Project Support Grants

The North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, offers the Project Support Grants to assist North Carolina-based nonprofit organizations in producing or presenting arts programs that actively engage audiences and participants of all ages. This funding opportunity is designed to support exemplary programming in any artistic discipline, including exhibitions, performances, reading series, festivals, community-based artist residencies, and summer youth arts programs. Notably, the Youth Arts category supports programs taking place exclusively outside of school hours. The purpose of the Project Support Grants is to promote high-quality artistic experiences that contribute meaningfully to community engagement and development. Eligible uses of grant funds include artist and contractual fees, marketing, interpretive materials, and administrative overhead (for organizations not embedded in larger institutions like universities or municipalities). Administrative expenses must be directly related to the supported project and may not exceed half of the grant amount. Applicants from economically distressed Tier 1 counties in North Carolina are eligible to have the matching requirement waived, while those from Tier 2 and Tier 3 counties must provide a one-third cash match. To qualify, applicants must be nonprofit organizations located in North Carolina, have a demonstrated record of producing high-quality programming for at least two years, and maintain prior-year operating expenses of no less than $20,000. Organizations not meeting these criteria may apply with a qualified fiscal agent. Entities ineligible for this grant include public, private, and charter schools; organizations receiving Sustaining Support or Statewide Service grants; and those receiving Grassroots Arts Program allocations for their county. The application process requires organizations to register in the grant system with a full organizational profile, including EIN and UEI numbers, mission statement, and nonprofit status documentation. The application narrative must detail the artistic project, including location, timing, pricing, artists involved, audience demographics, engagement activities, and evaluation methods. Applicants must also explain their fundraising strategy to meet the match requirement and how previous projects demonstrate the capacity for success. Support materials such as work samples (visual, audio, written, or video depending on discipline) are required to demonstrate artistic merit. Strict guidelines specify what constitutes an acceptable work sample. All grant applications will be evaluated based on the artistic value of the program, community benefit, involvement of artists and partners, and project feasibility. The grant performance period spans from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027. Applications open January 5, 2026, and close March 2, 2026. Notifications of awards are typically sent in early August, pending approval of the state budget. Organizations may not change fiscal agents after award contracts are signed. Staff contacts for this opportunity vary based on the artistic discipline. Dara Silver handles visual arts, craft, film, theater, and literature; Jamie Katz Court manages music, dance, and accessibility; Lizz Wells covers arts in education; and Zoe van Buren is responsible for folklife and traditional arts. Grant applicants are encouraged to contact the appropriate staff member for application support. Accessibility accommodations are available upon request, and grantees must comply with federal accessibility laws.

Emphasize artistic value and engagement; match details should be clearly justified.