The North Carolina Arts Council administers the Grassroots Arts Program to support arts organizations and community programs across the state through subgrants. This funding initiative is designed to encourage high artistic merit and increase access to quality arts experiences for the public, particularly in underserved areas. The program focuses on ensuring that arts initiatives are inclusive and representative of the diverse communities within North Carolina.
The grant provides funding for projects that demonstrate artistic excellence and community engagement. Eligible activities include artist fees, travel, space rental, marketing, advertising, costumes, sets, props, and equipment rental. The program will also support limited operating expenses for arts organizations. Commonly funded programs include performances, festivals, exhibitions, arts camps, artist residencies for K-12 schools, workshops, art walks, and space or equipment rentals tied to arts programming.
To be eligible, organizations must have operated for at least one year and reside in the same county where the funded project is carried out. While 501(c)(3) nonprofit status is preferred, other nonprofit organizations may also apply. Unincorporated nonprofits may be required to work with a fiscal agent. The grant cycle covers projects occurring between July 1 and June 30 of the current fiscal year. Incomplete or late applications are not considered, and organizations already receiving operational support from the North Carolina Arts Council are ineligible for these subgrants.
Grassroots funds are not intended for individual applicants, scholarships, capital expenditures, internal school programs, or religious activities unless they are community-focused and nonsectarian. The program also excludes fundraising events, purchases of artwork, food or hospitality costs, and various other non-programmatic expenses. Additional stipulations prohibit grants to the North Carolina Symphony or its Foundation, given their separate state funding.
Funding priorities are given to qualified arts organizations, programs led by professional artists, and community or municipal initiatives that offer broad public engagement. Proposals are evaluated by a local panel based on artistic quality, community impact, planning capability, and fiscal responsibility. All awarded projects must match grant amounts dollar-for-dollar with cash from local sources and may not apply the same matching funds to other North Carolina Arts Council grants.
Subgrantees are required to visibly credit the North Carolina Arts Council at all funded events and in digital and print materials. A final report is mandatory, documenting how the funds were used, demographics of participants, matching fund verification, and compliance with branding guidelines. A No Overdue Tax Form must also be submitted upon project completion.
