For Charlottesville SOUP, we seek applications from Charlottesville-area artists in need of funding for a creative project. We encourage artists, writers, dancers, filmmakers, musicians, performance artists, and makers of all mediums to apply. All artists selected to pitch at our upcoming SOUP are guaranteed a $250 honorarium and one project will be funded with a $3,000+ crowdfunded grant.

The Winter 2025 SOUP dinner will be held on Thursday, February 20 at the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center. Tickets to the event will go on sale in mid-January.

Grant Applications Details

Who can apply and for what kind of project?

Artists living in Charlottesville or the surrounding area* with a project can apply for a SOUP grant to support any expenses required to help them complete a creative project. Anyone can apply for a SOUP grant—formal training or experience as an artist is not required. You just need to have a creative project in the arts for which you need funding. For example, artists could:

• apply for financial help to record an album;

• pay the tuition for a class you want to take;

• offset the costs you’ll incur while taking time off work to do an artist residency;

• pay for framing your work for an exhibit;

• or receive financial support for many other components of a creative project (visit the Charlottesville SOUP page to meet past grantees and see how they have used the SOUP grant).

Please note: Artists are welcome to apply for both Charlottesville SOUP and for the New City Arts Fellowship (applications are open now), but must apply with a different project in mind for each.

*The Charlottesville area includes the city of Charlottesville and Albemarle, Greene, Louisa, Fluvanna, Nelson, Orange, and Buckingham counties.

How are artist finalists selected?

Applications are reviewed by a community panel and preference is given to applications that can use the SOUP grant in 2025. The selection committee members for the February 2025 SOUP artist finalists will be announced soon.

What makes an application competitive?

We’ve intentionally kept the application process simple and ask that applicants keep their answers short and concise. You are welcome to reach out to staff with any questions.

Competitive applications:

• demonstrate the artist’s ability to carry out the project they are proposing (i.e. do they have the artistic skills needed? Is the project achievable in the way they are proposing?);

• show that the artist has some knowledge of budgeting for a project, and that they can use the SOUP grant in a specific way to further or complete their project;

• communicates the importance of the project for both the artist personally and the community more broadly.

Please note: New City Arts strives to create a welcoming, inclusive space of mutual care and respect that centers artist and audience consent. We know artists make purposeful choices, and it is not our desire to censor an artist’s work. Because Charlottesville SOUP is a public event, and the projects typically have a public outcome, there may be some instances in which staff and artists will need to work together to honor freedom of expression alongside the importance of audience consent.

Any project proposal that seeks to discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, disability, or any other reason will not be considered.

What happens if I’m selected as an artist finalist?

For each SOUP, we choose up to four projects for consideration. All artists selected to pitch are guaranteed a $250 honorarium for their time.

If we pick your proposal, you will have the opportunity to give a short presentation at SOUP (4 minutes). Following your presentation, we will take questions from attendees. At the end of the meal, everyone votes and the winning project receives the proceeds raised from that night’s SOUP. You must be able to attend SOUP on February 20 at the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center to deliver your presentation in person.

To meet past SOUP presenters and grantees, and to learn more about the event, visit the Charlottesville SOUP page.

Apply to Present at SOUP

Submit your application using the form below. Applications are due on January 17 at 11:59PM. We cannot consider any applications submitted after this deadline.