Creativity Connects: National Demonstration Projects
Funding Amount
$75,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Grant Type
Foundation
Deadline history & next window
- Cycle
- One-time opportunity
- Tracked since
- April 2026
Source: the cycle recorded on this listing. Confirm dates with the funder.
Overview
Funder: The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation (administered through US Regional Arts Organizations)
Program Administrator: South Arts Inc (one of six regional arts organizations)
Purpose: Investigate ways arts can connect with other sectors (education, healthcare, social justice) through demonstration projects; promote collaboration, experimentation, and community growth
Program Year: 2016 (part of NEA's 50th anniversary celebration)
Key Details:
- One project selected per region from six US Regional Arts Organizations
- Regional Arts Organizations involved: Arts Midwest, Mid-America Arts Alliance, Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation, New England Foundation for the Arts, South Arts, and Western States Arts Federation
- Projects promote innovative cross-sector collaboration
- Supports experimentation and community-centered approaches
Geographic Scope: National (one award per RAO region)
Selection Process:
- Initial regional competition among nearly 40 arts organizations from Southeast
- Adjudicated selection process led by South Arts
- Regional winners compete nationally
Example Award Recipient: Deep Center (Savannah, GA) - $75,000 for "Block By Block" project partnering with Savannah Development and Renewal Authority, involving writing workshops, public readings, art marches, and block parties
What South Arts Inc actually gave
Source: IRS Form 990, 2025
- Grants in 2025
- 233
- Total given
- $9.25M
- Median grant
- $36K
- Range
- $5,000–$130K
- By dollars: North Carolina 8%, Georgia 5%, Florida 4%. Top recipient cities: Atlanta, GA; Nashville, TN; Durham, NC.
- 0% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Example grants
Ballet After Dark Inc · Baltimore, MD
FY25 NEA ArtsHERE
$130K
South Sudanese Foundation · Fargo, ND
FY25 NEA ArtsHERE
$130K
Wyandotte Nation of Kansas Inc · McLouth, KS
FY25 NEA ArtsHERE
$130K
Border Youth Tennis Exchange · Nogales, AZ
FY25 NEA ArtsHERE
$127K
The Indy Convergence Inc · Indianapolis, IN
FY25 NEA ArtsHERE
$122K
Focus Areas & Funding Uses
Fields of Work
- Arts
- Nonprofits
- Community development
Categories
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Related Grants
Open grants from this funder and similar programs
In These Mountains: Infrastructure Grants
South Arts Inc
Amount
US $30,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
South Arts Express Grants
South Arts Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Southern Arts Recovery Fund Grant
South Arts Inc
Amount
US $2,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
South Arts Southern Prize Grant
South Arts Inc
Amount
US $10,000 - US $25,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Emerging Traditional Artists Program Grant
South Arts Inc
Amount
US $5,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
South Arts Presentation Grants
South Arts Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
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