South Arts Announces 54 Grant and Award Recipients

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54 artists and arts organizations receiving support from four programs

South Arts is pleased to announce the newest recipients receiving support through the regional arts organization’s most recent grantmaking and award cycles: Jazz Road Tours, Cross-Sector Impact Grants, National Leaders of Color Fellows, and Emerging Traditional Artists Program. 

“As the year draws to a close, we at South Arts are excited to reflect on the growth of our programming, as well as look toward another year of supporting arts equity and sustainability throughout the region,” said Susie Surkamer, President and CEO of South Arts. “Throughout FY2023, we were able to distribute more than $4.5M, supporting 293 artists and organizations. We look forward to continuing this momentum as we enter the new year.”

Recipients of these four most recent award cycles will each receive funds of up to $15,000 and/or bespoke resources to support their work. With support from these programs, the artists and organizations will gain resources to build upon their work, fostering creativity and connections throughout their communities and beyond. Recipients’ individual projects and cohort-based activities will begin in early 2024, taking shape over the course of the next year. The scope of these programs demonstrates South Arts’ continued dedication to supporting the region’s artistic landscape across varied disciplines and mediums. For more information on the current programs, recipients and upcoming application cycles, please visit our website.

Fall 2023 Jazz Road Artists

Jazz Road Tours annually supports approximately 50 jazz artists and ensembles with grants ranging from $5,000 to $15,000 to cover a portion of tour expenses and tighten the pay gap between artists and presenters. Some of these expenses include venue and travel fees, equitable pay for the artists, or costs of management, coordination, and promotion. 
The Fall 2023 Jazz Road Artists will begin touring as early as January 2024 and continue through the start of 2024, spanning across the U.S in cities like Charlotte, GA; Missoula, MT; Kihei, HI; Orlando, FL; Los Angeles, San Juan, PR; Durham, NC; Billings, MT; CA; Houston, TX; San Francisco, CA; Tucson, AZ and more.

A core component of South Arts’ national Jazz Road initiative, Jazz Road Tours is coordinated in partnership with five fellow regional arts organizations: Arts Midwest, Mid America Arts, Mid-Atlantic Arts Alliance, New England Foundation for the Arts, and the Western States Arts Federation. Jazz Road is made possible with funds from the Doris Duke Foundation with additional support from the Mellon Foundation.

Cross-Sector Impact Grant Recipients

As part of South Arts’ annual Cross-Sector Impact Grant program, 21 organizations will receive grants up to $15,000. These grants support "arts and..." projects developed by partners—one arts organization or artist, and one non-arts organization—harnessing the power of collaboration. 

Cross-Sector Impact grant projects utilize the arts as a tool in creative approaches to address and advance an issue that is of importance in their community, while also establishing or advancing relationships across at least two different sectors, one being in the arts.

National Leaders of Color Fellows

In partnership with regional arts organization Western States Arts Federation (WESTAF), this program provides tools, continued learning opportunities and a network to administrators of color who seek to move into leadership positions in the arts and culture sector. Through a cohort-based learning model, LoCF has been attracting, training, networking, and promoting a new generation of diverse arts leaders since 2010.

During the eight-month fellowship, these nine fellows receive access to specialists in the field, strategic learning objectives determined to deepen thought on anti-racist and culturally-oriented leadership practices, and national-level network and cohort building. Upon completion of this program, participants transition to alumni status and have opportunities to collaborate with the US Regional Art Organization in their region as advisors, funding panelists, and/or other professional capacities.

Emerging Traditional Artists Program

As part of the In These Mountains: Central Appalachian Folk Arts & Culture program, this year’s Emerging Traditional Artists Program (ETAP) 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.

The year’s cohort will be awarded $5,000 in grants for learning opportunities, such as training, networking, and promotion in order to provide greater impact within their communities. Awardees will participate in a series of in-person and virtual convenings designed to build long-term relationships between emerging traditional artists across the region, beyond state and local boundaries.