South Arts is proud to partner with the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta to announce the inaugural cohort of Southern Cultural Treasures: a $6,000,000, four-year initiative supporting Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) -led and -serving arts and cultural organizations throughout the Southeast. Four Georgia organizations – Ballethnic and True Colors Theatre Company in Atlanta, Savannah-based Deep Center, Inc. and the Otis Redding Foundation in Macon - will each receive grants of $300,000 for general operating support over three years as part of this initiative.

This initial cohort is made up of 17 organizations that represent decades of BIPOC arts and community-driven stewardship throughout the nine-state region that includes Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.  

“South Arts is honored to recognize and support these 17 organizations as Southern Cultural Treasures,” said Susie Surkamer, South Arts’ president and CEO. “These groups push the boundaries of creative expression, anchor their local communities, and advance the arts in our nine-state region. Our hope is that this initiative, with the help of these organizations, will foster a more equitable art community throughout the Southeastern region.” 

South Arts first announced the Southern Cultural Treasures program in the fall of 2021. It complements the Ford Foundation’s America’s Cultural Treasures initiative, which aims to acknowledge and honor the diversity of artistic expression and excellence in America and provide critical funding to organizations that have made a significant impact on America’s cultural landscape.

“We welcome the opportunity to partner with these regional and national funders to shine a light on arts organizations that help our city and region thrive, and that bring greater accessibility to original forms of artistic excellence for broad audiences,” said Frank Fernandez, president and CEO of the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta.

Organizations throughout the nine-state region were given the opportunity to submit a letter of intent. After review, those most closely aligned with the program goals were invited to complete a full application that went through a pair of national reviews before undergoing an interview process with South Arts’ leadership. These 17 exceptional nonprofits were chosen for their vital impact on their communities and helping to both define and preserve the uniqueness of the arts ecosystem in the region.

"We are thrilled to partner with South Arts and honor these 17 cultural institutions and their contributions to the regional landscape," said Lane Harwell, program officer for creativity and free expression at the Ford Foundation. "We hope this investment will inspire more funders and patrons to support the diversity of arts organizations and expressions in the American South."