Literary Arts Grant

South Arts’ Literary Arts Grants are part of the organization’s broader Literary Arts Initiative to support contemporary literary practice across the American South. The program provides project support to individual writers, independent literary publishers, small presses, and literary-missioned organizations that focus on poetry, fiction, creative or literary nonfiction, young readers’ literature, and drama including playwriting and screenwriting. The aim is to directly fund initiation, development, and completion of literary projects that amplify Southern literary traditions and practices. Two core tracks provide awards up to 5,000 dollars: one for writers and one for publishers and small presses. A third, smaller track focuses on writers’ professional development, offering up to 1,000 dollars for travel and conferences or workshops and up to 2,000 dollars for residencies and retreats. Funds may support costs such as travel, equipment rental, office expenses, professional services (editorial, design, production, distribution), marketing, facility and insurance costs, and, for writers, caregiver support that arises from project activities (capped at 10 percent of the request). Unallowable activities include general operating support, full-season support, coursework for academic credit, projects lacking curatorial or editorial judgment, social or entertainment activities, prizes and gifts, construction or capital costs, sub-granting, and costs incurred outside the official project period. All grants require a 2:1 cost share in which South Arts pays up to two-thirds of total project costs with a maximum award of 5,000 dollars. Applicants must cover the balance and identify sources of the match in the budget (self-funding, private contributions, stipends, or additional grants). Example scenarios clarify that a 6,000 dollar project can request 4,000 dollars, a 15,000 dollar project can request up to 5,000 dollars, and a 3,000 dollar project can request 2,000 dollars. Budgeted expenses should be itemized and directly tied to the proposed activities. Eligibility varies by applicant type but is geographically focused. Writers must be 18 or older, not enrolled in an academic writing program at application or award, and full-time residents of the South Arts region (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee) throughout application and project periods. Works authored by more than one person are ineligible for the writers’ track. Literary organizations and independent nonprofit publishers or small presses must be based in the same South Arts region and carry a literary mission; other nonprofit literary organizations may also apply. Units of government and colleges or universities are not eligible, nor are prior-cycle Literary Arts Grants awardees or applicants seeking support for the same project through other South Arts programs. Applications are submitted via Salesforce and must include required attachments. Writers submit writing samples (PDF) following strict page and formatting limits by genre, along with an artist statement and an impact statement. Organizations submit a mission statement that addresses goals, staffing qualifications, governance, and how proposed programs align with mission and accomplishments. Narrative questions request details on the proposed project and planning, marketing and evaluation plans, service to community and field, access for people with disabilities, and how equity and inclusion will be ensured. Panel review emphasizes artistic excellence (45 percent), artistic merit and capacity (40 percent), and impact (15 percent), using submitted samples and required materials to assess quality, feasibility, partners, budgets, timelines, and community engagement. For the 2025 cycle, applications opened on October 1, 2025, and close on November 19, 2025. Awards are expected to be announced in late December 2025, contingent on application volume and review timelines. The funded project period runs from January 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027, an 18-month window during which all activities and expenditures must occur. Applicants not selected will be notified by email prior to the award announcement. Given application volume, South Arts cannot provide individual feedback, and panelists do not communicate details of their review. Applicants should plan for required reporting at the end of the funding cycle, including acknowledging South Arts in any supported publications and providing a copy for the organization’s permanent collection. For questions about the application process, applicants may email Emmitt Stevenson at estevenson@southarts.org. A technical assistance option is also referenced for scheduling with Joseph Crawford. Applicants are reminded that incomplete or improperly submitted applications may not be considered, and South Arts reserves this right without notification.

Lead with high-quality work samples and a clear project plan aligned to mission; itemize a realistic budget that demonstrates the 2:1 match and compensation to writers; address audience needs, DEI and accessibility, and evaluation methods; ensure writing samples follow page/format rules.