Touring Arts Artist Grant

Artists interested in applying to participate in the South Dakota Arts Council's (SDAC) Touring Arts roster programs have through Sept. 4 to complete application.For complete programming information, resources, and instructions to apply, visit the Touring Arts portal at https://artscouncil.sd.gov/ta/TouringApplicantPortal.aspx. 

Purpose

The Touring Arts Program widens distribution of the arts throughout South Dakota and offers new opportunities to artists, arts producing organizations, schools and audiences.

The funding category is designed to:

  • Provide quality arts programming to schools and communities.
  • Help make the arts available in all regions of the state.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW
The South Dakota Arts Council’s Touring Arts program is designed to ensure that South Dakotans can enjoy artists in their own communities. Grants provide financial support to roster artists and help finance arts programming throughout the state. Refer to the Guide to Grants for complete description.
South Dakota Arts Council’s Touring Arts program will support approximately 30 artists annually with grant funds, which must be matched by the SPONSOR organization.

PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY
Applicants must have a recent history of performing and be willing to travel outside of their home community to perform. Touring artists may work in any discipline. Touring artists may request up to 50% of the total projected program fees for a single grant cycle (July 1 – June 30). Touring artists will receive the same grant award per year for a period of two grant periods (July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2024) pending federal and state appropriations. If appropriations are increased, reduced or eliminated, second year grant awards will reflect such actions.

ELIGIBLE TOURING ARTS SPONSORS
Sponsor: Organization that engages touring artists that are external to the institution. Presenting work includes contracting the artists, paying artistic fees, providing the facility, fostering connection between the presented artists’ work and audiences, marketing, and assisting in technical support. Sponsors must be nonprofit organizations (federally tax-exempt under the IRS Section 501(c)(3)), units of government, schools, or nonprofit educational institutions (federally tax-exempt under the IRS Section 501(c)(3)). [footnote NEA: Please note: the South Dakota Arts Council (SDAC) is funded in part through the National Endowment for the Arts’ (Arts Endowment) State Partnership Agreement. The Arts Endowment’s General Terms and Conditions for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to Organizations apply to all grants/awards that the SDAC issues, including sponsor eligibility.]

In selecting a venue for the Touring Arts program, the SPONSOR must furnish a space that is fully accessible to all participants. Local SPONSORS must agree that no person shall be excluded from participating in, nor be denied the benefits of, any program, activity, or service on the basis of race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, age, sex, or disability.

Criteria for Awarding Grants

Applications are reviewed by the arts discipline panels and the Council with consideration given to:

  • Quality of artistic work and indication of exceptional talent within art form.
  • Complete description of Touring Arts program.
  • Ability or potential to book a successful tour.
  • Achieving a balanced Touring Arts roster.

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