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Artistic Assistance Project Development

Artistic Assistance provides direct support to individual artists and cultural workers in the South, enhancing their skills, creating unique projects, and fostering community. The program has two funding areas: Project Development (below) and Professional Development.

The fall 2025 Artistic Assistance Project Development application is now closed. Another round will be offered in 2026.

WHAT IS ARTISTIC ASSISTANCE?

WHAT IS ARTISTIC ASSISTANCE?

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 range from $500 to $6,000. New members – those who joined between September 15, 2024, and September 15, 2025 – are welcome to apply for up to $2,500. For the fall 2025 round of this program, the proposed activity must start on or after November 1, 2025.

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

  • Live Performances or Concerts
  • Filming of a Performance / Performances
  • Motion Picture Production
  • Photography
  • Audio Recording Projects
  • Podcasts – Video or Audio
  • Publishing / Book Projects
  • Workshop Presentations
  • Gallery or Visual Art Showcases
  • 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 funding 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, 2025
  • 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 or Group Application Support Call listed in the Proposal Support section below as well as the ROOTS Calendar.



PROGRAM TIMELINE

     Tuesday, September 16:  Applications Open

     Thursday, September 25, 12:00 – 6:00 pm ET: Office Hours with Program Manager Ashlee Haze, 404-577-1079 ext. 2. 

     Tuesday, September 30, 6:30 – 8:00 pm ET: Group Application Support Call. Register here. 

     Friday, October 10, 5:00 pm ET: Application Deadline

     Early December: Award Notifications

WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO APPLY?

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

      1. You are 18 years or older, living and working within the ROOTS service region by Monday, September 15, 2025. 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.
      2. You are an individual ROOTS general or voting member whose dues are up to date as of Monday, September 15, 2025, at 5 pm ET. Not sure if your dues are current as of this date? Email Zaid Hameed at membership@alternateroots.org.
      3. You have not received a ROOTS grant or partnership in the last three Artistic Assistance cycles. If you received an Artistic Assistance grant in Spring/Fall 2024 or Spring 2025, or if you have been awarded a Partners for Change Grant in 2024 or 2025, you are not eligible to apply to this round of the program.
      4. You have completed all final reports due for previous funding awards.
      5. You are proposing activities that take place during the program period of November 1, 2025, to October 31, 2026.

HOW TO APPLY

The Artistic Assistance Project Development application is now closed. 

To apply for Artistic Assistance Project Development, you’ll need to submit the following materials via this application form by Friday, October 10, at 5 pm ET. Late 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 5-9 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.
  • Work Samples
      • Work samples are submitted as a hyperlink. 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 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.
  • Expense Verification Documents
      • In addition to a budget, applicants are encouraged (but not required) to submit expense verification documentation to support their request. You will be asked to attach a PDF document or documents that verify the amount of your request. Here’s an example of what this could look like.
      • Examples of expense verification documentation include, but are not limited to:
          • Invoices or Quotes from performers, crew members, or marketing service providers (including yourself!)
          • Shopping cart screenshots for equipment rental requests or supply requests
          • A letter or quote from a venue detailing the cost of rental
          • A letter of support confirming in-kind services

Please note: applications must be submitted through the application form. Emailed applications will not be accepted or considered for funding. If you need any support with submitting your application, please contact Ashlee Haze at partnerships@alternateroots.org or 404-577-1079, ext. 2, before the application deadline.

Alternative Proposal Formats 

If you prefer, you can answer application questions 5-9 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, Budget and (optional) Expense Verification documents. Applications created using an alternative format will be judged 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.
  • Ensure links are accessible with no password protection and that proper permissions are shared.
  • Share that link in the Alternative Proposals section, near the middle of the application form.



PROPOSAL SUPPORT

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

Got questions about Artistic Assistance Project Development? Then call Program Manager Ashlee Haze during her office hours on Thursday, September 25, from 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm ET. You can reach Ashlee at 404-577-1079, ext. 2, and leave a message outside of office hours. 

Group Application Assistance Support Call

Join Ashlee and your fellow members for a group application assistance session on Tuesday, September 30, 6:30 – 8:00pm ET. This is a great way to get your questions about the Artistic Assistance application and selection process answered while connecting with other ROOTS members! Register here. Once you have registered, you will receive an email confirmation with the meeting’s Zoom link. 

Additional Resources

HOW WE MAKE FUNDING DECISIONS

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 to support accomplishing 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 who reflect the program’s goals, ROOTS’ selection process considers geographic distribution, racial, ethnic, socio-economic, and ability diversity, as well as representation from the TLGBQ+ community. This practice sets us apart from typical funding models.

 

In alignment with our resistance to standardized grant culture and an acknowledgement of social disparities, preference is given to proposals centered around and created by eligible members of these communities:

  • Youth (ages 0-25)
  • SWANASAAPI (Southwest Asian/North African/South Asian/Asian/Pacific Islander) People
  • Indigenous / Native American People
  • Artists with disabilities/disability justice advocates
  • Artists focused on climate justice and environmental advocacy
  • Applicants from or working in Alabama, Arkansas, and West Virginia

     

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 awardees 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:

30% Articulation of Artistic Vision

  • Did the applicant clearly articulate the artistic vision and aesthetic direction of their artistic practice or business?

30% 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?

20% 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?

20% Budget

  • Is the budget clear and accurate? Are the artist fees appropriate for the level of engagement required of participants? Has the applicant provided adequate verification of proposed expenses?

Questions

If you have any questions about Artistic Assistance, please email Program Manager Ashlee Haze at partnerships@alternateroots.org or call 404-577-1079, ext. 2.

FINAL REPORTS

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

  • Click HERE for the Artistic Assistance Project Development final report form (ending 2024). 
  • Click HERE for the Artistic Assistance Professional Development final report form (ending 2024).
  • Click HERE for the Spring 2025 Artistic Assistance Professional Development final report form.