An Atlanta, Georgia–based nonprofit is launching a program to assist artists in various disciplines who were hit hard by Hurricanes Helene and Milton this fall.

South Arts will establish the Southern Arts Relief and Recovery Fund to give unrestricted support to artists and writers who were harmed by the one-two punch of storms, which hit the American Southeast in late September and early October respectively. 

A Category 4 storm, Hurricane Helene killed 229 people across seven states and may have caused as much as $47.5 billion in damages to property owners. Milton caused an estimated $50 billion in damage and killed at least 14. The River Arts District of Asheville, North Carolina, home to more than 300 artists according to the New York Times, saw about 80 percent of its buildings damaged.

The total amount to be disbursed is to be determined. Eligible disciplines include craft, literary arts, media and film, performing arts, traditional and folk arts, and visual arts. Grants start at $500.

Debris covers the River Arts District in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene flooding on October 2, 2024 in Asheville, North Carolina. Photo: Mario Tama/Getty Images.

“This is a pivotal moment for our region’s cultural landscape,” said Susie Surkamer, president and CEO of South Arts. “While we are providing immediate relief through this program, we recognize there is still much work ahead.”

She added that the goal of the emergency fund is to act swiftly in supporting the artists who are “vital to the South” and also directly impacted by recent devastation. “To fully realize this mission, we hope to engage both applicants and potential donors who can help strengthen and sustain these efforts,” she said.

In the wake of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, many local groups have launched initiatives to help support artists and art businesses in impacted areas, including the ArtsAVL Emergency Relief Grant in North Carolina and Florida’s Creative Pinellas Hurricane Fundraiser, as well as multiple grassroots fundraisers and kickstarter campaigns led by artists.

Founded in 1975, South Arts works in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and state arts agencies of nine southern states, with additional funding from foundations like the Doris Duke Foundation, the Ford Foundation, and Mellon Foundation.

South Arts’ initiative is in partnership with three other nonprofits—Alternate Roots, Mid Atlantic Arts, and National Performance Network (NPN)—and will support individual artists impacted in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. South Arts will distribute the funds in all states except North Carolina, where local partners Arts AVL and the North Carolina Arts Council will handle distribution. Applicants in that state can visit Arts AVL’s website to apply. 

Applications for artists in the other eligible states are currently under development. For more information on the fund’s eligibility and application portals, please sign up for South Arts’ mailing list.

The Educational Foundation of America has provided seed money. South Arts will seek support from foundations and individual donors, who can make tax-deductible donations at South Arts’ website.