South Arts

About South Arts

South Arts Inc’s largest recent awards are the $157,500 Southern Cultural Treasures Grants, a clear signal that the foundation backs Southern cultural institutions, artists, and traditions at meaningful scale. In 2024, that grant tier reached groups such as Colour of Music Inc in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina; True Colors Theatre Company in Atlanta; and Jazzarts Charlotte in Charlotte, North Carolina. The pattern points to a funder centered on arts infrastructure and cultural continuity across the South rather than isolated one-off support. Their portfolio includes performing arts, jazz touring and residencies, traditional and folk arts, film, artist fellowships, and professional development for arts administrators and presenters. The foundation also supports community engagement and creative placemaking, with grants tied to public presentation and educational components. Recent awards show activity across both established cultural organizations and programs serving artists and regional audiences, including the Black Appalachian storytelling tradition, Central Appalachian folk arts, and Southern dance and jazz initiatives. South Arts Inc’s grantmaking is regional, with a nine-state service area that shapes much of its program design and audience reach.

What South Arts Funds

A major thread in South Arts Inc’s work is cultural preservation. In 2024, it gave $157,500 to the Catawba Indian Nation in Rock Hill, South Carolina, through Southern Cultural Treasures Grants, alongside awards to organizations such as Mississippi Center for Cultural Production in Utica, Mississippi and Junebug Productions Inc in New Orleans. Another focus is Appalachian folk and traditional culture. The foundation awarded $30,000 to Hindman Settlement School Inc in Hindman, Kentucky through In These Mountains: Project Grants and $25,000 to Junior Appalachian Musicians Inc in Independence, Virginia through the same program line. It also supports jazz artist development and touring. Jazz Road Creative Residencies provide grants from $5,000 to $40,000, while Jazz Road Tours fund three- to six-site tours, often in rural and underserved communities. Professional capacity building appears as well: South Arts Inc awarded $44,200 to Appalachian State University2 in Boone, North Carolina for In These Mountains work tied to the Cargill grant cycle.

How South Arts Gives