Southern Prize and State Fellowships for Visual Arts

The Southern Prize and State Fellowships for Visual Arts is a regional grant initiative designed by South Arts to recognize and celebrate exceptional visual artists from the American South. The program specifically targets artists residing in nine states within the South Arts region: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. With a dual-level selection process conducted by national juries, this program aims to showcase the breadth and diversity of artistic expression found throughout the region while providing meaningful financial and professional development support to visual artists. At the core of the program are the South Arts State Fellowships. Each year, one artist from each of the nine eligible states is selected to receive a $5,000 fellowship award. These selections are made by a national jury based on demonstrated artistic excellence. The nine state fellowship recipients then become candidates for the prestigious Southern Prize awards. Of these nine, one artist is selected for the $25,000 Southern Prize, and another for the $10,000 Finalist Prize. In addition to the financial awards, both the Southern Prize winner and finalist receive a two-week residency at The Hambidge Center in Georgia. The program places a strong emphasis on public exposure and community engagement. All nine state fellows are required to participate in a traveling visual arts exhibition that showcases their work across the region. The exhibition launches in late summer 2026 and may continue for up to 24 months. Fellows are responsible for providing completed works that represent their submitted application portfolio. South Arts covers the cost of shipping but does not cover expenses related to installation preparation, packaging, or crating of artwork. Eligibility for the program is specific and includes several key requirements. Applicants must be individual visual artists or collaborative teams of two artists who are U.S. citizens or have permanent work authorization. They must be 18 or older and legal residents of one of the nine South Arts states for at least two years prior to the application deadline. Students currently enrolled in high school or college fine arts programs are not eligible. Artists may only apply once per cycle and those previously awarded fellowships must wait six to ten years before reapplying, depending on their award level. The application process is conducted through the Salesforce grants portal and includes an online application form, a $25 fee (with a waiver option), submission of work samples created in the past five years, a resume, artist statement, and proof of residency. Artists must also submit a copy of their state-issued ID. The 2026 application window opens on February 10, 2026, and closes on February 27, 2026, with the option to request a fee waiver by February 23. Final fellowship awards will be announced by April 2026, with the Southern Prize winners revealed at the awards ceremony later in the summer. The awards are unrestricted in use, though South Arts encourages their application toward artistic development. Awardees must also provide a brief final report outlining the use of funds. Additionally, Southern Prize recipients may be asked to participate in publicity events, exhibitions, or other professional development opportunities. This program is one of South Arts' key efforts to uplift and amplify the rich visual arts culture of the American South.