South Arts recognizes that more than an invitation to participate in a significant milestone opportunity is required. Even with stipends or payments, overall expenses can make such an opportunity inaccessible. South Arts offers Individual Artist Career Opportunity Grants to ensure that artists from our region can take advantage of significant opportunities. The Individual Artist Career Opportunity Grant supports a milestone opportunity in an artist's career that will likely lead to substantial career advancement. Grants of up to $2,000 are available for opportunities taking place between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025 (FY25) Individuals receiving this award are eligible to apply for other South Arts funding (including the Southern Prize and State Fellowships, Jazz Road, and others) for projects unrelated to the IACOG activity. However, you may not use South Arts' funds as a match for this program. South Arts is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA). Artists with disabilities, artists who are Black, Indigenous, or Other Persons of Color (BIPOC), and those who self-identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA+) are encouraged to apply. South Arts recognizes the importance of this support and is enhancing the program to provide two application cycles. The first cycle will be July 1 – December 31, 2024, and the second cycle will be January 1—June 30, 2025. Artists are strongly encouraged to discuss their applications with Program Director Emmitt Stevenson at estevenson@southarts.org or Assistant Program Director Joseph Crawford at jcrawford@southarts.org prior to applying.