Applications are due Aug. 10, 2025
These instructions are for VU investigators. VUMC investigators should contact LSO@vanderbilt.edu for more information.
Vanderbilt University may submit only one application to the South Arts 2025 Arts in Community Grants.
Overview
Arts in Community Grants are designed to support deeper engagements between Southern communities and artists. Through these grants, South Arts aims 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 a community residency of three days or more. The residency must include at least three in-person or live, virtual public activities with a minimum of four hours of artist engagement spread across the three activities. 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/partner organization. Projects must include public activities that offer access to arts programming by Southern artists (this can include public performances, screenings, readings, exhibitions, workshops, demonstrations, lectures, facilitated discussions and/or master classes).
An informational webinar will be held on Aug. 6, 2025 at 10 a.m. Register to participate.
Please note that the webinar will be recorded and available on this webpage.
Award Information
Based on the artist fee, the maximum request is $10,000. The grant requires a dollar-for-dollar cash match.
Eligibility
- Eligible projects must take place in South Arts’ nine-state region. (AL, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, SC, or TN)
- Eligible projects must include community engagement activities.
- Project activities must be open and marketed to the public and dedicated to serving a broad audience.
- Activities at conferences and school-focused events, which primarily engage students, will not be considered open and accessible to the general public.
Application Materials
To apply for this opportunity, prepare and submit the following:
- Two-page project description with budget summary
- CV/Biosketch
- Required Letter of Support acknowledging
- the dollar-for-dollar cash match
- that the grant supports the artist fee portion of your project’s budget
- no indirect costs or additional project costs
Internal Submission Instructions
Interested faculty should visit https://vanderbilt.infoready4.com/#freeformCompetitionDetail/1989465 to submit an application for the internal LSO competition and to find additional information about the opportunity. The deadline for the internal competition is Aug. 10, 2025.
Any questions about this opportunity or the LSO process may be directed to VU-LSO@vanderbilt.edu.
