South Arts 2022 Annual Report Home

2022 Annual Report

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Strengthen the South.

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Welcome

In 2022, South Arts focused on sustainability, momentum, and impact as we worked toward our mission: advancing Southern vitality through the arts.

2022 in Review

Reflect back with us on 2022, and the artists, organizations, and communities from the South Arts family that made this year spectacular.

Our Impact, by the Numbers

Our fiscal year 2022 was a year of growth. As our artists, organizations, and communities returned to in-person experiences, South Arts increased our investments and portfolio, increasing the opportunities for our constituents to meaningfully share their work. This resulted in more grants, partnerships, professional development, and connections across our nine-state region and the country.

In 2022 we granted $0
to artists and organizations.

grants awarded

across

programs

Supporting artists
and community leaders

Supporting arts organizations
and community groups

From the South Arts Team

South Arts staff shares with you the “Magic Moments” that made this a fantastic year.

Press Features and Mountaintops

"Creativity is worth investing in."

Our special initiative Southern Cultural Treasure, built with lead funding from the Ford Foundation, is supporting 17 organizations led by and serving Black, Indigenous, and People of Color with an investment of $6M over the coming years. Read what some of the press had to say about this new program:

Barron's

Arts Groups Named as ‘Southern Cultural Treasures’ in $6 Million Grant Program
IL GIORNALE DELL'ARTE

Giorno per giorno nell’arte | 7 luglio 2022
Birmingham Business Journal

Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame selected for arts initiative
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

New funding, Kennedy Center debut give Ballethnic strong footing for future
The Miami Herald

'Like winning the lottery.' These BIPOC arts groups in Miami got a much needed windfall
The Art Newspaper

South Arts and the Ford Foundation launch $6m programme supporting Southern arts organisations
South Charlotte Weekly

JazzArts to get boost from Southern Cultural Treasures initiative
The Post and Courier

2 SC organizations to receive part of a $6M funding initiative

Around the Region

South Arts primary region are the nine states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Our programs support the creative communities, artists, and organizations with grants, connections, and leadership. Explore the map below to learn about a few highlights of 2022.

Around the Region

In These Mountains Site Visit
Graduate student documentarians from Appalachian State University, Western Kentucky University, and East Tennessee State University met and worked together in person for the first time as part of In These Mountains.

Explore story
Webinars
Led by Nate McGaha, executive director of Arts North Carolina, South Arts held a free workshop exploring the role and power of advocacy.

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ETAP, In These Mountains
Robbie Teasdale, Emerging Traditional Artist Program participant, used his award to construct a traditional woodfire anagama kiln on his parent’s farm in Decatur, Tennessee.

Explore story
Momentum
Wideman Davis Dance, one of the five South Arts Momentum dance companies, explores media and interdisciplinary arts as part of reimagining and reclaiming antebellum homes.

Explore story
South Arts new Staff
In 2022, South Arts added several positions to support new programs and operations. While we are based in Atlanta, staff is often travelling to meet new people and learn about the region.

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Jazz Road
Jazz artist Sammy Figueroa revisited his late father's legacy in a collaborative recording with support from a Jazz Road Creative Residencies grant.

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South Arts new Board members
South Arts is governed by a dynamic board of 26 individuals from our nine-state region and beyond; In 2022, we welcomed four new board members, including "slow design" pioneer Natalie Chanin of Florence, Alabama.

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Southern Circuit
Film producer Darcy McKinnon visited with community members at Bologna Performing Arts Center in Cleveland, Mississippi after a Southern Circuit screening of the documentary The Neutral Ground.

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Southern Prize 2022
Southern Prize recipient and Louisiana State Fellow Hannah Chalew explores our changing climate through her artwork and installations.

Explore story

Board & Staff

Thank you to the South Arts Board of Directors for their generous service! Comprised of creatives, artists, entrepreneurs, and other leaders, their guidance and dedication are a vital role in our service to the region.

South Arts was founded 50 years ago to support the arts and culture of our region. As a Regional Arts Organization, we partner with the National Endowment for the Arts, the State Arts Agencies of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee as well as individuals, and other public and private funders to fulfill our mission: advancing Southern vitality through the arts.

Board Leadership

Neil Barclay, Chair
Detroit, MI

Cathy Adams, Vice Chair
Fernandina Beach, FL

William McKinney, Secretary
Raleigh NC & Greenville SC

Elliot Knight, Treasurer
Montgomery, AL

Board Membership

Alejandro Aguirre
Miami, FL

Jeff Bell
Raleigh, NC

Christopher Cather
Frankfort, KY

Natalie Chanin
Florence, AL

Elmore Demott
Montgomery, AL

John T. Edge
Oxford, MS

Olga Garay-English
Los Angeles, CA

Sonya Halpern
Atlanta, GA

Glenda E. Hood
Orlando, FL

Susannah Johannsen
Baton Rouge, LA

Tina Lilly
Atlanta, GA

Gretchen McLennon
Memphis, TN

Bill Medich
Charleston, SC

Kara Olidge
Los Angeles, CA

Nina Parikh
Jackson, MS

David Platts
Columbia, SC

Anne B. Pope
Nashville, TN

Alice Randall
Nashville, TN

Nigel Redden
Mystic, CT

Dennis Scholl
Miami Beach, FL

Sandy Shaughnessy
Tallahassee, FL

Mike Woodard
Durham, NC

Staff

Conrhonda E. Baker, Assistant Program Director

Michael Bosarge, Vice President of Finance & Operations

Ellie Dassler, Assistant Director, Traditional Arts

Nikki Estes, Director, Presenting & Touring

Damien Harrison, Accounting & Human Resources Manager

Jessyca Holland, Director, Organization & Community Initiatives

Teresa Hollingsworth, Director, Traditional Arts

Cathy Lee, Director, Database & Technology

Dalyla McGee, Development Officer

Leland McKeithan, Director, Special Projects & Accessibility Coordinator

Charles Phaneuf, Vice President of Strategy

Dimitry Ponomarenko, Accounting & Operations Manager

Ashleigh Porter, Digital Content Manager

Ivan Schustak, Director, Communications

Emmitt Stevenson, Director, Arts Engagement

Suzette M. Surkamer, President & CEO

Drew Tucker, Director, Jazz

Miranda Valerio, Executive Assistant and Board Manager

Sabrina Wilder, Executive Team Adminstrative Manager

Jordan Young, Director, Media Arts & Design Manager

Joy Young, Vice President of Programs

Financials

Income

Private Contributions & Other Income

$12,869,955

Federal Grants

$2,613,220

State Grants & Contributions

$266,000

Revenue

$15,749,175

Expenses

$8,104,904

Change in Net Assets

$7,608,271

During FY 2022, a one-time gift from a private donor accounted for 51% of the Organization’s revenues. The numbers presented in this report are unaudited at this time. For a complete audit, when available, or any other questions, please contact Dalyla McGee, Development Officer, at dmcgee@southarts.org or 404-874-7244 x832.