Southern Arts Federation

The Southern Arts Federation (SAF), headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, is one of six not-for-profit regional arts organizations funded by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). Founded in 1975, SAF creates partnerships and collaborations, assists in the professional development of artists, arts organizations and arts professionals; presents, promotes and produces Southern arts and cultural programming; and advocates for the arts and arts education. The organization works in partnership with the nine state arts councils of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.

History

Founded in 1975, the Southern Arts Federation (SAF) is one of six not-for-profit, regional arts organizations (RAO's) funded by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). The NEA's House reauthorizing committee encouraged the development of RAO's in 1973 to create a more effective mechanism for delivering services, especially those related to touring and presenting the performing arts. The United States Congress sets aside a specific appropriation within the NEA budget for the “states and their regional organizations.”

The legislation creating the Southern Arts Federation and the other Regional Arts Organizations was introduced by Public Law 93-133:

*2/7/1973 Legislation introduced in Senate
*4/3/1973 Reported to Senate, amended, S. Rept. 93-100.
*5/2/1973 Passed/agreed to in Senate: Measure passed Senate, amended, roll call #112 (76-14).
*6/14/1973 Passed/agreed to in House: Measure passed House, amended in lieu of H.R. 3926.
*10/4/1973 Conference report agreed to in Senate: Senate agreed to conference report.
*10/19/1973 Public law 93-133 signed by President.

SAF is supported additionally with funding from private foundations, corporations, individuals and dues paid by member states, which include Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee.

Programs

SAF uses many programs in order to promote and support Arts in the South. These include:

American Masterpieces : "American Masterpieces" (working title) will serve as a celebration of the contributions of master craftspeople and traditional artists in the south.

ArtsOpportunities.org : ArtsOpportunities.org is a free online classifieds bank for the arts provided by the Southern Arts Federation, in partnership with the Center for Arts Management & Technology at Carnegie Mellon University.

Folklorists in the South Retreat (FITS) : Explores Tradition in a Contemporary World with a great roster of workshop and session leaders who will provide new information, resource methodology and technology tools to further research, teaching and public programs.

National Arts Leadership Institute : Southern Arts Federation (SAF), Carnegie Mellon University and North Carolina School of the Arts (NCSA) launched the National Arts Leadership Institute (NALI) to provide individuals in the presenting and touring field with practical management, leadership, and career training.

Performing Arts Exchange (PAE):PAE is a 4-day conference that creates opportunities for networking and transacting business. This conference is the primary forum for professional development for artists, artist managers and presenters.

SouthernArtistry.org : A free, online registry that showcases Southern visual and media artists, writers, performers and arts educators who have been nominated by their state arts agency based on the quality of their work.

Podcasts : In October 2006, Southern Arts Federation published its first podcast in support of its Southern Circuit program. The podcasts are also being used to further promote and supports Southern artists from the film and music generes.

Southern Circuit - Tour of Independent Filmmakers : Originated by South Carolina Arts Commission in 1975, Southern Circuit provides communities across the South with a tour of highly talented independent filmmakers.

Southern Visions : A traveling exhibit program that showcases traditional and contemporary art throughout the Southern United States.

Traditional Arts : SAF identifies, promotes and presents indigenous southern arts and culture, in addition to the traditional arts of immigrant communities who make the South their home, to regional, national and international audiences.

Partners

The Southern Arts Federation works in partnership with nine member state arts councils:
* [http://www.arts.state.al.us Alabama State Council on the Arts]
* [http://www.gaarts.org Georgia Council for the Arts]
* [http://www.florida-arts.org Florida Division of Cultural Affairs]
* [http://artscouncil.ky.gov Kentucky Arts Council]
* [http://www.crt.state.la.us/arts Louisiana Division for the Arts]
* [http://www.arts.state.ms.us/ Mississippi Arts Commission]
* [http://www.ncarts.org North Carolina Arts Council]
* [http://www.southcarolinaarts.com/ South Carolina Arts Council]
* [http://www.arts.state.tn.us Tennessee Arts Commission]

Further reading

* Binkiewicz, Donna M. "Federalizing the Muse: United States Arts Policy and the National Endowment for the Arts, 1965-1980," University of North Carolina Press, 312pp., 2004. ISBN 0-8078-2878-5.

External links

* [http://www.southarts.org Southern Arts Federation Web site]
* [http://www.usregionalarts.org US Regional Arts Organizations]
* [http://www.slcatlanta.org/arts/Introduction.htm From Blues to Benton to Bluegrass] Creative economies report compiled by the Southern Legislative Conference and Southern Arts Federation
* [http://www.southernartistry.org SouthernArtistry.org: The Lives and Work of Outstanding Southern Artists]
* [http://www.artsopportunities.org ArtsOpportunities.org: Online Arts Classifieds]