North Carolina Heritage Awards is a grant from North Carolina Arts Council that honors master traditional artists and cultural practitioners across North Carolina with cash recognition every other year. Established in 1989, the program has recognized more than 140 artists in traditions including string band, gospel, balladry, blues music, storytelling, pottery, basketry, blacksmithing, weaving, boatbuilding, and carving.

Five artists or groups are recognized at each ceremony held in Raleigh, with many recipients going on to receive National Heritage Fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts. Nominations may be submitted by anyone and are reviewed by a selection panel; nominations not selected are reconsidered for up to three award cycles. The next nomination deadline is May 4, 2026.

North Carolina Heritage Award Nomination | NC Arts Council Since 1989, the North Carolina Heritage Awards have honored more than 140 artists. Many recipients have gone on to receive national and international recognition, including National Heritage Fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts. Presented every other year, the most recent N.

C. Heritage Awards ceremony was held in spring 2025. Five groups of distinguished artists were recognized with a cash award (either in full or divided among group members), and were honored at a public celebration in downtown Raleigh.

A list of past Heritage Award recipients . The traditional arts emerge from community life and pass from generation to generation, reflecting shared meanings and embodying community standards of excellence.

Heritage Award recipients include masters of such traditions as string band, gospel, balladry and blues music; master storytellers; and experts in craft traditions that include pottery, basketry, blacksmithing, weaving, boatbuilding and carving, among others. How award recipients are chosen Nominations will be reviewed by a selection panel that will forward its recommendations to the Secretary of the N. C.

Department of Natural and Cultural Resources for confirmation. Current and past record of excellence Significance of nominees within the context of their particular cultural tradition Anyone can nominate a traditional artist—or group of artists—for a N. C.

Heritage Award. Discuss nomination plans with N. C.

Arts Council Folklife Director Zoe van Buren at (919) 814-6518 or zoe. vanburen@dncr. nc.

gov . Complete the nomination form in GO Smart *. However, if you would like to submit your nomination through email or post, please notify Folklife staff.

Provide a narrative description of the traditional artist you wish to nominate. Provide support materials. Nominations that are not selected will be kept on file at the Folklife Program and will be reconsidered for up to three award cycles.

*Although most of our grant applications have transitioned to the OPAL grant system, Heritage Awards nominations will continue to be managed through GO Smart for FY2026-2027. Narrative description of nominee and art form 1. Starting your nomination Create a profile under your name in GO Smart .

For the nominator, please fill in YOUR name and contact information. For the nominee, please provide the full name of the artist you wish to nominate and all available contact information. Choose a category from the discipline code that best describes the nominee.

Choose a category from the racial or ethnic list that best describes the nominee. Online communications assistance checkbox: Check this box if you are able to assist your nominee with digital forms (e.g. contracts, W9 forms) if they are selected to receive the award. If you have previously submitted a nomination, your nomination is active for three consecutive cycles before it must be re-submitted.

If no edits are made, they will be included in the upcoming selection process as-is. Contact Folklife Director Zoe van Buren if you need assistance accessing an existing nomination. Describe the artist’s contributions to their particular artistic tradition and explain why this individual or group deserves statewide recognition.

Describe the artist’s impact within their community. Explain the importance of this artistic tradition to the artist’s community. Include a short biography and, if appropriate, a list of appearances at special events, exhibitions, or other noteworthy forms of recognition.

Use additional upload fields for supporting narrative documents if necessary. 3. Samples of artist's work Please submit one or more from the following list: Images : Provide image work samples, with descriptions.

Video : Upload videos or provide links to online videos. Include time markers and descriptions. Folklife staff can assist you in uploading video files to an online platform if needed.

Publications : Submit copies of articles, catalogs, program books, and other publications that include substantive information on the artist’s life and work. Audio recordings : Upload audio recordings or provide links to online audio files. Include time markers and descriptions.

If you need assistance with uploading work samples, or need to provide work samples through email or mail, please contact Folklife Director Zoe van Buren for assistance or mailing instructions at zoe. vanburen@dncr. nc.

gov or (919) 814-6518. Support material cannot be returned except in the most special circumstances. Please do not submit the only copy of materials such as sound recordings, photographs, or slides.

Nominators should submit no more than ten letters of support from individuals knowledgeable about the nominee’s particular artistic tradition and/or the artist’s contributions to the community through this tradition. Letters of support may be uploaded within the application or emailed to zoe. vanburen@dncr.

nc. gov . Grant application assistance Accessibility questions or accommodation requests