A New Chapter for Southern Literature: South Arts Expands Opportunities for Southern Writers and Publishers
Writers across the South are invited to apply for the Southern Prize for Literature, which awards an unrestricted $25,000 to the winner and $10,000 to each of two finalists to support their creative practice.
Does this fit your work? 5 questions score every call to your medium, location and budget. Free.
Get matched →- Deadline
- annual cycle, check dates
- Entry fee
- Not listed - check the source
- Award
- $25,000
- Location
- Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee
About
Overview
South Arts has relaunched its Southern Prize for Literature in partnership with Oxford American magazine, opening new opportunities for writers across its nine-state region and launching the next cycle of Literary Arts Project Grants to support literary publishers and small presses.
Southern Prize for Literature Awards
- Winner: $25,000 unrestricted award
- Two finalists: $10,000 unrestricted award each
- Awards support creative practice, including time for writing, revision, research, and artistic development
- Awardees published in special edition of Oxford American magazine (summer 2027)
- Awardees may be invited to participate in readings, publications, or other engagement opportunities
Literary Arts Project Grants
Up to $5,000 per project for literary arts organizations and small presses focused on contemporary literary arts. Grants support projects in two categories: creative literary work creation and publishing (literary journals, magazine issues, book publishing, anthologies); and community engagement (reading series, literary festivals, podcasts, digital programming).
Eligible Disciplines
- Poetry
- Fiction
- Creative or literary nonfiction
- Young readers' literature
- Drama (scriptwriting)
Eligibility
- Writers and literary organizations/small presses in South Arts' nine-state region: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee
- Applicants must be local or regional in scope
- Projects must demonstrate artistic excellence, editorial rigor, and meaningful public or community impact
- Eligible projects should demonstrate collaboration, innovation, and broad public access
Funding Partners
South Arts' Literary Arts Initiatives are made possible with support from the Amazon Literary Partnership, The Warner Fund, and other generous donors. The Southern Prize for Literature is also supported by The Betsy Hotel.
More Information
For more information on Southern Prize for Literature, Literary Arts Project Grants, and eligibility, visit southarts.org.
- Award
- Southern Prize for Literature: $25,000 unrestricted award to winner; $10,000 unrestricted award to each of two finalists. Literary Arts Project Grants: up to $5,000 per project.
- Theme
- Southern literature and storytelling; support for individual writers and independent publishers that sustain the region's literary tradition.
- Eligibility
- Writers and literary organizations/small presses in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
- Audience
- Writers and literary organizations in the South; literary publishers and small presses region-wide.
Every listing links to the organizer's official page. Always confirm deadlines, fees, and entry rules there before you apply.