All applicants should call the staff contact listed in the guidelines before submitting an application. This should happen early in your planning so that we can help make your application as competitive as possible. Staff will also review a draft application if you send it well in advance of the deadline.

General Grant Information
All applicants should read this information first. It includes the Arts Council's general funding policies and eligibility requirements for grantees, as well as information on how grant decisions are made. It also includes a list of rural/low wealth counties eligible for special matching requirements, and accessibility information for applicants with disabilities.

Arts in Education

AIE Initiatives
This category provides support to schools and nonprofit organizations to 1) offer professional development, 2) provide afterschool and summer programs for underserved youth, 3) develop arts integrated curriculum and educational materials, and 4) support public art projects in schools.

AIE Rural Development
This category helps rural schools and nonprofit organizations establish arts in education programs. This category is not open to new applicants.

Artist Residencies
This category provides support to schools and nonprofit organizations for artist residencies of 5 days or longer. Residencies must include hands on workshops for core groups of Pre K-12 students, and extended activities such as professional development workshops, culminating events, and artist presentations.

Creating Place: Community Public Art and Design

Community Public Art and Design Development
This category supports a collaborative planning process for identifying activities and resources necessary for engaging artists in community public art and design initiatives or for developing a public art master plan. Funds are also available for public art workshops, conferences, and training sessions.

Community Public Art and Design Implementation
This category funds all phases of the process of commissioning a work of public art or implementing a design project. This category is reserved for those organizations that have already participated in a community public art or design planning process through the Creating Place Program or other formal means.

Facility Design
This category provides support for the design phases of renovating or building an arts facility.

Folklife
This category provides funds to artists and organizations for projects that document the state's traditional culture and the work of its traditional artists. Funds are also provided to organizations for projects that promote public knowledge and appreciation of the state's folk arts. Projects may include exhibitions, workshops, performances, radio and television programs, and publications. Salary assistance grants are available on a limited basis to hire a professional folklorist.

General Support
These grants are awarded to mature arts organizations that, over time, have consistently produced strong arts programs and demonstrated strong management and financial accountability. Grants support the organization's ongoing artistic and administrative functions.

Grassroots Arts Program
Organizations designated as Provisional County Partners and organizations in Duplin, Gates, Harnett, Hoke, Montgomery, Northampton, Pender, Polk, and Scotland counties may apply directly to the Arts Council for Grassroots Arts Program funds. Organizations in counties with Designated County Partners apply to their DCP for Grassroots Arts Program subgrants.

Literary, Performing, and Visual Arts Program Support
This category provides funds to organizations to 1) produce an innovative performing, literary, or visual arts program, 2) commission an artist to create a new work in the performing or visual arts, 3) advance public discussion and understanding of an artist or art form, or 4) provide programs or services to the state's arts community or promote awareness about the arts in the state.

Local Arts Council Support

Designated County Partners
In 77 counties local arts councils have been nominated by their county governments and designated by the Arts Council to administer Grassroots Arts Program funds.

Regional Artist Project Grants
This category provides funds to regional consortia of local arts councils to award professional development project grants to artists in their regions.

Organizational Development

Technical Assistance
This category provides funds to organizations to hire knowledgeable consultants to strengthen management and programs, sponsor workshops or conferences, develop a resource publication, or engage in community cultural planning. Provides funds on a limited basis for staff members to attend workshops, conferences, or short-term training programs.

New Realities Program
This category provides long-term assistance for arts organizations interested in addressing the challenges of a fast-changing environment for the arts. The program is conducted by George Thorn and Nello McDaniel of Arts Action Research.

Outreach Program
This category provides funds to develop and sustain the administration and artistic programs of multicultural organizations and organizations that primarily serve people with disabilities or provide arts in healthcare programs.

Statewide Service Organizations
Support is provided to organizations that provide programs and services to the arts community on a statewide or regional basis.

Touring/Presenting
This category funds organizations to hire artists and companies to engage audiences in their community for a performance series or a community-based residency.

Contractual Requirements for Grantees
This information describes state and federal requirements related to non-profit status, organizational conflict of interest policies, management of grant funds, audits, and final grant reports.