Ready to bring your next creative project to life? The Durham Arts Council has opened applications for the Season Grant and Durham Arts Catalyst Cash Grant, supporting art organizations shaping Durham’s vibrant arts scene!

Season Grants support arts organizations in Durham County by funding either annual operating expenses or specific arts projects. These grants help organizations present performances, exhibitions, classes, and other arts programming that provide high-quality cultural experiences for the Durham community.

If you are a first-time applicant to the Durham Arts Council, use the Durham Arts Catalyst Cash Grant, which supports new or emerging nonprofit organizations in Durham that are planning an arts project or activity. Designed as an entry point for organizations with less experience seeking grant funding, the program helps launch creative projects that expand access to arts experiences in the community.

To help applicants learn more about the process, we are hosting two virtual information sessions on Zoom:

Durham Arts Catalyst Grant Info Session: March 19 at 6 PM

Season Grant Info Session: March 24 at 6 PM

To participate in the info-sessions, email mdemott@durhamarts.org

Important Program Updates!

Space requests are now a separate grant. We have taken the space request out of these grant programs and made it a stand-alone grant application: Creative Residency. This application is currently open and is due April 15.  Use this application to request rehearsal space, meeting space, office space or other activities for FY27.  For use of PSI Theatre, use the Creative Showcase grant. More information and application links here.

In accordance with new guidelines from the North Carolina Arts Council, Organizations who will receive a Sustaining Support Grant from the North Carolina Arts Council in FY27 are no longer eligible to apply for a Season or Durham Arts Catalyst Cash Grant. We are delighted that so many of the Durham organizations that we have historically funded are now receiving Sustaining support from the NC Arts Council!

Join us for Third Friday, March 20 starting at 6 PM as we celebrate the joy of art through exhibitions, performances, and community engagement!

In partnership with the Durham Art Guild and Downtown Durham Inc., the Durham Arts Council’s Creative Arts in Public & Private Schools (CAPS) program will activate CCB Plaza during this month’s Third Friday celebration with two engaging arts experiences for the community.

CAPS visual teaching artist and Durham Art Guild Member Carlye Daugird will lead a community mural project celebrating Women’s History Month. Visitors are invited to contribute their own creative mark, helping the mural evolve throughout the evening from 6–9 PM as community members collectively build a vibrant tribute to women’s history.

New to the CAPS teaching artist roster, Sina De Capoeira will present dynamic Capoeira demonstrations at 6:30 PM, 7:30 PM, and 8:15 PM. Blending martial arts, music, movement, and cultural tradition, these high-energy demonstrations offer an exciting glimpse into the Afro-Brazilian art form.

Don’t forget to stop at the Durham Arts Council building to see our current exhibition and meet the artists!

See “Carving Light “, a relief printmaking exhibition by ciara anais stewart. Join us in the Allenton Gallery to see the carving tools she uses and in progress carving blocks to further delve into ciara’s artist process. 

“You Are Your First Home“ by Britney Symone upstairs in the Semans Gallery and feature multiple mediums, both digital and physical. Meet Britney and participate in an activation to deepen the connections to her work.

Durham Art Guild will be showcasing in the Truist Gallery, “Between the Margins: Reimagining Materials-Creating New Narratives“, featuring the works of Heather Baumbach, Laura Esbensen, Rebecca Tully Fulmer, Audrey L. Pinto and Nicole Uzzell.

Jumpstart Your Creative Writing  (Ages 16+)

with Charisse Coleman 

Wednesdays, 6 PM – 8 PM

March 25 – May 13 (8 weeks)

Art Explorations Club (Ages 8-10)

with Hattie Pink

Thursdays, 5 PM – 6 PM 

March 26 – May 14 (8 weeks)

Weekend Workshop: Transforming Paperback Books into Beautiful Hardcovers (Ages 16+)

with Molly Coleman

Saturday + Sunday, 1 PM – 4 PM

March 28 – 29 (2 days) 

Looking for more classes? Check out the full class list here!

The Durham Arts Council is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and local arts agency dedicated to supporting the arts in Durham and the NC Triangle Region since 1954. Each year DAC serves over 400,000 visitors and participants, over 2,000 artists, and more than 300 arts and cultural organizations through classes, workshops, events, grants, and advocacy.

DAC is a catalyst in the cultural development of Durham – it leads, inspires, and promotes excellence in and access to the creation, experience, and active support of the arts for all the people of our community.