Artist Support Grants
The Artist Support Grant was created to provide direct support to individual artists during and following the COVID–19 pandemic. The initiative will fund 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.
Grant applications in all artistic disciplines are currently closed. The next grant cycle will open by June 15, 2022. Scroll down this page to find the list of links when those applications are live.
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Grant Eligibility
- Artists must live in Durham, Orange, Alamance or Person Counties to apply.
- Artists representing visual, craft, performing, literary, traditional, and interdisciplinary art forms are encouraged to apply.
- Applicants should demonstrate a commitment to spending a significant portion of their time on their work as artists.
- The Artist Support Grants will support projects from January 2023 – June 2023.
Applications
Artist Support Grant Application links will be live in June 2022
Frequently Asked Questions
Who decides which artists receive awards?
Grant applications and support materials are reviewed by local professional artists in each art form. Their comments are then forwarded to the Grant Review Committee who reviews applications, recommendations and then makes the final award.
What are they looking for?
Eligible Projects and Costs Up to 50 percent of the grant amount may be used for artist fees.
- Completion/Presentation of a New Work – Cost of resources necessary to complete or present a significant new work (e.g., purchasing art supplies or equipment (digital may qualify) or space rental)
- Career Promotion – Projects aimed at advertising artists’ work and/or demonstrating their skill level (e.g., websites, portfolios, audio-visual documentation, and online presentation)
- Training – Costs to attend a class or workshop (in-person or virtual) aimed at either enhancing the artist’s skill level or professional development (e.g., a master class or workshop taught by acknowledged authorities in the applicant artist’s medium)
- Travel – Costs of transportation, lodging, and food for training, professional conferences, or research as allowed or possible while adhering to social distancing guidelines
What projects are ineligible?
- Scholarships for undergraduate or graduate level education
- Projects that support or oppose a particular candidate for public office
- Projects that are exclusive to members of a particular religious faith group
- Projects that do not have a direct effect on the applicant’s growth as an artist (e.g., the promotion of other artists’ work)
What criteria are applications judged on?
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- Overall excellence of the applicant’s artwork as demonstrated by work samples
- Feasibility of the proposed project
- Contribution of the proposed project to the advancement of the applicant’s professional artistic development and practice
What is the grant amount?
Maximum grant award is $1,500.
Who funds the program?
The primary sponsor of this expanded program is the North Carolina Arts Council a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. The program is also funded the Durham Arts Council, Alamance Arts, the Orange County Arts Commission, and the Person County Arts Council.
Will I be required to provide a final report of my use of the grant?
Yes, we require both a financial and narrative report. A link to a report form will be sent to each recipient. Future awards will be contingent upon the submission of a final report.
For more tips on writing your Artist Support Grant, click here!