South Arts Jazz Road Tours Grant

Jazz Road Tours is a grant program managed by South Arts, a nonprofit regional arts organization, and funded by the Doris Duke Foundation with additional support from the Mellon Foundation. This initiative focuses on supporting professional jazz artists by funding tours across the United States, particularly in rural or underserved communities that traditionally have limited access to live jazz performances. The program operates with an artist-centric philosophy, promoting autonomy, fair compensation, and the development of new audiences through a variety of venue types, including both traditional and unconventional spaces. Artists may request grants ranging from $5,000 to $15,000 to fund three- to six-site tours with contiguous dates. Tours must span at least 250 miles in total or reach one site at least 250 miles from the artist’s home base. Grants can be used for performance fees, travel, lodging, meals, and backline equipment. An additional $2,500 may be used to support non-musician personnel such as tour managers, childcare providers, or social media managers. The program allows applications from solo artists, composer-led ensembles, or artist-led groups consisting of two to ten musicians, all of whom must be at least 18 years old and either U.S. citizens or permanent residents. The grant application process is managed through South Arts' Salesforce portal, and applicants are encouraged to create an account early. Applications undergo a panel review process that weighs work samples and written materials equally. Evaluators assess artistic merit, tour integrity, impact on the artist's development, diversity of venues, and outreach to new audiences. Priority is given to tours that expand into underserved or rural areas and demonstrate strong community engagement strategies. The program operates in multiple cycles per year. For the 2025 calendar year, there are two deadlines: July 30, 2025, for tours occurring from October 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026, and October 15, 2025, for tours between January 1, 2026, and June 30, 2026. Notification for the July cycle is on September 1, 2025, and for the October cycle on November 15, 2025. The program is set to continue through at least 2026, with additional cycles expected. Eligible venues are broad and include community centers, festivals, museums, churches, embassies, and even house concerts. Applicants must present public performances and are expected to demonstrate a strong promotional plan in collaboration with venue partners. Prior recipients may reapply only if their new tour begins at least one year after the conclusion of their previous funded project. Applications must include a tour budget summary, which may use the provided template or a self-created document. Artists with questions can consult the Jazz Road FAQ or contact the Jazz Road team directly through South Arts. The program encourages artists to explore their creative potential, develop sustainable touring careers, and bring jazz to communities that otherwise might not experience it.

Clearly articulate the tour’s impact on career growth; Emphasize underserved community engagement; Prioritize continuity of tour route and ensemble; Submit strong work samples