The Artist Support Grant is intended to support a broad range of talented artists in the genres of visual arts, performing arts, literary arts, music composition, choreography, and interdisciplinary arts. Eligible candidates may be either emerging or established artists. Applicants should demonstrate a commitment to spending a significant portion of their time on their work as artists.

Individuals and Artist Collectives
Individual artist and small unincorporated groups of collaborating artists are eligible to apply.​

Residency

• Artist must reside in the following counties Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Guilford, and Randolph County.

• Artists who have lived in the region (Region 11: Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Guilford, Randolph) where they are applying continuously for at least one year prior to the consortium’s application deadline.

• Applicants must be at least 18 years old and either a U.S citizen or permanent resident alien.

• Artists who have lived in more than one region should apply only where they spend the majority of the year. Example, 183 Days

• 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. Résumés documenting residence from all team members should be included with the application.

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Multiple Awards

Artists who are sole proprietors of organizations that have already received funding for Fiscal Years 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 from the North Carolina Arts Council are ineligible to apply.

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Conflicts-of-Interest

Current board and staff members of the participating partner organizations and their family members are not eligible to apply for the award.

Student Status

• The Artist Support Grant is intended for adult, nonstudent artists. Artists enrolled full-time in undergraduate or associate degree-granting programs may not apply for the grant.

• Artists in certificate programs are generally eligible.

• Artists pursuing graduate degrees in subjects other than their art form may be eligible if they meet the other eligibility criteria.

Eligible Projects and Costs

​In project year 2025-2026, applicants may apply for up to 50 percent of the grant to support 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 either at 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

• Services — Rental of equipment or facilities for presentation of a new work, recording studio space, etc.

• Supplies — Purchase of supplies and materials necessary for the completion or production of a new work deemed by the artist to be an essential work in their career.

• Artist Fee — Costs of labor, equals the time that one spends of a project. (Two ways to show a reasonable artist fee is by the hour and/or by the month)

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Ineligible Projects and Costs

• 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)

• Nonprofit initiatives