fit for you, the additional resources on our website can help you develop the right plan for your organization, so you are ready for anything. 

Updates for 2026-2027 Applicants

Please be aware of the following updates to the 2026-2027 Professional Development Grants cycle:   

• This year’s application includes new evaluation criteria and new narrative questions.

Application Requirements

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.   

• Application  
• Proof of government status (if applicable)  
• Documentation of applicant’s programming/services and organizational history  
• Information about the conference, workshop, training, event, or activity  
• Support document such as the registration form, invitation to visit/participate, or training agreement/contract  

All grant applications must be submitted online using our grants management system (Salesforce). We recommend that you visit the site early to create your account and become familiar with the system. Complete your application and upload the required materials as detailed above. Applicants will be notified of funding decisions by email within four weeks of the application submission. When you begin using our grants portal, please check your “Spam” or “Junk” folders and filters to be sure you can receive emails from grants@southarts.org. For assistance, contact Nikki Estes at 404-874-7244 x816.   

South Arts strictly adheres to deadlines and will NOT accept late or incomplete applications. Deadlines are not extended due to inclement weather. 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, Contract Terms of Agreement, Assurance of Compliance, and Federal Suspension and Debarment Requirements.