Arts in Community Grants are designed to support deeper engagements between Southern communities and artists. Through these grants supported by the National Endowment for the Arts, we aim to increase access to the arts, expand audiences for artists, and broaden our reach. Eligible projects require a Southern artist/company visiting another Southern state for public activities, offering access to arts programming by professional artists. Funding supports Southern film directors, traditional artists, visual artists, performing artists, or writers:

• film (documentary, fiction, experimental, and animation),
• traditional arts (music, dance, storytelling, and visual arts/crafts),
• visual arts (crafts, drawing, experimental, painting, photography, sculpture, and mixed media),
• performing arts (theater, music, opera, musical theater, and dance), and
• literary arts (fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry).

Projects require an artist or artist ensemble and a host or partner organization. Project must include at least two in-person or live, virtual public activities – both a public presentation (a film screening, performance, reading, or exhibition) and an educational/community engagement activity (a workshop, demonstration, lecture, facilitated discussion, or master class). Based on the artist fee, the maximum request is $10,000. The grant requires a dollar-for-dollar cash match (for example, an applicant that requests $10,000 must provide a $10,000 cash match for a project with a $20,000 artist fee).

New applicants are encouraged to contact Program Director Nikki Estes at 404-874-7244 x816 to discuss eligibility before applying.

Important Dates and Deadlines

• Applications open on July 15, 2026.
• An informational webinar will be held on July 22, 2026, 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. ET. Register for the webinar.
• Applications must be submitted on or before September 1, 2026, by 11:59 p.m. ET. Please note that staff will not be available for assistance after regular business hours, so we encourage questions and submissions as early as possible.
• Applicants will be notified by email by November 24, 2026. Please note that Arts in Community Grants are subject to funding availability.
• Projects must take place between January 1, 2027, and December 31, 2027.