STATE: North Carolina Arts Council releases grant guidelines

The North Carolina Arts Council’s 2021-22 grant guidelines for organizations are now available. Find descriptions of current grant opportunities as well as eligibility criteria and instructions for applying at bit.ly/NCArtsGrants2021.

In its continued effort to support the arts sector through the pandemic, the Arts Council streamlined its grant offerings for the coming year to address two main priorities: to distribute flexible funding as widely as possible to arts organizations and artists, and to support projects that benefit underserved communities in the state.

“Events of the past year have had a great impact on the arts,” said Wayne Martin, Arts Council executive director. “This agency is focusing its attention and resources on helping the sector survive and recover from the pandemic and on addressing the historical inequities that keep us from realizing our founding mission of ‘arts for all people.’”

Arts Council staff will host a series of virtual programs to inform and support grant applicants throughout the application period.

A webinar Thursday, March 25, from 11 a.m.-noon, will outline two unique grant categories: Organizational Support Grants and Arts Equity Project Grants. RSVP for that webinar here: bit.ly/NCArtsGrantGuidelinesOverview.

A virtual roundtable discussion Wednesday, March 31, 4-5 p.m., will provide context for and insight into the new Arts Equity Project Grants category that the agency developed through its diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion work.

“Feedback from a series of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color Arts Equity Forums and analysis of our historical funding practices led the agency to create the Arts Equity Project Grant category,” said Dr. Tamara Holmes Brothers, Arts Council deputy director. “This program will support our efforts to advance diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion with arts organizations doing important work in communities of color and rural communities.”

RSVP for the Arts Equity Project Grant Guidelines Roundtable here: bit.ly/NCArtsEquityProjectGrants.

The upcoming deadline for applications is Monday, May 3; grant funds must be spent between July 1, 2021, and June 30, 2022.

About the North Carolina Arts Council
The North Carolina Arts Council builds on our state’s long-standing love of the arts, leading the way to a more vibrant future. The Arts Council is an economic catalyst, fueling a thriving nonprofit creative sector that generates $2.12 billion in annual direct economic activity. The Arts Council also sustains diverse arts expression and traditions while investing in innovative approaches to art-making. The North Carolina Arts Council has proven to be a champion for youth by cultivating tomorrow’s creative citizens through arts education. NCArts.org

About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (NCDNCR) is the state agency with a vision to be the leader in using the state’s natural and cultural resources to build the social, cultural, educational and economic future of North Carolina. NCDNCR’s mission is to improve the quality of life in our state by creating opportunities to experience excellence in the arts, history, libraries and nature in North Carolina by stimulating learning, inspiring creativity, preserving the state’s history, conserving the state’s natural heritage, encouraging recreation and cultural tourism, and promoting economic development.
 
NCDNCR includes 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, two science museums, three aquariums and Jennette’s Pier, 39 state parks and recreation areas, the N.C. Zoo, the nation’s first state-supported Symphony Orchestra, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, State Preservation Office and the Office of State Archaeology, along with the Division of Land and Water Stewardship. For more information, please visit www.ncdcr.gov.

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