Artist Support Grants fund professional and artistic development for emerging or established artists to create work, improve their business operations, or bring their work to new audiences.
Artist Support Grants support a broad range of talented artists in the genres of visual arts, performing arts, literary arts, and interdisciplinary arts. Applicants should demonstrate a commitment to spending a significant portion of their time on their work as artists.
Grant awards are up to $1,500. Applicants are not required to match the grant award. Awarded projects may receive full or partial funding.
Applicant Eligibility
- 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 October 1, 2020 application deadline. Proof of residence may be required.
- If applying as an unincorporated group of collaborating artists, all members must live in Chatham, Harnett, Johnston, Lee, or Wake County, and meet the other eligibility requirements.
- Artists who are sole proprietors of organizations that have received funding for FY2020–2021 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 Council of Raleigh and Wake County, and their immediate family members are not eligible to apply.
- Only adult, non-student artists are eligible to apply. Artists enrolled full-time in undergraduate or associate degree-granting programs may not apply for the grant. 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.
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 either at 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