2024-2025 Region 17 Artist Support Grant
A grant opportunity is available for local artists, thanks to funding from the North Carolina Arts Council and the state legislature. The Haywood County Arts Council (HCAC), along with regional collaborators such as ArtsAVL, Transylvania Community Arts Council, the Tryon Fine Arts Center, the Arts Council of Henderson County, and the Rutherford County Arts Council, invites artists from the served communities to apply for the Artist Support Grant. The application period is open until September 3, 2024. The counties included in this regional group, also known as Region 17, are Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson, Polk, Rutherford, and Transylvania.
Established in 2020 to assist individual artists during the pandemic, the Artist Support Grant has since become a vital resource for local creatives. In 2023, Region 17 reviewed 79 applications and distributed $44,000 in grants to 21 artists, supporting a diverse range of projects across various art forms. Examples of funded projects include purchasing new equipment, building websites, and even covering travel expenses for research purposes.
This year, Region 17 will again use a Google Form for the application process. “The Google Form proved to be very effective last year and simplifies the application process,” notes Harwood. Grants will be capped at $3,000 for 2024, and there is no matching requirement for applicants under this year’s guidelines. The partners of Region 17 aim to support artists in completing their projects without imposing additional financial burdens.
Eligibility & Requirements
- Individuals and Artist Collectives — Both individual artists and small, unincorporated groups of collaborating artists are eligible to apply.
- Residency — Artists should have lived continuously in the region where they are applying for at least one year before the consortium’s application deadline (Region 17: Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson, Polk, Rutherford, and Transylvania). Artists should have lived continuously in region 17 for at least one year prior to the application deadline. An applicant must be at least 18 years old and either a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident alien. The consortium may require proof of residence and status. Artists who live in more than one region should apply only where they spend most of the year. All members of a collaborating team must be North Carolina residents, live in the region in which they are applying, and meet the other eligibility requirements. Résumés documenting residence for all team members should be included with the application.
- Multiple Awards — Artists who are sole proprietors of organizations that have already received funding for 2023-2024 from the N.C. Arts Council are ineligible to apply. Awardees must also wait at least two years after the award year before becoming eligible to reapply.
Conflict of Interest — Current board and staff members of the consortium partner organizations and their family members are not eligible to apply for the award. - Student Status — The Artist Support Grant is intended for adult, non-student 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. Other questions and special circumstances should be discussed with N.C. Arts Council staff.
- Project Deadline — Funds must be spent by June 30, 2025. Projects must be completed before December 31, 2025.
2024 - 2025 Timeline
- July 22- Application opens
- September 3- Application deadline
- November – Awards Announced
- Late November – Funds distributed
- June 30, 2025 – All funds must be expended
- December 31, 2025 – Final reports due
Allowable Expenses
In project year 2024-2025, 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 as allowed or possible while adhering to social distancing guidelines
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
- Nonprofit initiatives
- Projects that do not have a direct effect on the applicant’s growth as an artist (e.g., the promotion of other artists’ work)
Evaluation Criteria
Applications will be reviewed by a panel of arts professionals with experience in various disciplines. Panelists will score each application based on the following evaluation criteria:
- Artistic Merit – Work samples provided show artistic excellence, and there is originality, inventiveness, and/or cultural significance in the project proposed, as well as a clear commitment to a career as a practicing professional artist.
- Project Feasibility – The project proposal is clear and well-organized, showing preparation and planning. The proposal’s goals are realistic and achievable. The project budget shows forethought and consideration.
Professional Development – The project is consistent with the applicant’s career stage and will be meaningful in expanding and/or promoting the applicant’s artistic career and professional growth.
The following 5 point scale will be used to score each criteria: 5 – Outstanding, 4 – Very Good, 3 – Good, 2 – Fair, 1 – Poor
Please be sure you are both thorough and clear in your responses. Incomplete or unclear responses will make it more difficult for panelists to evaluate your proposal and will negatively impact your score.
Review the following documents BEFORE applying!
Contact: Tonya Harwood, HCAC Executive Director via email: director@haywoodarts.org. The HCAC Gallery is Volunteer-run, PLEASE DO NOT call. Questions will be addressed via email.
The application closes on September 3, 2024.
Grassroot Grants:
Round One Awardees and Their Activities:
Arc of Haywood County: Provides funds for various art projects to all of our clients with IDD.
Downtown Waynesville Commission:
- Project One: Supports Eastern Band of Cherokee participation in the Haywood Heritage Weekend which is aimed at defining the various aspects of Haywood County’s rich Appalachian culture and showcasing the institutions that preserve and enrich this heritage.
- Project Two: Provides payment for an artist to create a mural for an alleyway connecting Main Street and Wall Street. The current design concept includes a variety of vintage photographs of Historic Waynesville and Main Street, displayed against a backdrop of mountains.
First United Methodist Church: Arts for Afterschool creates opportunities for students to engage in art and community with caring adults. Grant funding pays for necessary materials and compensate local artists to teach lessons during regularly scheduled, already established, well attended after school programming.
HART: Supports a series of classes in spring of 2024 to expand our community’s knowledge of the theatrical arts.
Haywood Community Band: Provides funds to purchase music and cover various operational expenses.
Haywood Choral Society: Provides operational support for a singing opportunity for members of the local community that leads to two public concerts between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2024.
Voices of the Laurel: In the spring of 2024 Voices in the Laurel will provide adults and children in the Voices program with high-quality multi-cultural musical experiences, including regional guest instructors and local professional musicians to enhance the program.
Round Two Awardees and Their Activities:
The Haywood County Arts Council (HCAC) is excited to announce that four local organizations were awarded collectively almost $11,000 through the Grassroots Grant program round 2 funding. “This funding is in addition to the more than $27,000 granted out to local organizations during the round 1 subgrant process in late 2023” says Tonya Harwood, HCAC Executive Director. “We are so grateful to our legislators and the North Carolina Arts Council for bringing these funds into our local community to support the arts.”
Folkmoot: Folkmoot LIVE! is a performance series featuring the finest musicians, dancers and storytellers working today! The 2024 season will spotlight different regions of the globe each month with an Asian inspired performance in February and a Latin American inspired performance in May. “With the support of the HCAC Grassroots Grant, Folkmoot USA is able to present An Evening of Eastern Culture featuring “Asian Soundscapes” created by Min Xiao-Fen. Prepare yourself for extraordinary performances by Min Xiao-Fen on the Chinese pipa, Mari Ohta on the Japanese koto, Thom Nguyen on the drums and the Gamelan Ensemble of Warren Wilson College on Thursday, February 22.”
HART: Funds will cover theatrical rights for a five-show lineup in HART’s studio series, enabling local artists to share personal stories, perform dream roles, and gain directing experience. “We are so excited to have been awarded part of the Round 2 Grassroots Grant, supercharging our Winter Studio Season! This program thrives on community-driven passion projects, and the grant means we can turn more dreams into reality. It’s a game-changer, taking off the financial load and letting creativity shine in our theatre community.” – Candice Dickinson, Artistic Director, HART Theatre
Haywood Community Band: Funds will be used to pay a conductor and assistant conductor for the 2024 season. Conductors are responsible for choosing the music and preparing the band for performances. The season includes a minimum of six performances and a full schedule of weekly rehearsals. “Stephen Razo and his assistant, Jenna Misch, will share the podium beginning in May at the Maggie Valley Pavilion. Mr. Razo is an experienced conductor of both military and community bands. He appeared with HCB in 2022 to conduct the premier of his published work, On the Blue Ridge.” – Mary K. Thomas, HCB Outreach Chairman
Haywood Community College Foundation: HCC will celebrate their 60th anniversary by commissioning local artists to display their work on campus. This activity will tie in with their world renowned Professional Crafts program and add another layer to inviting the community onto their beautiful campus to experience quality art. “The Haywood Community College Foundation is excited to celebrate our 60th Anniversary in 2025 by creating a new art trail showcasing local artists. HCC is an anchor for our community and should be enjoyed by all. This gives visitors another reason to come on campus.” – Hylah Birenbaum Executive Director of College Advancement