Artistic Assistance

Artistic Assistance provides direct support to individual artists and culture bearers in the US South to enhance their skills, create unique projects, and build community. The program has two funding areas: Professional Development, which opens in the spring, and Project Development, which opens in the fall.

Applications for the Fall 2026 Project Development round open on Thursday, September 10 and close Monday, October 5 at 11:59pm ET.

Project Development

Alternate ROOTS supports Southern artists and culture bearers who work at the intersections of art, community, and justice.

Artistic Assistance Project Development provides direct support to ROOTS members to support community-focused projects and collaborations.

Project Development awards are between $500-$6,000. New members – those who joined between October 5, 2025, and October 5, 2026 – are welcome to apply for up to $2,500. For the Fall 2026 round of this program, the proposed activity must start on or after November 1, 2026.

Project Development funding supports production & promotion costs related to (but not limited to):

  • Live Performances 
  • Filming of Performances
  • Motion Picture Production
  • Photography
  • Audio Recording Projects
  • Podcasts – Video or Audio
  • Publishing / Book Projects
  • Workshop Presentations
  • Gallery or Visual Art Exhibitions
  • Conference or Festival Production
  • Artists’ Retreats 
  • Archiving Projects

Please note that for project development, applicants are permitted (and encouraged!) to pay themselves for services related to the project.

Project Development does not support:

  • Overhead, general operating expenses, or lost income
  • Catering requests or meals
  • Rent, utilities, other personal expenses
  • Reimbursement for activities that occur before November 1, 2026
  • Travel or registration fees to an Alternate ROOTS event (e,g. ROOTS Week)
  • Professional or artistic training
  • Work with consultants, coaches, and mentors; apprentice fees
  • Individual registration, travel, or lodging fees to attend professional conferences or convenings
  • Professional membership fees

Are you unsure whether your project aligns with our mission? Attend the program’s Office Hours listed in the Proposal Support section below as well as on the ROOTS Calendar.

  • Thursday, September 10:  Applications Open
  • Mondays in September + Monday, October 5th, from 5 – 6pm ET: Office Hours with Program Manager Elly MAB. Register here.
  • Monday, October 5, 11:59 pm ET: Application & Membership Deadline
  • Late November: Award Notifications

To be eligible to apply for the Artistic Assistance Project Development, ALL of the following must be true:

  • You are 18 years or older, living and working within the ROOTS service region by Monday, October 5, 2026. ROOTS service region includes: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, and Washington D.C.
  • You are an individual General or Voting Member whose dues are up to date through December 31, 2026 by Monday, October 5, 2026. If your dues are set to expire before December 31, you will need to have renewed them by October 5 to be eligible. Not sure if your dues are current as of this date? Contact member services through our contact form.
  • You have not received another ROOTS funding award in 2025 or 2026. If you received an Artistic Assistance grant in Spring/Fall 2025 or Spring 2026, or if you were awarded an Advancing Well-Being or Partners for Change grant in 2025 or 2026, you are not eligible to apply for this round of Artistic Assistance.
  • You have completed all final reports due for previous funding awards. 
  • You are proposing activities that take place during the program period of November 1, 2026, to October 31, 2027.

To apply for Artistic Assistance Project Development, you’ll need to submit the following materials via this application form by Monday, October 5, at 11:59 pm ET. Late or emailed submissions will not be accepted. Incomplete submissions will be evaluated as submitted.

Application Form

  • We recommend copying the application form questions into a separate document, developing your answers there, and then pasting them back into the application form.
  • Questions 5 and 6 on the application form can be submitted in written, video, or audio format. See the Alternative Format section below for more information about video or audio submissions.

Supporting Materials PDF

In addition to answering the questions listed on the application form, you will need to provide a work sample and budget (more on these below). These should be organized and submitted as links within a single PDF. 

  • Use this template to submit ALL supporting materials including links to Google documents, your website, YouTube, SoundCloud, Flickr, and more. 
  • Beyond your work sample and budget, you are invited to include additional supporting materials to strengthen your application.
  • If you choose to submit an Alternative Proposal Format (see below), this link should also be included on the Supporting Materials PDF.
  • Make sure all links are accessible – not password protected, etc.
  • Convert the Supporting Materials template to a PDF and save it with your full name as the file name.

Work Samples

  • Work samples are submitted as a hyperlink on the Supporting Materials PDF (see above).
  • You can link to a Google Doc, your website, YouTube, SoundCloud, or any other digital platform that contains examples of your work.
  • Please keep these short! Think quality over quantity.
  • Written samples should be no longer than three pages in length.
  • Audio and video samples should be no longer than five minutes.
  • If your sample is longer, include instructions on the Supporting Materials PDF that direct reviewers to the specific point where you’d like them to begin.

Budget

  • Applicants are required to attach a budget that details their expenses, income, and any in-kind contributions.  
  • Please download this template and edit it in Google Docs or your preferred text editor. 
  • You may opt to upload your own version of a budget as long as it conveys a clear picture of the finances related to this project. 
  • Save your Budget document as a viewable link (Google sheets, etc.) and include it on the Supporting Materials PDF (see above).

Alternative Proposal Formats 

If you prefer, you can answer application questions 5 and 6 via video or audio instead of writing. Those submitting alternative formats still need to complete all other sections of the application – including the Work Samples and Budget. Applications created using an alternative format will be scored by the same criteria as written proposals. 

If you opt to submit a video or audio proposal, please:

  • Keep these shorter than seven minutes. 
  • Upload it to a web platform like YouTube or SoundCloud.
  • Include the link on the Supporting Materials PDF (see above).
APPLY HERE

Alternate ROOTS is committed to supporting our members through the process of applying for our funding programs! We encourage you to take advantage of these proposal supports:

Office Hours

Every Monday during the application period, Program Manager Elly MAB will hold office hours from 5 – 6pm ET. Register here. This is a great way to get your questions about the Artistic Assistance application and selection process answered while connecting with other ROOTS members!

Important: final office hours are from 5 – 6pm ET on the application deadline of Monday, October 5th. This is your last opportunity to receive application support from the program manager. After 6pm ET on Monday, October 5th, staff will not be available to provide support. If you think you may need support with submitting your application, please make a plan to attend office hours earlier in the process.

Additional Resources

Program Goals

ROOTS strives to be a resource for artists and communities throughout the US South, and we award grants that align with the following program goals:

  • Strengthening the capacity and impact of artists and cultural organizers throughout the South by providing resources – including direct funding – to individual members
  • Building strong partnerships and collaborations with ROOTS members, in alignment with our mission
  • Helping ROOTS members extend or deepen their engagement and collaboration in their communities within the US South
  • Highlighting the assets or challenges of communities within the ROOTS Service Region that are impacted by social, economic, and environmental injustices

In addition to seeking applicants that reflect the goals of the program, ROOTS’ selection process considers geographic distribution, racial, ethnic, socio-economic, and ability diversity, as well as LGBTQIA+ representation. This practice sets us apart from typical funding models.

In alignment with our values, preference is given to proposals centered around and created by eligible members of these communities:

  • Young People (ages 0-30)
  • Artists focused on climate justice and environmental advocacy
  • Applicants from Alabama, Arkansas, and West Virginia
  • Members who have hosted a Rhizome, served in a ROOTS Work Group (e.g., ROOTS Week, Finance, Uprooting Ableism, YOOTS), or served in a ROOTS Week Co-op (e.g., Heal/Teal, Hospitality) in the past 12 months.

In addition to seeking applicants that reflect the goals of the program, ROOTS’ selection process considers geographic distribution, racial, ethnic, socio-economic, and ability diversity, as well as LGBTQIA+ representation. This practice sets us apart from typical funding models.

Selection Process

The Artistic Assistance application review panels are made up of cross-disciplinary artists, organizers, ROOTS members, and individuals from peer organizations. We convene panels that reflect the diversity we seek to achieve. The panelists review applications and recommend recipients to ROOTS staff. Final decisions are made by staff to ensure that all program goals are met to the best of our ability. The panelists use the following criteria to evaluate all applications:

  • Articulation of Artistic Vision: did the applicant clearly articulate the artistic vision and aesthetic direction of their artistic practice or business?
  • Alignment with ROOTS Mission: is the proposal rooted in a particular community of place, tradition, or spirit? How does it connect to social, economic, and/or environmental justice?
  • Goals and Outcomes: did the proposal clearly define the goals and outcomes that the applicant will use to advance their artistic practice? Are the applicant’s goals and outcomes realistic and feasible within the proposed timeline?
  • Budget: are the proposed expenses clear and reasonable? Has the applicant provided adequate verification of proposed expenses?

Are you a past Artistic Assistance recipient ready to fill out your final report?

  • Click HERE for the Fall 2025 Artistic Assistance Project Development final report form.
  • Click HERE for the Spring 2026 Artistic Assistance Professional Development final report form.

Questions about Artistic Assistance?

Email the program manager via the contact form at the bottom of this page – select “Funding Programs” from the drop down menu. Or call 404-577-1079 x 3.