January 2025
Waynesville, NC – The Haywood County Arts Council, in collaboration with its regional partners—Arts AVL, Transylvania Community Arts Council, Tryon Fine Arts Center, and the Arts Council of Henderson County—is proud to announce the recipients of the 2024-2025 Artist Support Grants. This year, 21 artists from Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson, Polk, and Transylvania counties, collectively known as Region 17, have been awarded funding to support their artistic endeavors.
Originally launched in 2020 as a pandemic relief initiative, the Artist Support Grant program has quickly become an essential resource for local artists. According to the North Carolina Arts Council, the grant is designed to foster the professional and artistic growth of emerging, mid-career, and established artists by providing financial support for projects that help enhance their skills, expand their reach, and develop their careers.
In this cycle, Region 17 received 144 applications requesting over $330,000 in funding, while $44,000 was available for distribution. Artists could request up to $3,000 for projects including creating and presenting new work, career development, professional training, travel, or compensation for time spent on creative projects.
“This year, we saw more than twice the number of applications compared to last year, highlighting the growing demand and the competitive nature of this grant,” said Tonya Harwood, Executive Director of the Haywood County Arts Council and lead administrator for the grant. “These grants can have a transformative impact on an artist’s ability to grow their career, and we are proud to support as many as possible.”
The selected artists represent a diverse range of disciplines, including visual arts, performing arts, literary arts, and interdisciplinary practices. In total, Haywood County had one awardee, Kimberly English, who received a grant of $1,628. English shared her excitement about the support:
“I am so grateful to receive this grant, which will support the development of new woven works during my upcoming residency at Berea College. This work will culminate in a solo exhibition at the Appalachian Center for Craft in fall 2025. The funding will go toward essential materials, collaborations with local fabricators, and artist fees, which will help cover the time-intensive processes involved, as well as lodging for my upcoming residencies at VCCA and the Gibbes Museum of Art in Charleston, SC, both in fall 2025. These opportunities will allow me to further explore southern Appalachian overshot weaving traditions and their connection to contemporary craft practices.”
The Haywood County Arts Council and its regional partners extend heartfelt congratulations to all the 2024-2025 awardees.
