Arts in Rural Places Grant

Arts in Rural Places Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: South Arts, Inc.
Amount: US $500 - US $3,000
Last Updated: February 12, 2026

Summary

The Arts in Rural Places Grant, offered by South Arts, aims to enhance access to the arts in rural and isolated communities across nine southern states. Grants of up to $3,000 support public activities featuring Southern artists, requiring a dollar-for-dollar cash match. Eligible organizations must host at least two public events and engage a professional artist, promoting cultural engagement and artistic expression within these communities.

Overview

NOTE: Applications must be submitted at least 60 days prior to the project start date. Arts in Rural Places Program Description South Arts believes that rural, isolated, and small communities deserve access to the arts, and this requires specialized support to make that vision viable. Distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis, Arts in Rural Places Grants support rural and isolated communities (communities that are geographically isolated or isolated due to socioeconomic factors, outmigration, education gaps, and/or lack of infrastructure) as well as small cities with populations of 50,000 people or less with expedited grants of up to $3,000. Arts in Rural Places Grants are an opportunity for organizations in South Arts' nine-state region to receive artist fee support to engage Southern guest film directors, traditional, visual, and performing artists, or writers from inside or outside of the presenter's state. Projects require at least two public-facing activities that offer access to arts programming by Southern artists (this can include public performances, screenings, readings, exhibitions, workshops, demonstrations, lectures, facilitated discussions, and/or master classes). Based on the artist fee, the maximum request is $3,000. The grant requires a dollar-for-dollar cash match (for example, an applicant that requests $3,000 must provide a $3,000 cash match for a project with a $6,000 artist fee). New applicants are encouraged to contact program director Nikki Estes at 404-874-7244 x816 to discuss eligibility before applying. 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.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. To be eligible for funding, applicants must program arts experiences featuring a Southern artist. The project must include at least two in-person or live, virtual public activities with a minimum of two hours of artist engagement in the community. Artist fee support is awarded for:film(documentary, fiction, experimental, and animation),traditional arts(music, dance, storytelling, and visual arts/crafts),visual arts (crafts, drawing, experimental, painting, photography, sculpture, and mixed media),performing arts(theater, music, opera, musical theater, and dance)literary arts(fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry).Applications must be submitted at least 60 days prior to the project start date.Projects must take place between October 1, 2025 and June 30, 2026.The following is a top-level list of the main eligibility requirements necessary to be considered for an Arts in Rural Places Grant.Be a tax-exempt nonprofit or an official unit of local, county, or state government based within South Arts' nine-state service area (AL, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, SC, or TN)Be in a rural, isolated, or small community (these are communities that are geographically isolated, communities isolated due to socioeconomic factors, outmigration, education gaps, and/or lack of infrastructure, or cities with populations of 50,000 people or less)Engage a professional artist or ensemble who resides within South Arts' nine-state service area (AL, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, SC, or TN)Have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI)Provide a dollar-for-dollar cash matchApplications are accepted from any tribal community with not-for-profit, tax-exempt status.This grant program is now open to non-arts organizations.

Ineligibility

In an effort to expand our reach and create space and opportunity for new applicants, organizations that received a South Arts’ Presentation, Traditional Arts Touring, or Express Grant in FY24 or FY25 are not eligible for this grant cycle. Ineligible applicants include:Organizations based outside of AL, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, SC, or TNFiscally sponsored organizationsFor-profit businesses or organizationsIndividual artistsSouth Arts does not accept applications from fiscal agents for this grant program.