Carbondale, IL: Artspace 304 announces grants to 18 arts and cultural projects throughout Southern Illinois.  The grants are awarded by the Southern Arts Fund (SAF) administered by Artspace 304 and funded by the Illinois Arts Council (IAC), Good Chaos, the National Endowment for the Arts, the City of Carbondale, and other generous donors. Recipients include individual artists and nonprofit organizations from Southern Illinois that propose events and programs with significant community outreach.



This year, Artspace 304 received 41 SAF proposals for projects that exceeded $130,000 in requests. While not every request can be met, Artspace 304 distributed $40,000 throughout the region to support public art projects, creative community initiatives, economic development, and educational opportunities for youth and other underserved communities. To date, total SAF funding for FY 2024 has exceeded $75,000.



“Artspace 304 is delighted to provide funding for arts and humanities projects that will inspire, challenge, and bring joy to our region’s communities, especially those recovering from the pandemic,” commented Chuck Benya, Artspace 304 CEO & Executive Director. “Our public and private partners made possible additional funds; we are grateful for their dedication.”



All SAF-funded events and programs are open to the public and aim to bring diverse arts and cultural experiences to the region. Applications for SAF are evaluated based on proposal quality, the pursuit of excellence, community impact & need, dedication & follow-through, and community support. Grant submissions are critiqued by a community panel and staff and approved by the Artspace 304 executive committee.



Marsha Ryan, Board President of Artspace 304, stated, “We cannot overstate the importance of the Illinois Arts Council and their steadfast financial support for the work of the Southern Arts Fund. Artists, performers, and audiences would all be worse off without the injection of funds—and ultimately, hope—provided by the IAC through the SAF grants.”



This year, SAF supports projects in nine counties, including eight first-time projects and several returning after a hiatus. This reflects Artspace 304’s emphasis on offering arts resources to promote expansion in the arts throughout the region.



2024 Southern Arts Fund Recipients



·         Alexander Pulaski County NAACP – Our Stories Stage

·         ARTSCO – Community Arts Programs

·         Ashley Priddy – Community Crash Course in Ceramics

·         Black Chamber of Commerce of So Illinois – 2024 Juneteenth Block Party

·         Carbondale Mainstreet – Brown Bag Concert Series

·         Clay City CUSD – Art for the Heart

·         Innovations in STEM Education – Exploring the Natural World through Art

·         Leah Heller (MMS Art Club) – Murphysboro Middle School Mural

·         Levi Biedermann – CCHS Sculpture Program Growth

·         Little Egypt Arts Association, Inc – Connecting Through Art

·         Robert Anthony Ketchens – Hometown Heroes

·         Shawnee Hills Arts Council - Youth Drama Camps & Artist Collective Exhibit

·         SI CABE - Latin Summer Nights

·         Stone Soup Shakespeare Company – Tragedy of Macbeth

·         Southern Illinois Music Festival – 20th Southern SI Music Festival

·         Veterans in the Arts, Inc. – Music Review Performance of Standard Issue

·         Wander Community Art Studio – Art for ALL

·         Y’all Rock Community – Y’all Rock Fest



SAF will reopen to accept new project proposals in late 2024. For more information on Southern Arts Fund, please visit artspace304.org/southern-arts-fund.



Artspace 304 supports Southern Illinois’ diverse and vibrant cultural arts community by growing leadership, education, funding, connections, and regional economic development. For more information about Artspace 304’s programs, exhibitions, opportunities, and events, visit our website at artspace304.org.