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North Carolina Arts Council grant guidelines now available

Explore the updated grant guidelines for the FY2026–2027 grant cycle on our website to learn about available opportunities, eligibility requirements, and how to apply and report.

Grants Dashboard

2025 Heritage Award honorees on stage performing at the award ceremony in front of a cheering crowd

2025 North Carolina Heritage Awards

Since 1989, the North Carolina Heritage Awards have honored artists across the state for their contributions to the cultural life of their communities. Five artists/groups were awarded on June 7 at a public ceremony in Raleigh.

Meet the 2025 Award Recipients

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Grants Dashboard

Our grants are one of the key ways we invest in the state’s vibrant arts community. Explore the Grants Dashboard, your one-stop shop for grant information and deadlines.

Art Matters: News from the N.C. Arts Council

Check out the November / December 2025 edition of our Art Matters newsletter

FY2026–2027 grant guidelines available: Applications open January 5, 2026, Craft Your Commerce: Empowering artists to thrive in business, innovators of A+ Schools of North Carolina.

The airy gallery space at the arts council in New Bern, North Carolina

North Carolina's Local Arts Agencies

With decades of leadership, we have cultivated one of the nation’s largest networks of local arts agencies through grants, professional development, and technical assistance. Today, more than 75 local arts agency partners serve all 100 counties, ensuring statewide access to programs, services, and funding that strengthen the arts in local communities and extend the N.C. Arts Council’s impact across North Carolina.

Celebrating N.C. Poet Laureate Jaki Shelton Green

Jaki Shelton Green is the first African American and third woman poet to be appointed as North Carolina Poet Laureate. As Jaki closes out her final year as our state’s poet-in-chief, we are celebrating her tenure in a short documentary, The People's Laureate: Jaki Shelton Green.

Arts Across NC Podcast

The Arts Across NC Podcast is back! We’re excited as always to share the stories of artists and arts organizations from around the state, and to highlight some of the work we’re doing here at the North Carolina Arts Council.

What We Do: The Arts Council

The North Carolina Arts Council delivers resources to arts organizations and artists to support projects and programs of public value that revitalize downtowns, educate and empower North Carolina youths, and fuel a thriving non-profit creative sector that generates over $2 billion annually.