Grants to North Carolina Artists for Professional Development
Artist Support Grant
Agency
Foundation
GrantWatch ID#
191557
Funding Source
Geographic Focus
USA: North Carolina: Chatham, Harnett, Johnston, Lee, or Wake County
Important Dates
Grant Description
Grants of up to $1,500 to North Carolina individual artists and collaboratives in eligible locations for professional development opportunities. Funding is intended to assist new and established artists who aspire to improve their skills, enhance their business operations, or bring their work to new audiences. Eligible artists live in Chatham, Harnett, Johnston, Lee, or Wake County. Grants support a broad range of talented artists in the genres of visual arts, performing arts, literary arts, and interdisciplinary arts.
Eligible Projects and Costs:
- Artist Fees: Up to 50 percent of the grant may be used to pay the artist applicant for their work on the project
- 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.
Categories
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Recipient
Additional Eligibility Criteria
• Both individual artists and small, unincorporated groups of collaborating artists are eligible to apply.
• Applicants must be at least 18 years old and either a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident alien.
• Artists should have lived continuously in Chatham, Harnett, Johnston, Lee, or Wake County for at least one year prior to the September 1, 2026 application deadline. Proof of residence may be required.
• If applying as a group of collaborating artists, all members must live in Chatham, Harnett, Johnston, Lee, or Wake County, and meet the other eligibility requirements.
• Applicants must be at least 18 years old and either a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident alien.
• Artists should have lived continuously in Chatham, Harnett, Johnston, Lee, or Wake County for at least one year prior to the September 1, 2026 application deadline. Proof of residence may be required.
• If applying as a group of collaborating artists, all members must live in Chatham, Harnett, Johnston, Lee, or Wake County, and meet the other eligibility requirements.
Ineligible
• Artists who are sole proprietors of organizations that have received funding for FY2026–2027 from the N.C. Arts Council are ineligible to apply.
• Current board and staff members of Chatham Arts Council, Harnett County Government, Johnston County Arts Council, Lee County Arts Council, United Arts Wake County, and their immediate family members are not eligible to apply.
• Artists enrolled in degree-seeking programs are not eligible to apply. Artists in certificate programs are generally eligible. Artists pursuing graduate degrees in subjects other than their art form may be eligible if they meet the other eligibility criteria.
• Applicants who have previously received funding through this program must wait at least two cycles after their award year to become eligible to reapply. Grantees from 2025 and 2026 are not eligible to reapply for 2027.
• Current board and staff members of Chatham Arts Council, Harnett County Government, Johnston County Arts Council, Lee County Arts Council, United Arts Wake County, and their immediate family members are not eligible to apply.
• Artists enrolled in degree-seeking programs are not eligible to apply. Artists in certificate programs are generally eligible. Artists pursuing graduate degrees in subjects other than their art form may be eligible if they meet the other eligibility criteria.
• Applicants who have previously received funding through this program must wait at least two cycles after their award year to become eligible to reapply. Grantees from 2025 and 2026 are not eligible to reapply for 2027.
Pre-Proposal Conference
Register for Wednesday, July 22, 2026 at 12:00 pm information session: https://form.jotform.com/261534406159053
Information sessions provide more details about the grant process and tips on strengthening your application.
Information sessions provide more details about the grant process and tips on strengthening your application.
Pre-Application Information
Timeline:
• Application opens: June 1, 2026
• Applicant information session: July 22, 2026
• Application deadline: September 1, 2026, before Midnight
• Application review & panel meetings: October–November 2026
• Grant notifications & agreements: December 2026
• Grant payments issued: January 2027
Previous grantees must wait at least two cycles before reapplying for funding.
Information session recording: https://youtu.be/IPGPc_GRGTY
• Application opens: June 1, 2026
• Applicant information session: July 22, 2026
• Application deadline: September 1, 2026, before Midnight
• Application review & panel meetings: October–November 2026
• Grant notifications & agreements: December 2026
• Grant payments issued: January 2027
Previous grantees must wait at least two cycles before reapplying for funding.
Information session recording: https://youtu.be/IPGPc_GRGTY
Estimated Size of Grant
Up to $1,500
Term of Contract
Project Expenses must occur during the project period, January 1, 2027 – December 31, 2027.
Contact Information
Apply online: https://unitedarts.submittable.com/submit/f426b1e7-3943-4d88-b266-e2e9648fc5e4/2027-artist-support-grant-application
Direct questions to:
Alyssa Wise at awise@unitedarts.org or (919) 839-1498 x207.
United Arts Council
United Arts Wake County
711 Hillsborough St
Raleigh, NC 27603
(919) 839-1498
info@unitedarts.org
Direct questions to:
Alyssa Wise at awise@unitedarts.org or (919) 839-1498 x207.
United Arts Council
United Arts Wake County
711 Hillsborough St
Raleigh, NC 27603
(919) 839-1498
info@unitedarts.org
RFP & Supporting Documents
Before starting your grant application, please review the funding source's website listed below for updates / changes / addendums / conferences / LOIs.
