Pierce Freelon at the Carolina Theatre
Season Grant Program
Use the Season Grant program if you have already received a Season Grant from DAC or two Durham Arts Catalyst Grants. Use the Durham Arts Catalyst Grant if you are a first time applicant. The Season Grant program is intended to provide access to quality arts experiences for the people of Durham by supporting the activities of arts organizations that provide a range of professional and amateur arts opportunities. The Season Grant program will award grants for annual operations or projects.
Applications are open and close May 17! New applicants to Season Grant program must communicate with the Director of Artist Services before applying. For more information and to get a link to an information session email Margaret DeMott at mdemott@durhamarts.org.
Grant Eligibility
- Grant guidelines for FY27 can be found here.
- NEW: If you receive a Sustaining Support Grant from the North Carolina Arts Council are not eligible to apply for a Season Grant.
- Applicant must be a Durham County based non-profit organization with 501(c)(3) status or a fiscal sponsor.
- An applicant does not have to be an arts organization to request project support, but the project must be an arts activity.
- Arts projects or the operating expenses of arts organizations are eligible for funding. Season Grants may not be used to support fund-raising activities.
- To request operating support the applicant must be an arts organization.
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If your organization has already been funded through the Season Grant program continue to use the Season Grant application. If you have never submitted a grant application to the Durham Arts Council, we require that you consider the Durham Arts Catalyst Program.
Application Process
Apply
Applications Open! Deadline to Apply is May 17
Frequently Asked Questions
Who decides which arts organizations receive awards?
A panel of area artists and arts professionals reviews and scores each application. The panel ranks the applications and recommends which should receive awards. The DAC Board of Trustees then must approve the recommendations of the panel for the process to be complete.
What criteria are applications judged on?
Each application will receive a numeric score for each of the criteria ranging from 1 to 5 (1 being lowest, 5 being highest).
- History of strong consistent arts programming
- Community impact of project or programs
- Ability to plan and implement project
- Stability and fiscal responsibility of the organization
What can I apply for?
You may apply for up to $6,000 in cash. If you are interested in use of the DAC building please use the Creative Spaces Grants. Creative Hours and Creative Showcase grants have a rolling deadline and are for 40 hours or less. Creative Residency is for 40 hours or more and has a deadline of April 15 and October 15.
Where does the money for Season Grants come from?
The Season Grant Program is funded by the gifts of private individuals and corporations to the Durham Arts Council Annual Arts Fund and by the Grassroots Arts Program of the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural & Cultural Resources. DAC does not require a specific match for a cash grant, however, we will look for evidence that the applicant has actively pursued more than one source for the resources needed and does not expect DAC to provide everything through this Season Grant.
