Grants for Organizations

The North Carolina Arts Council serves the people of North Carolina by helping to create vibrant communities that are filled with ways for all to engage with the arts and arts-supported education.

Over the past two years, we temporarily adapted our grant-making strategies to meet the most critical needs of the arts sector across the state. This included creating emergency response grant categories and adjusting some of our policies in the short term. FY2023-24 will be our second and final year of distributing ARPA funding, and we will be working with our partners to use this year as a transition to a new period of sustainability.

MARCH 1, 2023 will return as our grant application deadline.

All grant awards have been made for FY2022-23 except for Technical Assistance grants, which have a rolling deadline.

What to expect in the coming year:

DECEMBER 2022: New grant guidelines for FY2023-24 are now available. We have a full roster of grant categories, including:

• Artist Support Grants for Lead Partners
• AIE Artist Residencies
• cARTwheels
• Grassroots
• Organization Support
• Spark the Arts
• State Arts Resources
• Statewide Service Organizations
• Technical Assistance
• Traditional Arts for Students Program

JANUARY 6, 2023: Application forms will be available in the GO Smart grant portal.

MARCH 1, 2023: Deadline to submit grant applications for FY2023-24.

MARCH 6, 2023: LEAD Scholarship grant guidelines and application available.

SPRING 2023: We will resume a full schedule of panel meetings to review applications.

SUMMER 2023: Grant awards will be announced.

SEPTEMBER 2023: We anticipate bringing back an updated Artist Fellowship program with guidelines for FY2024-25 grants.  More details about that opportunity will be available in 2023.

Application dates

• New guidelines: December 2022
• Open: January 6, 2023
• Due: March 1, 2023

Arts in Education Artist Residency Grants

This program provides students with arts learning experiences that spark creativity, imagination, and innovation. In response to the pandemic, schools and school districts are eligible to apply for artist residencies that engage students in creative learning experiences through virtual, in-person, or hybrid activities.
View details on Arts in Education Artist Residency grants.

Artist Support Grants for Lead Partners

For regional consortia of local arts councils, which award project grants to artists in their regions.
View details on Artist Support Grants for lead partners.

cARTwheels Program Grants

The cARTwheels program provides high quality stage performances and residency experiences to students across the state.
View details on cARTwheels Program grants.

Grassroots Arts Program Grants

Our cornerstone program provides arts funding to all 100 counties through an extensive network of local arts councils and other partners. Funds, distributed on a per capita basis, ensure that all citizens have access to quality arts experiences and benefit from the important role the arts play in their communities. Grassroots funds also support the sustainability of local arts councils: organizations that are central to community life.
View details on Grassroots Arts Program grants.

LEAD Scholarship Grant

The North Carolina Arts Council’s LEAD Scholarship Grant provides professional development for arts administrators who are new to the field of arts accessibility and who are proactively developing inclusive arts programs and experiences for artists and audiences with disabilities in their communities.
View details on LEAD Scholarship grants

Organization Support Grants

As the arts sector rebuilds, the North Carolina Arts Council remains committed to the stabilization of arts organizations by providing flexible grant funding. The flexible funding can be used for core operations such as personnel and facility costs, or it can be used for programming.
View details on Organization Support grants.

Spark the Arts Grants

This category supports arts providers as they reengage with the public through a combination of programming, marketing, rebuilding staff capacity, and facilitating safety protocols. This broad project category replaces Program Support for now and includes two application tracks: audience re-engagement and audience inclusion. Projects of the kind previously supported by the Arts Equity Project Grant and the Military and Veterans Healing Arts Grant categories are welcome within this category.
View details on Spark the Arts grants.

State Arts Resources Grants

This category supports a network of established arts organizations that produce high-quality programs, provide educational and outreach opportunities for children and adults, and have strong leadership and management. Grants support the ongoing operations and programs.
View details on State Arts Resources grants.

Statewide Service Organizations

This category supports organizations that provide leadership and services to a particular sector of the arts industry. Funded services include newsletters, conferences, workshops, consultations, and resource publications. SSOs must serve the entire state or a multi-state region inclusive of North Carolina.
View details on Statewide Service Organizations grants.

Technical Assistance Grants

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.
View details on Technical Assistance grants

Traditional Arts Program for Students (TAPS)

This program provides community organizations (arts councils, schools, community centers) with funding for after-school programs that connect North Carolina students with local traditional artists. TAPS applications are by invitation only.
View details on Traditional Arts Program for Students (TAPS).