Emerging Traditional Artists Program Grant

Emerging Traditional Artists Program Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: South Arts, Inc.
Amount: US $5,000
Last Updated: August 03, 2025

Summary

The Emerging Traditional Artists Program (ETAP), presented by South Arts Inc., supports early-career traditional artists from Appalachian Regional Commission-designated counties. With a $5,000 award, artists can access training, networking, and mentorship opportunities to enhance their skills and community impact. This initiative aims to preserve traditional arts and culture while fostering a new generation of artists dedicated to their craft and cultural heritage.

Overview

South Arts Inc Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, South Arts is a nonprofit regional arts organization empowering artists, organizations, and communities, and increasing access to arts and culture. In partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and the State Arts Agencies of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee — with additional funding from other public and private donors such as the Doris Duke Foundation, the Ford Foundation, and Mellon Foundation — South Arts supports artists and organizations through a rich and responsive portfolio of grants, fellowships, and programs. Why? Because South Arts believes that the arts elevate the region, increasing connectedness and inspiring meaningful change in the process. Our mission: Advancing Southern vitality through the arts. Emerging Traditional Artists Program South Arts is pleased to announce the FY26 Emerging Traditional Artists Program (ETAP), a component of the In These Mountains, Central Appalachian Folk Arts and Culture initiative. This program recognizes and supports a new generation of traditional artists that have demonstrated a high level of skill in, commitment to, and leadership in their traditional art form. Artists must reside in an Appalachian Regional Commission-designated County in Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, or Tennessee. Awards provide financial support to ETAP participants to ensure the continuation of traditional knowledge and artistic skills within their cultural communities. Selected ETAP artists will receive $5,000 awards (with limited restrictions) to support learning opportunities including training, networking, and promotion. These opportunities should equip traditional artists to expand their own knowledge/practice and to increase the impact of their work within their communities. In addition to cash awards, selected artists will participate in a series of networking and team-building workshops (both online and in-person) with other ETAP awardees, at no cost to themselves, and will be paired with a member of the 2024 ETAP cohort for peer mentorship.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Applicants for the Emerging Traditional Artist Program must: Be an individual folk or traditional artist.Be in the early stages of your career/practice.Be at least 18 years of age by the application deadline of September 30, 2025.Be a United States citizen, lawfully admitted to the U.S. for permanent residence, or have permission from the Department of Homeland Security to work permanently in the U.S.Have been a resident of a county designated by the Appalachian Regional Commission in Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, or Tennessee for a period of at least two years immediately before the application deadline.Expect to maintain residency in an ARC county during the award period.For artists in ARC counties in Kentucky, North Carolina, and Tennessee:Practice music, handcrafts/material culture, and/or foodways.Interdisciplinary traditional artists are welcome to apply.For artists in ARC counties in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, and South Carolina:Practice handcrafts/material culture.

Ineligibility

Past awardees of the Emerging Traditional Artists Program and In These Mountains Folk & Traditional Arts Master Artist Fellowship are not eligible.