Express Grant Program

The Express Grant program offers expedited awards to supporting the presentation of touring artists. Donor Name: South Arts State: Selected States County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: All Time Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: South Arts believes that rural communities deserve great art, and can require specialized support to make that vision viable. Express Grants are an opportunity for organizations in South Arts’ nine-state region to receive fee support to present Southern guest film directors, visual and performing artists, or writers from inside or outside of the presenter’s state. Artist fee support is awarded for: film (documentary, fiction, experimental, and animation), performing arts (theater, music, opera, musical theater, and dance), literary arts (fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry), traditional arts, and visual arts (crafts, drawing, experimental, painting, photography, sculpture, and mixed media). South Arts is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. They have prioritized this commitment to ensure that Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) led organizations, LGBTQIA+ led organizations, and organizations representing persons with disabilities are represented as both applicants and grantees. In addition, we encourage applications for projects that engage BIPOC artists,  LGBTQIA+ artists, and artists with disabilities. Funding Information Express Grants support rural organizations and communities with expedited grants of up to $3,000. Eligibility Criteria Eligibility Criteria Only nonprofit and governmental presenting organizations in South Arts’ nine-state region are eligible to apply. South Arts’ nine-state region includes Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. For the purposes of these guidelines, presenters are defined as organizations that present or host guest artists for engagements in their communities. Only organizations in rural communities are eligible for this grant program. For the purposes of these guidelines, a standard definition of rural is a city population of 50,000 or below. Applicants must have not-for-profit, tax-exempt status, be an official unit of local, county, or state government, or be a federally recognized tribal community. For nonprofit applicants, tax-exempt status will be verified by a third party entity. Governmental applicants must provide proof of government status. South Arts does not accept applications from fiscal agents for this grant program. Applications will not be accepted from organizations that do not have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). Learn more about obtaining a UEI here. Eligible projects must take place in South Arts’ nine-state region.  Eligible projects must include the engagement of a performing or visual artist, film director, writer, or an artist ensemble/company that resides in South Arts’ region. The engagement can include a guest artist that resides within or outside of the applicant’s state. Supported disciplines include film (documentary, fiction, experimental, and animation), performing arts (theater, music, opera, musical theater, and dance), literary arts (fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry), traditional arts, and visual arts (crafts, drawing, experimental, painting, photography, sculpture, and mixed media). Need help finding a Southern artist? View artists who have been supported by South Arts in the past or look through our State Arts Agency partners’ rosters. Screening partners currently receiving funding through South Arts’ Southern Circuit program are not eligible to receive additional funding for the Southern Circuit film screenings. Applicants currently receiving funding through South Arts’ Presentation Grants or Traditional Arts Touring program are not eligible for this grant program. Applicants are limited to one Express Grant application per South Arts fiscal year. Applicants who have failed to submit final reports for any previous South Arts grant by the application deadline for this program will not be considered for funding in this grant cycle. Applicants who fail to properly acknowledge South Arts’ AND the National Endowment for the Arts’ support in programs and press materials may not be considered for future funding. For more information, visit South Arts.