Grassroots Arts Project Grants are made possible by the North Carolina Arts Council and disbursed to each county by their local arts council. Non-profit organizations that implement arts projects in Pitt County may apply for the Grassroots Arts Project Grant.
Deadline Date: September 6, 2024 at 11:59pm via the online application.
Since 1977, the NC Arts Council’s Grassroots Arts Program has provided North Carolina citizens access to quality arts experiences. The program distributes funds for the arts in all 100 counties of the state primarily through partnerships with local arts councils. The Pitt County Arts Council at Emerge serves as the NC Arts Council’s partner in awarding subgrants to local organizations for arts programs in Pitt County.
Eligibility for Application
- All organizations must have been in operation for at least one year, 501(c)3 non profit organization are preferred applicants.
- All organizations must reside and carry out projects within Pitt County.
- Individuals are not eligible to apply for Grassroots Arts funds.
- Applications and support materials must be complete online and received by the due date.
Application Submission & Deadline
Click here to apply for the grassroots 24-25 grant
DOWNLOAD THE GRASSROOTS 24-25 INFORMATION PACKET
All projects must take place between July 1, 2024 and May 31, 2025. Grant amounts range from $500 to $4,000. (Recommended, but not required.)
All applications must be received by the PCAC at Emerge by September 6, 2024 at 11:59pm via the online application.
What the Grassroots Arts Program Funds
Grassroots Arts Program funds may be used for expenditures to conduct quality arts programs, or operate an arts organization. Typical uses of Grassroots money include:
- Program expenses such as artists’ fees and travel, space rental, advertising, marketing and publicity, Website and electronic media, scripts, costumes, sets, props, music and equipment rental or purchase.
- This year operating expenses such as salaries, telephone, office supplies, printing, postage, rent, utilities, insurance and equipment rental or purchase will also be eligible.
North Carolina Arts Council Priorities for Funding
The first priority of the Grassroots Arts subgrant program is to provide operating or program support to qualified arts organizations including theaters, symphonies, galleries, art guilds, choral societies, dance companies, folk arts societies, writers groups and arts festivals, among others. Grassroots funds are not generally awarded to arts organizations that receive funding through the NC Arts Council’s General Support Program.
The second priority of the Grassroots Arts subgrant program is to support arts learning and arts in education programs conducted by qualified artists. These can be artist residencies in schools, after school summer camps, or adult arts learning classes.
The third priority of Grassroots Arts subgrants is to support community organizations that provide quality art experiences for the greater community. These programs must be conducted by qualified artists.
Funding Policies
- Tribal organizations that receive grassroots funds must represent state or federally recognized tribes.
- Colleges, universities, and libraries may receive grants for arts programs that are community based or generate regional arts involvement. Grants may not support their internal programs, administration, or operation expenses (including F&A, library books, band boosters, equipment purchases).
- Subgrants may not be awarded to individuals or to organizations for prizes, including scholarships and financial awards.
- Religious organizations or churches may not receive grassroots funds unless the programs are presented outside regular church services, engage the larger community, and do not contain religious content.
- Grassroots funds may not be used for activities associated with a school’s internal arts programs such as in-school student performances, the purchase of art supplies, or student arts competitions and publications.
Grassroots Arts Program money may not be used for the following kind of expenditures
- Art, music, and dance therapists
- Fundraising events
- Artifacts
- School band or choral activities or equipment
- Purchase of artwork
- Interest on loans, fines, or litigation costs
- Capital expenditures
- Lobbying expenses
- Contingency funds
- Oral history and history projects
- Deficit reduction
- Tuition for academic study (scholarships)
- Food or beverages for hospitality or entertainment functions
Matching Requirement
All subgrantees must match their grant amounts dollar for dollar. The funds must come from other public or private sources. Other N.C. Arts Council funds or state funds (i.e. public university dollars) cannot be used as a match. The Pitt County Arts Council may be willing to
work with an applicant on alternatives to the matching requirement. Contact Holly Garriott at 252-551-6947 or holly@pittcountyarts.org with questions.
Meeting the Racial & Cultural Diversity Requirement
The NC Arts Council works to provide a representative portion of grant funds for arts programming that reflects the racial and cultural diversity of the state. As a central strategy for achieving this objective, we require that each Grassroots partner spend a percentage of its annual county allotment for programming that reflects African American, Asian American, Latino, and Native American cultures. The percentage is determined by calculating the portion of each county’s population made up of African American, Asian American, Latino, and Native American people.
Pitt County’s multicultural percentage for this year is 49%.
North Carolina Arts Council Recognition
Subgrantees must acknowledge the NC Arts Council’s support of their event or projects by including the NC Arts Council’s logo, and funding credit line in all print, and promotional materials related to the grant. The NC Arts Council’s website offers information and downloadable logos, at www.ncarts.org.
Reporting Requirements
Each subgrantee is required to submit a final report providing a detailed description of the funded project, participation statistics and demographics, sample marketing, and program materials using the NC Arts Council credit line and logo, and copies of their legislative letters. The subgrant report form can be downloaded from the NC Arts Council website at www.ncarts.org. Final reports must be mailed or hand delivered to the Pitt County Arts Council at Emerge by June 8, 2025.
Legislative Letters: Applicants may be required to write their state representatives to thank them for appropriating Grassroots funds. If required, the letter should provide information about how Grassroots funds were used to support their program or project and the community impact of the event. A copy of all letters to legislators must be included in the subgrantee’s final report.
How Subgrant Applications are Evaluated
Subgrant applications are reviewed by a diverse panel of community members including artists, county and public officials, and board members of the PCAC at Emerge. The panel evaluates applications based on the subgrant guidelines and the following criteria:
- Artistic quality of proposed project or programs
- Community impact of project or programs
- Multicultural aspect of the project or program, if applicable
- Educational impact of the project or program
- Ability to plan and implement project or program
- Stability and fiscal responsibility of the organization
Panelists discuss and score the grant using an established rating system. The subgrant panel’s funding decisions are then presented as recommendations to the Pitt County Arts Council at Emerge’s board of directors. The board of directors votes and gives final approval to the subgrant panel’s recommendations.
Questions & Assistance
If applicants have questions or need assistance, please contact Holly Garriott at 252-551-6947 or holly@pittcountyarts.org.
Past recipients include:
Ayden Historical and Art Society
City of Greenville Recreation and Parks Department
East Carolina University Dr. Jesse R. Peel LGBTQ Center
Farmville Community Arts Council
Greenville Theatre Arts Center
Pitt Community College Fine Arts
Winterville Historical & Arts Society
This program is funded by the North Carolina Arts Council.
