Deadline: 4-Dec-20
South Arts is seeking applications for its Traditional Arts Touring Grants Program to increase the public awareness, understanding, and appreciation of the traditional arts in the South by bringing artists together in Southern communities.
The South is home to an abundance of traditional art forms whether they are indigenous to the region, or reflect the traditions of recent immigrant communities. Traditional arts are shared aesthetics, practices and values of families, geographic communities, occupational groups, ethnic heritage groups, etc.
Traditional arts are learned orally, or by observation and imitation, often through a master artist instructing an apprentice. They are usually maintained without formal instruction or academic training. Some traditional arts have a deep-rooted history with little change, while others are constantly evolving and adapting to their changing environment.
Examples of traditional art forms (performing and visual arts) being practised in the South include Afro-Cuban batá drum, Catawba pottery, Zydeco music, Indian Bharatha Natyam dance, Anglo American quilting, Peruvian retablos, African American gospel music, Chinese zheng, Cherokee storytelling, and Minorcan net making, among others.
Program Goals
- The Traditional Arts Touring Grant Program works to increase the public awareness, understanding and appreciation of the traditional arts in the South, through funding projects that bring a traditional artist/ensemble and a scholar/folklorist for multi-day residencies in Southern communities.
- This funding program is open to a wide variety of organizations, including community cultural organizations, schools/colleges/universities, libraries, museums, presenters, etc. The program serves both communities and traditional artists. Priority consideration is given to support new applicants and underserved communities.
Funding Information
- Traditional Arts Touring Grants are available for requests from $1,000 up to $5,000.
Eligibility Criteria
- Nonprofit organizations, official units of government, and educational 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.
- Organizations must have not-for-profit, tax-exempt status, or be an official unit of local, county or state government. Governmental organizations must provide proof of government status. Educational institutions (schools, school systems, colleges and universities) are eligible.
- All applicants must have a DUNS number. Applications will not be accepted from organizations that do not have a DUNS number.
- All applicants must have a readiness plan. Applications will not be accepted from organizations that do not provide the required description of the readiness plan.
- Eligible projects must include the following:
- Engagement of a traditional artist or ensemble (meeting the description above of a traditional art form) that resides in South Arts’ region, but not within the applicant’s state for, at minimum, one public presentation and one educational activity;
- A residency of two days or more;
- The public presentation must include contextual/scholarly content by a folklorist or scholar;
- Projects must take place in the applicant’s state.
- Projects may include performing (music, dance and storytelling) and/or visual arts/crafts.
- Organizations, which have failed to submit final reports for any previous South Arts grant by the time of this application, will not be considered for funding in this grant cycle.
- Organizations that fail to properly acknowledge South Arts’ AND the National Endowment for the Arts’ support in programs and press materials will not be considered for additional funding.
- Organizations are eligible for only one Traditional Arts grant through the fiscal year July 1, 2020-June 30, 2021.
- Organizations currently receiving funding through South Arts’ Performing Arts Touring or Literary Arts Touring program are not eligible for this grant program.
Review Criteria
Applications are reviewed and funding adjudications are made using the following criteria to evaluate each application:
- Artistic Excellence (20%) – Quality of artist/company;
- Project’s Artistic Merit (35%) – Quality of project;
- Audience Development/Community Involvement (20%) – Quality and degree of audience development efforts and community participation;
- Accessibility (10%) – Quality and degree of facility and program accessibility;
- Organizational Capacity/Evaluation (10%) – Presenter’s ability to carry out and evaluate the project;
- Readiness Plan (5%) – Quality (content, comprehensiveness, and currency) of planning.
Application Requirements
Applicants are required to submit the following materials:
- Application;
- Proof of government status (if applicable);
- Letter of intent or contract between the artist(s), scholar/folklorist and the presenting organization stating the services (including the educational component), date(s) and fee (signed by all parties);
- Artist/company support material – Artist biography, ensemble history, digital photos, etc.;
- Scholar/folklorist support material – C.V.;
- Audio or video sample – a representative work sample of the artist/ensemble;
- Digital photos – a representative work sample of the artist’s work (visual artists);
- Supplemental documents (optional); Other support material (e.g., still images, reviews, letters of support, or brochure) directly related to the application may be submitted. Supplemental documents should not exceed five (5) pages;
- Readiness Plan description (required for eligibility).
All grant applications must be submitted online using the eGrant system. They recommend that you visit the site early to create your account and become familiar with the system. Complete your application in eGrant and upload the required materials.
For more information, visit https://www.southarts.org/community-organization-grants/traditional-arts-touring-grants