Artist Support Grants (Durham, Orange, Alamance, or Person Counties)

Artist Support Grants (Durham, Orange, Alamance, or Person Counties) is sponsored by North Carolina Arts Council (administered by Durham Arts Council). This program provides direct support to individual artists for professional and artistic development, including enhancing skills, improving business operations, or bringing work to new audiences. It is open to artists in visual, literary, performing, and media art forms.

Artist Support Grants - Durham Arts Council 120 Morris St Downtown Durham Class + Camp Registration Photo Credit: Brittany Flood, 2024 grantee The Artist Support Grant was created by the North Carolina Arts council to provide direct support to individual artists during and following the COVID-19 pandemic.

The initiative funds professional and artistic development for emerging and established artists to enhance their skills and abilities to create work or to improve business operations and capacity to bring their work to new audiences. Artist Support applications for FY27 are open! Artists must have lived in Durham, Orange, Alamance or Person Counties for one year before the application deadline.

Artists in all art forms (visual, literary, performing, media) are encouraged to apply. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age and either a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident alien. Applicants cannot be enrolled in a degree program in their art form.

Applicants should demonstrate a commitment to spending a significant portion of their time on their work as artists. All members of a collaborating team must be North Carolina residents, live in the region where they are applying, and meet the other eligibility requirements. Artists who have received an Artist Support Grant award must wait two years before applying for another award.

The Artist Support Grants will support projects from January 2027- December 2027. Information Session 1 (Zoom at 6pm) Information slides can be found here Information Session 2 (Zoom at 6pm) Information slides can be found here Information Session 3 (Zoom at 6pm) More information coming soon!

Notification of candidates Photo Credit: Rodrigo Dorfman, 2024 grantee Multi-Discipline (Performing) Painting // Drawing // Printmaking // Mixed Media Sculpture // Installation Frequently Asked Questions Who decides which artists receive awards? Grant applications and support materials are reviewed by local professional artists in each art form.

Their comments are then forwarded to the Grant Review Committee who reviews applications, recommendations and then makes the final award. What are they looking for? Eligible Projects and Costs Up to 50 percent of the grant amount may be used for artist fees.

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 at either 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 What projects are ineligible?

Scholarships for undergraduate or graduate level education Projects that support or oppose a particular candidate for public office Projects that are exclusive to members of a particular religious faith group Projects that do not have a direct effect on the applicant’s growth as an artist (e.g., the promotion of other artists’ work) What criteria are applications judged on?

Overall excellence of the applicant’s artwork as demonstrated by work samples Feasibility of the proposed project Contribution of the proposed project to the advancement of the applicant’s professional artistic development and practice What is the grant amount? Maximum grant award is $1,500. The Artist Support Grant is funded by the North Carolina Arts Council , a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

Program administration is funded by the Durham Arts Council, Alamance Arts the Orange County Arts Commission, and the Person County Arts Council. Will I be required to provide a final report of my use of the grant? Yes, we require both a financial and narrative report.

A link to a report form will be sent to each recipient. Future awards will be contingent upon the submission of a final report. For more tips on writing your Artist Support Grant, click here!