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.
Grant guidelines for our FY2025-26 grant cycle are now available. To get started, please review the eligibility guidelines for each grant category on this page to determine which are best for your organization
We will begin accepting grant applications on JANUARY 6, 2025.
Application dates
- Open: January 6, 2025
- Due: March 3, 2025 (unless otherwise noted)
Artist Support Grants for Lead Partners
For regional consortia of local arts councils, which award project grants to artists in their regions. This is an invitational category.
View details on Artist Support Grants for lead partners.
Arts in Education Artist Residency Grants
This program provides young people with arts learning experiences that spark creativity, imagination, and innovation.
View details on Arts in Education Artist Residency grants.
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. This is an invitational category.
View details on Grassroots Arts Program grants.
Hurricane Helene Relief Grants for Organizations in Western North Carolina
In response to the losses sustained by the arts sector due to Hurricane Helene, the North Carolina Arts Council developed a grant category for nonprofit arts organizations located in the impacted region. Our goal is to distribute much-needed flexible funding that will assist arts organizations in their recovery.
View details on Hurricane Helene Relief Grants for Organizations in Western North Carolina
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 Grant
Military and Veterans Healing Arts Grants
These grants are designed to support arts projects focused on serving North Carolina’s military service men and women, veterans, and their families. All projects must include appropriate outreach activities. Additionally, projects that contribute to the development of this field of work through technical assistance are eligible for support.
View details on Military and Veterans Healing Arts grants
Project Support Grants
Project Support is a new grant category that replaces Spark the Arts Grants. This category is designed to help organizations that are producing and/or presenting specific arts programs that engage audiences and participants. Organizations may apply for support for exemplary programs in any artistic discipline.
View details on Project Support 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.
Sustaining Support for Arts Organizations
Sustaining Support is a new grant category that replaces the State Arts Resources and Organization Support categories. Sustaining Support is designed to help arts organizations in North Carolina that consistently produce arts programs and services that engage audiences and reflect their communities.
View details on Sustaining Support for Arts Organizations
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. This program is now closed for FY2024-25. Applications for FY2025-26 will be available in August 2025.
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).