Arts in Rural Places
Organizations in rural or small communities apply for expedited grants of up to $3,000 to support community engagement projects featuring Southern artists.
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Get matched →- Deadline
- rolling, apply anytime
- Entry fee
- Not listed - check the source
- Award
- $3,000
- Location
- South Arts nine-state region (AL, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, SC, or TN)
- Exhibition window
- Jul 1, 2026 → Jun 30, 2027
About
Overview
Arts in Rural Places Grants support rural, isolated, and small communities with expedited grants of up to $3,000 for arts engagement projects. Open to organizations in South Arts' nine-state region (AL, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, SC, or TN), the program supports projects featuring Southern artists with at least two in-person or live, virtual public activities.
Key Dates and Deadlines
- Applications open April 15, 2026 and are accepted on a rolling basis
- Applications must be submitted at least 60 days prior to project start date
- Applicants notified by email within four weeks of submission
- Projects must take place between July 1, 2026 and June 30, 2027
Eligibility
- Tax-exempt nonprofit (501(c)(3)) or official unit of local, county, or state government
- Based within South Arts' nine-state region (AL, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, SC, or TN)
- Located in a rural, isolated, or small community (geographically isolated, isolated due to socioeconomic factors, or city with 50,000 people or less)
- Engage a professional artist or ensemble from South Arts' region
- Have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI)
- Ineligible: organizations outside the region, fiscally sponsored organizations, for-profit businesses, and individual artists
Award and Funding
Grants provide artist fee support of up to $3,000 on a first-come, first-served basis. Applicants must provide a dollar-for-dollar cash match (for example, $3,000 request requires $3,000 in matching funds for a $6,000 artist fee). All funding is contingent on availability.
Supported Artist Types and Disciplines
- Film (documentary, fiction, experimental, animation)
- Traditional arts (music, dance, storytelling, visual arts/crafts)
- Visual arts (crafts, drawing, experimental, painting, photography, sculpture, mixed media)
- Performing arts (theater, music, opera, musical theater, dance)
- Literary arts (fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry)
Project Requirements
Projects must include at least two public-facing activities: a public presentation (film screening, performance, reading, or exhibition) and an educational/community engagement activity (workshop, demonstration, lecture, facilitated discussion, or master class).
Contact
New applicants are encouraged to contact Program Director Nikki Estes at 404-874-7244 x816 or [email protected] to discuss eligibility before applying.
- Award
- Expedited awards of up to $3,000
- Theme
- Arts in Rural Places supports community engagement projects featuring Southern artists in rural, isolated, and small communities.
- Eligibility
- Tax-exempt nonprofits or official units of local, county, or state government located in rural, isolated, or small communities (50,000 people or less) within Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, or Tennessee; must engage a Southern artist and provide a dollar-for-dollar cash match.
- Contact
- [email protected]
Every listing links to the organizer's official page. Always confirm deadlines, fees, and entry rules there before you apply.