Alternate ROOTS
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.
From alternateroots.org/artistic-assistance-project ↗About this program
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 are now closed. The next cycle dates for Artistic Assistance will be announced in early 2027.
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. Applicants are permitted (and encouraged!) to pay themselves for services related to the project.
Questions
What does Project Development fund?
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.
What does Project Development 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.
Can I pay myself for work on the project?
Please note that for project development, applicants are permitted (and encouraged!) to pay themselves for services related to the project.
How much can I apply for?
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.
Who is eligible to apply?
You are 18 years or older, living and working within the ROOTS service region by Monday, October 5, 2026. You are an individual General or Voting Member whose dues are up to date through December 31, 2026 by Monday, October 5, 2026. You have not received another ROOTS funding award in 2025 or 2026. 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.
Details
- Who
- Individual Southern artists and culture bearers who are ROOTS members
- When
- Fall 2026 round: proposed activity must start on or after November 1, 2026; application deadline Monday, October 5, 2026 at 11:59 pm ET; award notifications lat
- Where
- ROOTS service region: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virgini
- Ages
- 18 years or older