Last checked September 24, 2026. Deadlines and rules change every cycle; always confirm on the official page before applying.
Programs open to individual artists
| Program | Who can apply | Award | Typical timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Arts Southern Prize & State Fellowships (visual arts) | Visual artists 18+ living in the South Arts region (includes Louisiana) for 2+ years; not students | $5,000 state fellowship; finalists $10,000; Southern Prize $25,000, with a residency | 2026 cycle ran Feb 10 – Mar 18; $25 fee (waivable) |
| Jazz & Heritage Foundation — Louisiana Cultural Equity: Arts + Creation | Individuals based in Louisiana | Up to $7,500 | 2026–27 deadline was July 8, 2026 (projects Sept 2026 – Aug 2027) |
| Joan Mitchell Center Artist-in-Residence (New Orleans) | Visual artists 21+; New Orleans-area artists with 5+ years' residence in Orleans, Jefferson or Plaquemines (or natives); not students | Studio residency with a $150/week stipend | 2027 sessions; applications ran Mar 30 – Jun 1, 2026 |
| Ogden Museum — Louisiana Contemporary | Louisiana residents 18+, recent work | Exhibition; Helis Foundation Art Prize $5,000 | 2026 call ran Apr 6 – May 22; exhibition Aug 2026 – Jan 2027 |
| A Studio in the Woods | Artists in all disciplines; Replenish is for South Louisiana artists and culture bearers | Residency with a weekly stipend | 2026–27 residencies are by invitation; watch for open calls |
| Platforms Fund (Andy Warhol Foundation regrant) | Self-organized, collaborative artist projects in New Orleans | Up to $10,000 per project | Check site for the current cycle |
| Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grant | Working visual artists with financial need (national) | Unrestricted grant | Rolling; review takes 9–12 months |
Local grants that are for organizations, not individuals
- Arts New Orleans Community Arts Grants ("More Joy" and "New Orleans as Cultural Capital") fund nonprofits based in Orleans Parish. Details.
- Louisiana Project Grants (Region 1, administered by Arts New Orleans) state that individual artists are no longer eligible. Details.
- Louisiana Division of the Arts currently lists project, operating and arts-in-education grants for organizations. For individual artists it offers the Culturalyst artist roster, Percent for Art calls and folklife apprenticeships. Details.
If you want to use one of these, partner with a nonprofit or a fiscal sponsor that can apply on a project's behalf.
Tips for Louisiana applicants
- Keep an up-to-date CV, artist statement and 10–20 strong images ready so you can apply the week a call opens.
- Read the residency requirement carefully: several programs require years of residence in specific parishes.
- Put the spring windows (South Arts in February–March, Joan Mitchell and Ogden in spring) on your calendar now.
ArtistOS Studio's grant finder matches your medium, location and career stage against the opportunities in its database, flags location restrictions and deadlines, and drafts your statement, project description and bio from your CV.
Frequently asked questions
Can individual artists apply for Arts New Orleans grants?
Not for the Community Arts Grants or Louisiana Project Grants, which are for organizations. Individual artists can partner with a nonprofit or fiscal sponsor, or look at programs like the Jazz & Heritage Foundation's Louisiana Cultural Equity grants and South Arts fellowships.
Does Louisiana have an individual artist fellowship?
As of September 2026, the Louisiana Division of the Arts does not list an individual artist fellowship. Louisiana visual artists can apply for the South Arts State Fellowship, which awards $5,000 to artists in each state in the region.
Are there artist residencies in New Orleans?
Yes. The Joan Mitchell Center runs artist residencies in New Orleans, with a stipend, for eligible local and national artists, and A Studio in the Woods offers residencies in South Louisiana.
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