Artist Support Grants for Lead Partners

Reminder: Please review General Grant Information and Eligibility Requirements before proceeding.

About

This category funds consortia of local arts councils that administer the Artist Support Grant Program for their regions. The Artist Support Grant provides direct support to individual artists, funding professional and artistic development for emerging and established artists to enhance their skills and abilities to create work or to improve their business operations and capacity to bring their work to new audiences.

Application dates

• Open: January 6, 2025
• Due: March 3, 2025

Grant amount

• Range for regional consortia: $5,000 to $50,000

Scope and allowable expenses

Types of fundable projects include:

• Creation of a new work;
• Purchase of equipment;
• Professional development workshops;
• Travel support for expenses associated with a professional opportunity such as participating in an exhibition or a conference;
• Development or upgrading of promotional materials such as brochures, DVDs, CDs, and websites.

Grant awards to artists generally range from $500 to $3,000, depending on the amount of money each consortium raises, the number of applicants, the number of artists selected, and the types of projects funded. Participating consortia are encouraged to raise matching funds for their programs, appoint a selection committee consisting of arts professionals with expertise in disciplines under review, facilitate the selection process, and administer the awards process. 

Grant amounts to regional consortia are determined by weighing the history and breadth of artist demand in each region; the amounts range from $5,000 to $50,000. Up to $1,000 may be spent on administrative expenses, including stipends for panelists, and the remaining grant amount will be spent for awards to artists.

Application information

Submit your application through the GO Smart grant portal. The following questions and documents will be required for the application. Reach out to your staff contact for questions or application assistance.

Profile questions

In addition to contact information, you will be asked to submit your organization’s mission statement, an organizational history, and both an Employer Identification Number (EIN) and Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number.

Application narrative

1. Provide a list of partner arts councils.
2. Provide a brief description of the marketing plan and proposed selection process for the 2025-26 grant year, including how panels are composed, specific objectives for the cycle, and application and selection panel dates, if scheduled. Include details about how you plan to engage artists with limited opportunities due to factors such as educational background, geography, ethnic or cultural diversity, or economic constraints. 

Project budget

The entire grant amount should be entered on the artist contracts line, unless a portion is designated for administrative expenses.

Staff contact

Leigh Ann Wilder
Creative Economies Director
(919) 814-6508
leighann.wilder@dncr.nc.gov

Grant Application Assistance

North Carolina Arts Council staff are here to assist with grant applications. Visit our application assistance page for resources and grants staff contact information. 

Accessibility

For accessibility questions or accommodation requests, please contact the North Carolina Arts Council's Music and Dance Director, Accessibility Coordinator Jamie Katz Court at jamie.katzcourt@dncr.nc.gov or (919) 814-6502.