Grassroots Grant

The Grassroots Arts Program Subgrant offered through the Watauga County Arts Council, with funding from the North Carolina Arts Council, supports high-quality arts programming within Watauga County. This funding initiative aligns with the broader mission of the NC Arts Council, which is to sustain a dynamic arts infrastructure across all 100 counties in North Carolina. The NC Arts Council plays a crucial role in boosting the creative economy, fostering community development through the arts, and enhancing educational outcomes by championing arts education statewide. The 2025–2026 subgrant allocation totals over $21,000, with typical award amounts ranging from $800 to $3,000 per grantee. Funding is available for a variety of arts-related programming, including performances, festivals, visual and literary arts exhibitions, after-school and summer arts programs, and artist residencies. Other eligible expenses include marketing for events like art walks, website development for arts organizations, and artist fees for classes or workshops. Applicants are encouraged to consult a detailed list of eligible and excluded expenses on the program’s website to ensure compliance. Organizations applying must either have nonprofit 501(c)(3) status or be nonprofit in nature. Non-incorporated groups may apply using a fiscal agent. Eligible organizations must have operated for at least one year and must not currently receive direct operating support from the North Carolina Arts Council. Tax compliance is a requirement for eligibility. The funding prioritization focuses first on providing operational support to arts organizations, followed by funding for arts learning and arts-in-education activities conducted by qualified artists, and lastly, support for other civic or community groups offering arts programming led by qualified professionals. Applications are reviewed based on several criteria including the artistic quality of the proposed programming, community impact, organizational stability, and the applicant’s capacity for project implementation. Programming should be innovative, responsive to community needs, and demonstrate cultural, social, and geographic diversity. Projects must also appropriately compensate artists and promote collaborative partnerships within the arts sector of Watauga County. The application period for the 2025–2026 cycle closes on August 18, 2025. Award notifications will follow thereafter. Grantees must comply with all reporting requirements, including submission of a final report. Failure to submit required documentation may result in disqualification from future funding cycles. Interested applicants are encouraged to review the final report template prior to submitting an application to understand post-award requirements. For further information, applicants may contact the Watauga Arts Council located at 377 Shadowline Drive, Boone, NC 28607. The council operates Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Email inquiries may be sent to info@watauga-arts.org, or applicants may call (828) 264-1789. Resources including application templates, a funding guideline snapshot, and ADA accessibility tools are available on the Watauga Arts Council website to assist prospective grantees.