LEAD Scholarship Grants

The LEAD Scholarship Grants, administered by the North Carolina Arts Council, support professional development for arts administrators in the early stages of engaging with accessibility in the arts. The program specifically assists nonprofit arts organizations that are proactively creating inclusive arts experiences for artists and audiences with disabilities. Through a structured learning opportunity centered around the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts’ Leadership Exchange in Arts and Disabilities (LEAD) Conference, the grant seeks to equip participants with practical knowledge and strategic insights to expand accessibility in the cultural sector. The LEAD Conference, which takes place August 11–14, 2026, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, serves as the cornerstone of the program. It offers a national platform for arts administrators to explore best practices, tools, and resources that enhance the accessibility of arts programming. In addition to attending the conference, grant recipients will take part in a statewide learning cohort hosted by the North Carolina Arts Council in collaboration with Arts Access. The cohort will provide an extended learning structure for participants to share lessons learned and address challenges in implementing accessible programming in their organizations. The LEAD Scholarship Grant provides a $3,500 Technical Assistance grant to cover registration fees, per diem travel, and accommodation costs associated with the LEAD Conference. Any remaining funds may be used toward an accessibility initiative within the recipient’s organization or to compensate the participant for time spent engaging in the cohort. The program period runs through December 31, 2026, at which point grantees must submit a final report detailing any accessibility efforts implemented and an itemized budget of expenses. To be eligible, applicants must be nonprofit organizations—or use a fiscal sponsor—that have been delivering arts programming for at least two consecutive years and have documented prior-year operating expenses of at least $20,000. Each recipient organization will designate one arts administrator to attend the conference and represent the organization in the cohort. Participation in the cohort includes a virtual kickoff meeting on July 21, 2026, and monthly virtual meetings from September through December 2026. Participants will engage in facilitated sessions addressing current trends, questions, and shared experiences in arts accessibility. Applications for the grant opened on March 9, 2026, and are due by 11:59 p.m. on May 1, 2026. Funding decisions will be made by a panel of North Carolina Arts Council staff, based on demonstrated interest in accessibility, current organizational efforts, and the anticipated impact on the participant’s professional development. Priority consideration will be given to organizations based in Tier 1 and Tier 2 counties, those new to this grant category, and those that add to the cohort’s overall diversity. Award notifications will be issued by May 29, 2026.