Literary Arts Grants for Writers and Publishers

As part of its Literary Arts Initiative, South Arts is excited to announce grants for literary arts projects for writers and publishers.

Donor Name: South Arts

State: Selected States

County: All Counties

Type of Grant: Grant

Deadline: 12/04/2024

Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000

Grant Duration: 2 Years

Details:

These grants deepen the 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).

Literary Arts Grants will be made to writers, independent literary publishers, and small presses:

• Literary Arts Grants for Writers
  • South Arts will award literary grants up to $5,000. Applicants (writers or organizations) must apply through Salesforce and include writing samples and other required attachments specified in these Guidelines.
• Literary Arts Grants for Publishers
  • South Arts will award literary arts grants up to $5,000 to support Southern independent publishers and small presses. Applicants must apply through Salesforce and include the publisher’s representative work samples and other required attachments as specified in these Guidelines.

Types of Projects 

Literary Grants support projects across several categories: Creative Literary Work Creation and Publishing, Community Engagement, and Professional Development.

• Creative Literary Work Creation and Publishing (Writers and Literary Arts Organizations-Small Literary Presses/Publishers-grants up to $5,000)
  • For writers and independent publishers and presses who seek support for projects that engage contemporary writers who live and create in the South Arts region in the development and publishing of creative works across literary genres including poetry, fiction, drama, playwriting, and creative nonfiction. Content may be published in print, digitally, and/or in audio formats, and should be in English.
  • Projects that are eligible for support include:
    • Creation Projects (writers only- new works and in-progress writing projects)
    • Research Projects (writers only)
    • Literary Publishing Projects (organizations only)
• Community Engagement (Writers and Literary Arts Organizations-grants up to $5,000)
  • For writers and literary arts organizations who seek support for projects that engage the public with contemporary writers and creative literary works. Projects may have a local or regional focus where eligible projects include but are not limited to,
    • Reading Series
    • Festivals
    • Podcasts
• Professional Development (Writers only – grants up to $1,000 for travel and conferences/workshops; up to $2,000 for residencies/retreats)
  • This project type and deadline is for writers and emphasizes professional development opportunities that serve to enhance a writer’s career. Proposed projects may be local, national or international opportunities where eligible projects include:
    • Writer Retreats or residencies
    • Travel for writers to take advantage of a career enhancing opportunities that is not related to conference attendance
    • Writer’s conferences or workshops that allow writers to enhance skills and grow a peer network.

Uses of funds 

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.

Grant Period

March 1, 2025 – August 30, 2026 (18 months).

Who is eligible?

• Eligible Entities
  • All applicants are eligible to receive only one grant award.
  • 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.
• 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 s of the South Arts region (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, The Carolinas, Tennessee) both at the time of application during the project period.
  • 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 (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, The Carolinas, Tennessee) both at the time of application and during the project period.
  • Other non-profit organizations with a literary arts mission.

For more information, visit South Arts.