Organizer Information

South Arts is a regional arts organization that supports, advocates for, and celebrates artists across the American South. Their mission centers around fostering artistic excellence, equity, and access in their nine-state service area. Through grants, fellowships, and programmatic partnerships, South Arts amplifies the voices of Southern artists, connects them with audiences, and invests in the region’s cultural vitality. The Southern Prize & State Fellowships is one of South Arts’ flagship programs.

Title & Description

Southern Prize & State Fellowships – Visual Arts
The Southern Prize & State Fellowships (Visual Arts) program is a highly competitive fellowship and prize opportunity administered by South Arts. It’s designed to recognize, support, and celebrate outstanding visual artists working in the American South. Artists from nine eligible states apply for a $5,000 State Fellowship; the state fellows then compete for the Southern Prize, which awards $25,000 to a winner and $10,000 to a finalist. State fellows are also required to participate in a touring exhibition of their work across the region, helping to amplify their visibility and connect their practice with broader audiences. The Southern Prize winner and finalist both receive a two-week residency at The Hambidge Center in Rabun Gap, Georgia.

Categories

  • Visual Art
  • Craft (e.g., fiber, clay, glass, metal)
  • Sculpture (3D work such as found objects, light, mixed materials)
  • Vernacular / Folk Art (self-taught or vernacular practitioners)
  • Mixed Media / Experimental (including works with sound or video)

Eligibility

  • Applicants must be 18 years or older.
  • Must be a legal U.S. citizen or have Department of Homeland Security permission to work permanently in the U.S.
  • Must be a resident in one of the nine eligible states (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee) for at least two years prior to application and maintain residency until June 30, 2027.
  • Only one application per artist (or collaborative team of up to two) per grant cycle.
  • Artists who are current full-time students in high school, undergraduate, or graduate fine art programs are not eligible.
  • The submitted work must be original, and the artist(s) applying must be the creator(s) of the work samples.
  • Film/video/media art is not eligible as a standalone category, though video or sound can be included if they support a submission in the Experimental or Mixed Media categories.

Program Benefits & Awards

  • State Fellowship: 9 artists (one per eligible state) will each receive US$5,000.
  • Southern Prize: From the nine state fellows, one artist will be awarded US$25,000; a runner-up will receive US$10,000.
  • Residency: Both the Prize winner and finalist receive a two-week residency at The Hambidge Center in Rabun Gap, GA.
  • Touring Exhibition: All state fellows are required to provide works for a touring exhibition across the South Arts region (up to 24 months).
  • Travel & Lodging for Award Ceremony: South Arts covers one round-trip flight or rental car and one hotel room for the awardees to attend the ceremony.
  • Unrestricted Funds: Awardees can use the grant money freely; there is no required matching or spending plan, though a final report (1-page) is required.

Application Fee

  • There is an application fee of US$25.
  • Fee waivers are available: Artists can request a waiver by emailing southernprize@southarts.org.

Application Requirements

  1. Proof of residency (state ID, driver’s license, or other documentation)
  2. Work samples: up to 10 recent, completed works (from the last ~5 years) — high-resolution digital images, or video/sound files if relevant.
  3. For each sample: dimensions, year created, medium, and optional brief contextual notes on concept or process.
  4. Artist statement (max ~250 words) to articulate the artist’s practice and context of submitted works.
  5. Résumé or CV (1–5 pages) in PDF format, summarizing exhibitions, education, awards, etc.
  6. Demographic and contact information through the application portal.

How to Apply

Online Application

Key Dates

  • Application Opens: 1 October 2025
  • Deadline to Request Fee Waiver: 3 December 2025
  • Application Deadline: 10 December 2025
  • State Fellowship Notifications: On or before April 2026
  • Awards Ceremony: Late Summer 2026 (exact date TBC)
  • Exhibition Tour Period: Begins Summer 2026, up to 24 months duration.

Location

Atlanta, Georgia, United States

Additional Details

  • Residency, award ceremony, and exhibition participation are required components for fellowship recipients — e.g., fellows must make their submitted works available for the touring show.
  • Travel and lodging for the award ceremony are covered, but other costs (e.g., packaging, framing, insurance for works) are the artist’s responsibility.
  • The prize money is unrestricted, meaning artists have full discretion in how to use it, but awardees must submit a simple report afterward.
  • The funds are considered taxable income, so applicants should be prepared to account for that.
  • Artists who receive a State Fellowship are ineligible to apply again for six years; Southern Prize winners/finalists must wait ten years before reapplying.
  • Review is done via a two-tier national jury: first to select state fellows, then another jury selects the Southern Prize winner and finalist.

Website Link: https://www.southarts.org/grants-opportunities/southern-prize-and-state-fellowships-visual-arts

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