Li(sa) E. Harris’s star continues to rise with a generous grant from South Arts.

South Arts, a nonprofit regional arts organization, awarded $2 million in grants in October 2021 to support jazz musicians through its Jazz Road initiative. The initiative exists to remove the financial barriers that keep mid-career professional jazz artists from investing deeply in their creative practice, and to encourage experimentation across a wide range of artistic and engagement possibilities in communities throughout the US.

Li was awarded the maximum amount of grant funding, with awards ranging from $24,700 to $40,000, for a residency of her own design focused on the society culture of segregated Dallas, Texas. With partner Ballroom Marfa, this residency will allow for the creation of a sonic and visual expression of the Dream Album with the ensemble.