Our Partners | NC Arts Council

The North Carolina Arts Council maximizes state funds and resources with partnerships at the federal, state, and regional levels.

National Partners

National Endowment for the Arts (NEA)

National Endowment for the Arts is an independent federal agency that is the largest funder of arts and arts education in communities nationwide and a catalyst of public and private support for the arts. By advancing equitable opportunities for arts participation and practice, the NEA fosters and sustains an environment in which the arts benefit everyone in the United States.

National Assembly of State Arts Agencies (NASAA)

National Endowment for the Arts is an independent federal agency that is the largest funder of arts and arts education in communities nationwide and a catalyst of public and private support for the arts. By advancing equitable opportunities for arts participation and practice, the NEA fosters and sustains an environment in which the arts benefit everyone in the United States.

Americans for the Arts (AFTA)

Americans for the Arts serves, advances, and leads the network of organizations and individuals who cultivate, promote, sustain, and support the arts in America. Founded in 1960, Americans for the Arts is the nation's leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts and arts education.

State Partners

Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR)

The North Carolina Arts Council is a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR), the state cabinet agency which manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina – its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. Through its programs, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency.

North Carolina Department of Public Instruction

Our Arts in Education programs, including A+ Schools of North Carolina, work closely with the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, which provides leadership and service to the state’s public school districts, charter schools and residential schools.

Grassroots Arts Program

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North Carolina has one of the oldest and best-established network of local arts councils. Our Grassroots Arts Program Grants provide funding, technical assistance, and professional development opportunities to all 100 counties. This investment is then leveraged with local funds, to create significant economic and social impact throughout our state.

Learn more about your local arts council

Regional Partners

South Arts

Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, South Arts is a nonprofit regional arts organization empowering artists, organizations, and communities, and increasing access to arts and culture. In partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and the State Arts Agencies of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee — with additional funding from other public and private donors such as the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, the Ford Foundation, and The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation — South Arts supports artists and organizations through a rich and responsive portfolio of grants, fellowships, and programs.

WNC Arts

The mission of the Western Arts Agencies of North Carolina (WNC Arts) is to strengthen the arts community in Western North Carolina through advocacy, peer support, shared resources, and collaborative programming. To accomplish this mission, the WNC Arts works diligently to advocate for the arts in WNC and provide services to member organizations. Programs will nurture arts administration professionals and support the work of local arts organizations. WNC Art’s mission and programs are accomplished through the efforts of a volunteer board consisting of Western North Carolina arts council executive directors.