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Louisiana Presenters Network is grateful for grant support from Southern Arts Federation (SAF), which offers a number of important services to presenters in the region. Below is a summary of information about SAF and its programs. Links are directly on the SAF or affiliate web site.
Mission and Goals
Agency Overview
The Southern Arts Federation, a non-profit regional arts organization founded in 1975, creates partnerships and collaborations; assists in the development of artists, arts professionals and arts organizations; presents, promotes and produces Southern arts and cultural programming; and advocates for the arts and arts education. The organization works in partnership with the state arts agencies of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. It is funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, member states, foundations, businesses and individuals.
Mission
The Southern Arts Federation, in partnership with nine state arts agencies, builds on the South's unique heritage, and enhances the public value of the arts in our communities, by:
- Promoting and supporting the arts in the South
- Enhancing the artistic excellence and professionalism of Southern arts organizations and artists
- Serving the diverse population of the South
Below is a list of our current Programs and Events. In addition, SAF also offers online services including ArtsOpportunities.org and SouthernArtistry.org.
Performing Arts Exchange (PAE) - PAE is one of the largest, regional, performing arts booking conferences. Every year, PAE brings together performing arts presenters, artists and agents/managers from 22 states and the District of Columbia to meet in an environment designed to benefit the performing arts industry. Activities include professional development through juried showcase performances and networking opportunities.
Advocacy - SAF works to create a strengthen networks and relationships with individuals and organizations who affect policy making and policy implementation that may impact the arts. Advocacy efforts are specifically directed towards advancing the arts community and arts education throughout the South.
In the Traditional Arts:
Southern Visions- this collection of traveling exhibits features original artwork by both master and emerging traditional artists from the South, in addition to work by award-winning, regional photographers. These professionally-curated, low-cost, low-security exhibits include promotional and educational materials. The exhibits are designed to suit venues of various sizes and budgets.
Folklorists in the South Retreat (FITS) - Academic and public-sector folklorist based in the South annually gather together for a weekend of networking, panel presentations, small group discussions, professional development workshops and site visits.
Performing Arts
Through a variety of programs, SAF seeks to serve as a resource for technical assistance and capacity building for artists and presenters, provide access to quality and diverse programming to underserved communities, and encourage performances that serve as a catalyst for community engagement.
- The Performing Arts Exchange (PAE) is the primary marketplace and forum for performing arts presenting and touring—artists and work, ideas, learning and information—in the eastern United States.
- PD@PAE is a professional development program for performing artists, managers and presenters attending the Performing Arts Exchange conference.
- SAF's SouthArts Fund offers grants to support touring performing arts programs and technical assistance for performing arts presenting organizations.
- See more performing artists at www.SouthernArtistry.org, SAF's adjudicated, online artist registry.
Touring Exhibits
Visual Arts & Craft
SAF programs support the professional development of individual artists and arts organizations and make the arts accessible for the public. Touring exhibits include a strong arts learning component for K-12 students, educators, and adult learners. Other programs help artists make beneficial connections with collectors, galleries, peers, educators and more.
From the Mississippi Delta to the low country of South Carolina, from the Black Belt of Alabama to the Appalachian Mountains, SAF's traveling exhibitions showcase the best of both the traditional and the innovative aspects of Southern arts and culture.
- A project of the National Endowment for the Arts and SAF, Tradition/Innovation: American Masterpieces of Southern Craft & Traditional Art, features more than 100 artworks created by masters living and working in the South today.
- Since 1995, more than 500,000 people nationwide have experienced the artistically excellent Southern Visions exhibits celebrating the South's rich artistry and cultural heritage. The current roster of traveling exhibits includes:
Literature
Creative expression through the written and spoken word is an important part of the Southern tradition. SAF presents literary programs and helps develop and support writers and literary projects.
- Faces & Stories: A Portrait of Southern Writers is a traveling exhibit featuring portraits of 60 Southern writers by internationally acclaimed photographer Curt Richter.
- Operation Homecoming: Writing the Wartime Experience is a partnership between the National Endowment for the Arts, the U.S. Department of Defense, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Southern Arts Federation, with support from The Boeing Company, to provide literary programming for U.S. active duty troops and veterans.
Professional Development
Being successful as an artist, presenter or arts educator requires many skills that must be continually honed to stay on top of developing trends in the field. Whether you need to learn the basics or deepen your expertise, SAF offers unique and timely professional development offerings.
- PD@PAE is a professional development program for performing artists, managers and presenters attending the Performing Arts Exchange conference.
- The SAF Podcast Series features interviews with experts in the field including arts professionals, artists, filmmakers, performers and writers from across the South.
- SAF's online resources include materials from workshops and presentations, reports and publications, and links to additional resources.
Special Projects
Special Projects & Initiatives
To help meet its mission and goals, the Southern Arts Federation (SAF) develops special projects and initiatives to expand and deepen its impact for artists, arts organizations and audiences across the South. Below is a list of current Special Projects and Initiatives.
Emerging Leaders- SAF recognizes the need to foster the development of the next generation of arts leaders. This area of the site focuses on model programs, emerging leaders networks throughout the region, and tips for building an emerging leaders network in your community.
Southeastern Visual Arts Network- The Southeastern Visual Arts Network (SEVAN) is a listserv dedicated to connecting members of the Southeast's diverse visual arts community.
Operation Homecoming- The Southern Arts Federation is proud to work in partnership once again with the National Endowment for the Arts to present 25 multi-week writing workshops throughout the country. For the first time, the workshops will be open to veterans as well as active duty troops with a focus on those who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Grant Opportunities
Economic Response Technical Assistance
In our continuing effort to support and promote the arts in the South, the Southern Arts Federation (SAF) with support from the National Endowment for the Arts is offering a limited number of Economic Response Technical Assistance grants for non-profit presenting organizations in our nine-state region.
In response to the current economic climate, this special initiative encourages visual, media, performing, and literary arts presenting organizations to contract with an outside consultant for intensive work to focus on organizational stabilization and to strengthen an organization's infrastructure. Examples of consultation activities funded by this Technical Assistance grant program include: updating a strategic plan, short and long term planning, fundraising, innovation or entrepreneurial efforts, building participation, and grantsmanship. Activities should focus on ways that the organization will respond to the current economic conditions for the long-term health and stability of the organization. The maximum request is 50% of the consultant fee, up to $2,500.
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