Atlanta, GA — February 5, 2026 — South Arts is pleased to announce its Winter 2026 grant cycle, opening applications for three initiatives: Jazz Road Tours, Southern Circuit Tour of Independent Filmmakers, and its Southern Prize & State Fellowships for Visual Arts program. Applications for each of these programs are now open with deadlines staggered throughout February and March.
South Arts, a non-profit regional organization, has been dedicated to supporting and expanding the artistic landscape of the Southern region for fifty years. This season’s upcoming grant programs speak to this commitment, in providing critical financial support and growth opportunities to artists across the South. From its longstanding support for the jazz community, to its partnerships with visual artists and filmmakers alike, providing direct support for artists to sustain and grow their practices is at the heart of South Arts’ mission.
Established in 1975 alongside the organization, the Southern Circuit Tour of Independent Filmmakers is a single program that brings independent films to communities across the South through two interconnected application tracks: filmmakers and Screening Partners. The program connects filmmakers across the region with nonprofit, educational, and governmental organizations that host public screenings and community conversations.
As the region’s only touring program of its kind, Southern Circuit has connected more than 100 communities, presenting work by both emerging and established filmmakers. Filmmakers at any stage of their careers are encouraged to apply, and those selected tour with their films—traveling to screenings, meeting audiences, and sparking conversations that extend far beyond the screen.
South Arts is currently accepting Screening Partner and filmmaker applications for tour dates running from September to November 2026 and February to April 2027. On February 10, documentary filmmakers are encouraged to join the Southern Circuit: Filmmaker Webinar hosted by South Arts to learn about the Southern Circuit Tour of Independent Filmmakers. The discussion will dive into how Southern Circuit supports both emerging and established filmmakers through honoraria, travel support, and meaningful engagement opportunities, including post‑screening Q&As, educational events, and community conversations.
A separate webinar will be held for those interested in becoming Screening Partners with the Southern Circuit Tour of Independent Filmmakers. Attendees will learn how partnering with Southern Circuit can energize programming, bring artists directly into the community, and use film as a powerful catalyst for conversation around social, cultural, and community issues.
Another notable grant opportunity for performing artists, established in 2018 as part of the Jazz Road initiative, is Jazz Road Tours which supports approximately 50 jazz artists annually with individual grants up to $15,000 to help their tour practices around the nation. This February, South Arts was pleased to introduce a distinctive Jazz Road Tours cycle dedicated to rural communities nationwide. South Arts will take an active curatorial role, collaborating directly with artists to develop and shape tours that serve rural regions. A Jazz Road Tours Webinar will be hosted on February 10 to provide more information.
In the latest addition to the Jazz Road initiative, South Arts will also introduce Jazz Road Legacy Residencies, providing opportunities designed specifically for artists aged 55 and above to develop projects that will define and preserve the artistic legacy of their careers. Concurrently, this year’s Creative Residency program will prioritize projects that explore the intersection of “Jazz and Human Connection”, supporting projects that intertwine Jazz and community.
Established in 2017, the Southern Prize and State Fellowships for Visual Arts initiative supports regional artists in advancing their creative practices across a range of visual art disciplines, with the application period now reopened. Each year, the program awards nine visual artists with $5,000 State Fellowships, with select fellows also receiving the Southern Prize, which includes a prestigious residency and an additional $25,000 cash award.
In 2024, South Arts expanded this initiative to include the literary arts as part of its broader commitment to strengthening the region’s artistic ecosystem. Application details for the next Literary Arts cycle will be announced at a later date.
For more information on eligibility of these three initiatives and additional opportunities from South Arts, please visit www.southarts.org.
About South Arts
South Arts advances Southern vitality through the arts. The nonprofit regional arts organization was founded in 1975 to build on the South’s unique heritage and enhance the public value of the arts. South Arts’ work responds to the arts environment and cultural trends with a regional perspective. South Arts offers an annual portfolio of activities designed to support the success of artists and arts providers in the South, address the needs of Southern communities through impactful arts-based programs, and celebrate the excellence, innovation, value and power of the arts of the South. For more information, visit www.southarts.org.
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