Literary Arts Grants for Writers and Publishers (US)

The grants deepen their commitment to amplifying literary traditions and practices of the American South through directly funding the initiation, development, and completion of literary arts projects in poetry, fiction, creative or literary nonfiction, young readers’ literature, and drama (playwriting and screenwriting).

Categories 

• Literary Arts Grants for Writers
• Literary Arts Grants for Publishers

Funding Information

• Literary Arts Grants for Writers: South Arts will award literary grants up to $5,000 to writers or organizations.
• Literary Arts Grants for Publishers: South Arts will award literary arts grants up to $5,000 to support Southern independent publishers and small presses.

Eligible Expenses

• Funds can be used for these eligible expenses directly related to participation in proposed activities:
  • For Organizations: Itemize project personnel costs
  • Travel (itemize air, ground, lodging, per diem, visa services)
  • Equipment rental (itemize all equipment rental expenses)
  • Office expenses (itemize supplies, and shipping/postage)
  • Services/professional fees (itemize editorial, graphic design, photography/videography, financial, publishing, production, and distribution services, etc.)
  • Marketing
  • Facility expenses (itemize rent, space rental, utilities)
  • Insurance
  • Childcare or elder caregiver service costs that arise as a result of applicant planning and executing the proposed project

Ineligible Activities

• General operating support.
• Support for a full season of programming.
• Courses or coursework in degree-granting or continuing education institutions.
• Literary publishing that does not focus on contemporary literature and/or writers.
• Publication of books, exhibition of works, or other projects by the applicant organization’s board members, faculty, or trustees.
• Projects for which no curatorial, juried, or editorial judgment has been applied to the selection of artists or art works.
• Social activities such as receptions, parties, galas, community dinners, picnics, and potlucks.
• Costs of entertainment, including amusement, diversion, and social activities and any associated costs are unallowable; generally, this includes activities at venues such as bars, wineries, and breweries where the consumption of alcohol/social activity is the primary purpose of the venue.
• Awards to individuals or organizations to honor or recognize achievement.
• Commercial (for-profit) enterprises or activities, including arts markets, concessions, food, t-shirts, artwork, or other items for resale. This includes online or virtual sales/shops.
• Construction, purchase, or renovation of facilities.
• Sub-granting or regranting.

Ineligible Costs

• Cash reserves and endowments.
• Startup costs or other costs associated with establishing new organizations.
• Alcoholic beverages or other hospitality costs.
• Purchase and/or use of gift cards and gift certificates to support project costs.
• Gifts and prizes, including cash prizes as well as other items with monetary value (e.g., electronic devices, gift certificates).
• Contributions and donations to other entities, including donation drives.
• General miscellaneous or contingency costs.
• Fines and penalties, bad debt costs, deficit reduction.
• Marketing expenses that are not directly related to the project.
• Audit costs.
• Rental costs for home office workspace owned by individuals or entities affiliated with the applicant.
• The purchase of vehicles.
• Costs incurred before the beginning or after the completion of the official project period.

Geographical Focus 

• Current, full-time resident or Headquartered in the South Arts Region (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, The Carolinas, Tennessee) both at the time of application and at receipt of the award.

Eligibility Criteria

• All applicants are eligible to receive only one grant award.
  • For Writers:
    • One application per artist or arts organization per funding cycle will be accepted.
    • Applicant artists must be 18 years of age or older.
    • Applicant artists must not be enrolled in a literary arts/writing academic program at time of application and at receipt of award.
    • Current, full-time residents for at least the prior 12 months of the South Arts region.
    • Works authored by more than one person are ineligible.
  • For Literary Arts Organizations:
    • For Publishers: Independent nonprofit publishers and small presses including journals.
    • Based in the South Arts Region for at least the prior 12 months.
    • Other non-profit organizations with a literary arts mission.

Ineligibility Criteria

• Units of government
• Colleges/Universities are ineligible to apply for this grant.

For more information, visit South Arts.