01 Nov South Arts Literary Grants | Due December 4, 2024
As part of its Literary Arts Initiative, South Arts is excited to announce grants for literary arts projects for writers and publishers. These grants deepen our commitment to amplifying literary traditions and practices of the American South through directly funding the initiation, development, and completion of literary arts projects in poetry, fiction, creative or literary nonfiction, young readers’ literature, and drama (playwriting and screenwriting).
LEARN MORE AND APPLY: https://www.southarts.org/grants-opportunities/literary-arts-grant
Literary Arts Grants will be made to writers, independent literary publishers, and small presses:
LITERARY ARTS GRANTS FOR WRITERS
South Arts will award literary grants up to $5,000. Applicants (writers or organizations) must apply through Salesforce and include writing samples and other required attachments specified in these Guidelines.
LITERARY ARTS GRANTS FOR PUBLISHERS
South Arts will award literary arts grants up to $5,000 to support Southern independent publishers and small presses. Applicants must apply through Salesforce and include the publisher’s representative work samples and other required attachments as specified in these Guidelines.
Important Dates:
- Applications Open: 10/15/2024
- Deadline to Apply: 12/4/2024
- Awards Announced: February 2025
- Funding Cycle: March 1, 2025 – August 30, 2026 (18 months)
The award announcement may be earlier or later than the date listed above, depending on the number of applications and judging process.
Applicants who are not selected for an award will receive notification via the email on their application form before the award announcement.
South Arts reserves the right to not consider incomplete or improperly submitted applications without informing the applicant.
Judges do not communicate any information or details of their review. Given the volume of applications received, South Arts cannot provide individual feedback on the application and from the panel.
Applicants who move from the South Arts Region after they submit their application are encouraged to notify South Arts and will not be eligible to receive a grant award.
Who is eligible?
ELIGIBLE ENTITIES
- All applicants are eligible to receive only one grant award.
- Current, full-time resident or Headquartered in the South Arts Region (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, The Carolinas, Tennessee) both at the time of application and at receipt of the award.
For Writers
- One application per artist or arts organization per funding cycle will be accepted.
- Applicant artists must be 18 years of age or older.
- Applicant artists must not be enrolled in a literary arts/writing academic program at time of application and at receipt of award.
- Current, full-time residents for at least the prior 12 months s of the South Arts region (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, The Carolinas, Tennessee) both at the time of application during the project period.
- Works authored by more than one person are ineligible.
For Literary Arts Organizations
- For Publishers: Independent nonprofit publishers and small presses including journals.
- Based in the South Arts Region for at least the prior 12 months (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, The Carolinas, Tennessee) both at the time of application and during the project period.
- Other non-profit organizations with a literary arts mission.
INELIGIBLE ENTITIES
- Units of government
- Colleges/Universities are ineligible to apply for this grant.
UNALLOWABLE ACTIVITIES
- General operating support.
- Support for a full season of programming.
- Courses or coursework in degree-granting or continuing education institutions.
- Literary publishing that does not focus on contemporary literature and/or writers.
- Publication of books, exhibition of works, or other projects by the applicant organization’s board members, faculty, or trustees.
- Projects for which no curatorial, juried, or editorial judgment has been applied to the selection of artists or art works.
- Social activities such as receptions, parties, galas, community dinners, picnics, and potlucks.
- Costs of entertainment, including amusement, diversion, and social activities and any associated costs are unallowable; generally, this includes activities at venues such as bars, wineries, and breweries where the consumption of alcohol/social activity is the primary purpose of the venue.
- Awards to individuals or organizations to honor or recognize achievement.
- Commercial (for-profit) enterprises or activities, including arts markets, concessions, food, t-shirts, artwork, or other items for resale. This includes online or virtual sales/shops.
- Construction, purchase, or renovation of facilities.
- Sub-granting or regranting.
UNALLOWABLE COSTS
- Cash reserves and endowments.
- Startup costs or other costs associated with establishing new organizations.
- Alcoholic beverages or other hospitality costs.
- Purchase and/or use of gift cards and gift certificates to support project costs.
- Gifts and prizes, including cash prizes as well as other items with monetary value (e.g., electronic devices, gift certificates).
- Contributions and donations to other entities, including donation drives.
- General miscellaneous or contingency costs.
- Fines and penalties, bad debt costs, deficit reduction.
- Marketing expenses that are not directly related to the project.
- Audit costs.
- Rental costs for home office workspace owned by individuals or entities affiliated with the applicant.
- The purchase of vehicles.
- Costs incurred before the beginning or after the completion of the official project period.
MATCHING REQUIREMENTS
All grants require a 2:1 cost share. South Arts matches $2 for every $1 the applicant contributes towards project costs.
Grants will pay up to 2/3 of the total cost of the opportunity, with a maximum award of $5,000. The applicant must cover remaining expenses, and South Arts requires a 2:1 match (2 South Arts: 1 grantee). Artists may include their own cash in the match. Examples:
- Total Project Cost- $6,000, the applicant can request up to $4,000 and contribute the remaining $2,000 of funds through a combination of their own cash and other contributions.
- Total Project Costs are $15,000: The applicant can request up to $5,000 and contribute the remaining $10,000 of funds through a combination of their own cash and other contributions.
- Toal Project Costs are $3,000: The applicant can request up to $2,000 and contribute the remaining $1,000 of funds through a combination of their own cash and other contributions.
Budget details should identify the source of funds (including self-funding, private contributions, institutional stipends, or additional grant funding) not requested from South Arts.
Total projected expenses must meet or exceed the request by 50%.
Funds can be used for these eligible expenses directly related to participation in proposed activities:
- For Organizations: Itemize project personnel costs
- Travel (itemize air, ground, lodging, per diem, visa services)
- Equipment rental (itemize all equipment rental expenses)
- Office expenses (itemize supplies, and shipping/postage)
- Services/professional fees (itemize editorial, graphic design, photography/videography, financial, publishing, production, and distribution services, etc.)
- Marketing
- Facility expenses (itemize rent, space rental, utilities)
- Insurance
- Childcare or elder caregiver service costs that arise as a result of applicant planning and executing the proposed project