The Artist Support Grant (ASG) provides direct support to individual artists, funding professional and artistic development for emerging and established artists to enhance their skills and abilities to create work or to improve their business operations and capacity to bring their work to new audiences. Eligible artists must reside in the counties of Anson, Montgomery, Moore, Richmond, Stanly or Union, and must apply through the Arts Council of Moore County.
NOTE: Grant information for 2023-24
will not be available until June 2023.
Next Deadline: 5:00 PM on October 13, 2023
Grant Decision: After November 17, 2023
See below for more grant details…
What is the Artist Support Grant?
The initiative funds professional and artistic development for emerging and established artists to enhance their skills and abilities to create work or to improve their business operations and capacity to bring their work to new audiences. Artists representing visual, craft, performing, traditional, and interdisciplinary art forms are encouraged to apply. Applicants should demonstrate a commitment to spending a significant portion of their time on their work as artists.
ASG is managed through a partnership with the North Carolina Arts Council (NCAC) and other arts councils divided into 18 statewide regions. The Arts Council of Moore County (ACMC) manages this program for artists who reside in Region 12, which includes Anson, Montgomery, Moore, Richmond, Stanly, and Union counties.
The Deadline for 22-23 applications is 5:00 PM on October 14, 2022.
Am I Eligible?
ASG 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 the work as artists.
- Individuals & Artist Collectives — Both individual artists and small, unincorporated groups of collaborating artists are eligible to apply.
- Age — Artists must be at least 18 years old.
- Residency — Artists applying through ACMC should have lived continuously in ASG’s Region 12 (Counties of Anson, Montgomery, Moore, Richmond, Stanly, & Union) for at least one year before the application deadline. An applicant must be either a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident alien; Proof of residence and status may be required. 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. Resumes documenting residence for all team members should be included with the application.
- Prior Winners — Artists who received this grant must wait at least two years after the award year before becoming eligible to reapply.
- Multiple Awards — Artists who are sole proprietors of organizations that have already received funding for 2022–23 from NCAC may not apply.
- Conflict of Interest — Current board & staff members of the regional partner organizations and their family members are not eligible to apply.
- Student Status — This 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 ACMC staff.
What projects are fundable?
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 artist’s 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 at either 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 and lodging for training, professional conferences, or research as allowed or possible while adhering to social distancing guidelines
Examples of ineligible projects and costs are:
- Scholarships and/or tuition for undergraduate or graduate level education
- Projects that support or oppose a candidate for public office
- Projects that are exclusive to members of a 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, teaching, curatorial work, etc.)
- Projects that have already taken place
- Requests to purchase/rent multiple items or for multiple professional development experiences
How does the judging/panel process work?
All completed applications will be reviewed by a grants panel which will consist of discipline-based artists and art educators on the criteria listed below. Grant recommendations from the panel are then approved by ACMC’s Board of Trustees. Incomplete applications will not be presented to the panel.
The judges are evaluating based on the following criteria:
- Artistic Merit – Artist exhibits overall excellence and talent in an art form and demonstrates a clear commitment to a career as a practicing professional artist
- Project Merit – Proposed project will benefit the artist’s professional growth and is feasible
Make sure your application shines!
What is the grant deadline?
This is NOT a postmark deadline. Your application and all attachments must be in ACMC’s offices by the deadline in order to be considered for funding. Applications without all required attachments are incomplete and will not be presented to the panel.
ASG projects must take place between the dates of January 1 – December 31, 2023, with the grants funds fully spent by June 30, 2023.
Can I get some help?
We’re here to help ease the process! Grant workshops will be offered to assist artists in strengthening their applications. Attendance is not required but strongly encouraged, especially for first time applicants. All grant workshops are open to any artist in Region 12, no matter your county of residence.
The ASG workshops will take place on the following dates:
VIRTUAL: August 23, 2022 – 5:30 PM via Zoom
VIDEO LINK TO RECORDED WORKSHOP
IN-PERSON: September 13, 2022 – 5:30 PM | Arts Council Galleries (Campbell House 482 E. Connecticut Ave., Southern Pines, NC)
Reservations for each grant workshop are required by contacting ACMC at 910-692-2787 or acmc@mooreart.org. Please provide the following: Your name, county of residence, email address, phone number, your art discipline, and which workshop(s) you wish to attend. The workshop via Zoom will be recorded and the recording link will be available on this sight soon after the meeting. You may attend both workshops.
In addition to the workshops, you may also contact the ASG representative in your county to help you develop your application and support material. Find your county representative in the list at the bottom of this page. Please allow enough time before the deadline for your application to be reviewed.
How do I apply?
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS:
1. Application: Click Here to download the 2022-23 ASG Application Form
2. Narrative (required) – Your narrative should explain your proposed project and how it will have an impact on our career as an artist. The narrative is broken down into the following questions, all of which must be answered for an application to be submitted (1,000 word limit):
- What is your project and how will the funds be used?
- What will this project enable you to do that you are unable to do now?
- How will this project advance your career or development as an artist?
3. Budget (required) – Provide your Project Budget (expenses & Income). For your Project Expenses, please be sure to list each expense as its own line item. Be as specific as possible. The minimum grant amount to request is $500 and the maximum amount is $2,500.
4. Artist Statement (optional) – Attach an artist statement that describes your work and the key ideas, goals or cultural practices that drive you to create. (One page maximum)
5. Artistic Resume (required) – Attach an artist resume that includes education, employment, public presentations of your work, publications, commissions, honors, grant/fellowship awards, and relevant experience. (four pages maximum)
6. Letters of Recommendation (optional) – Letters of Recommendation are not required. All Letters of Recommendation should be on letterhead and signed with contact information. Letters should be recent and from individuals familiar with your work and/or project. Letters should be professional recommendations and not personal recommendations. (Three letters maximum.)
7. WORK SAMPLES (required) – Applicant must provide high-quality, digital work samples (links or attachments), emailed to acmc@mooreart.org. Hard copies will not be accepted. Samples must be of artist’s work only and created within the past three years. Applicant must attach an inventory list with the following descriptions for the applicable discipline:
- DANCE & PERFORMING ARTS: Please submit of up to three recorded performances. Videos may not exceed a total time of eight minutes. A short description may also be submitted (Word or PDF) to include title of piece(s), date & location of performance(s), names & roles of key people (director, choreographer, lead performers/actors, etc.).
- MUSIC: Please submit up to three recorded performances, live or studio. Audio or video may not exceed a total time of eight minutes. A short description may also be included (Word or PDF) to include title of piece(s), date & location of performance(s), names & roles of key people (composer/songwriter, musicians, etc.), & indicate if sample was professionally mastered. Composers & songwriters should also submit a PDF of scores, lyrics, and/or lead sheets, as appropriate.
- WRITING: Fiction, creative nonfiction and playwrights may submit up to two manuscripts (Word or PDF) with a maximum of 10 pages each. Your sample(s) may include a cover page with your name, title of piece, brief synopsis (if needed) and completion date. Poets may submit five to seven poems (Word or PDF), to include your name, title and completion date. Playwrights may submit a video of a recorded performance or staged reading, with clips not to exceed five minutes.*
- VISUAL ART & CRAFT: Please submit up to 15 images of your work (JPG or JPEG, 2 MB max each at 300 dpi), with a description of each piece to include date of completion, medium & dimensions. Time-based work can be documented with a video not to exceed five minutes.
- FILM: Please submit up to three film clips not to exceed eight minutes. A short description may also be submitted (Word or PDF) to include title, date & location of film, names & roles of key people (director, choreographer, lead performers/actors, etc.).
NOTE for ALL Video/Audio samples: Please submit all video and audio work samples as an online web link (YouTube, Vimeo, etc.) to acmc@mooreart.org, along with your name and county of residence.
One copy of all printed material (application & all support materials) must be submitted to ACMC in ONE of the following ways.
- EMAIL: acmc@mooreart.org
- MAIL: Arts Council of Moore County, Attn: Chris Dunn, P.O. Box 405, Southern Pines, NC 28388
- HAND DELIVERY: Arts Council Galleries at Campbell House, 482 E. Connecticut Ave., Southern Pines, NC
Applications without all required attachments is incomplete and will not be presented to the grants panel.
Reporting Requirements
Each artist who receives a grant is required to provide a final report within 30 days after the completion of the funded project, and no later than June 15, 2023. Failure to submit a report may result in denial of future awards.
The 22-23 report form can be downloaded here: 2022-23 ASG Final Report Form.
Additionally, each grant recipient is required to recognize NCAC’s investment in your talent by adhering to the following requirements about credit line and logo use. Failure to properly credit NCAC may jeopardize future awards.
CREDIT LINE
All funded events and in all digital and printed publicity materials for ASG funded projects must contain the following credit line:
This project is supported by the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural & Cultural Resources, with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts.
LOGO USE
Wherever possible to include along with the NCAC credit line, NCAC’s logo may be prominently displayed on-site and in all publicity and printed materials. You may use either the color or black & white version.
Download the North Carolina Arts Council logo HERE.
Should you have questions about the report form or credit line & logo use, please contact ACMC.
Still have questions?
Q: What can grant dollars be used for?
A: 50% of ASG dollars may to support the individual artist with the remainder to fund a single purpose or project, such as a workshop or conference fee, taking a master class, purchase or rental of a piece of equipment or supply materials. In some instances there may be shared or related expenses that are also legitimate. For instance, attendance at a conference AND travel costs to attend; or, a major piece of equipment AND a necessary additional component (a saw AND a blade). If you are unsure if you can use grant funds for a specific expense, please see the ineligible costs above or contact your local arts council. Applicants are required to attach support for the request and amount. For example, a write-up and pricing of conference fee, a draft invoice or an online price quote, etc.
Q: How much can I request?
A: For 2022-23, you may request any amount between $500 and $2,500.
Q: Am I required to match the grant?
A: No, matching funds are not required of ASG recipients. However, if the cost of the project exceeds the maximum grant amount ($2,500), the applicant must show additional funding source(s).
Q: When will the grant be announced?
A: We will start contacting the grant awardees on or after November 18, 2022.
Q: What types of projects have been funded in the past?
A: In the past, artists have been awarded grants for the following types of projects:
- Work with master artists in their field
- Purchase equipment (art supplies, pottery kiln, camera, computer, etc.)
- Pay for conference or workshop fees, including lodging and travel
- Renovate or update studio space
- Rent studio time for the completion of a specific project
ASG Region 12 County Representatives
If you have additional questions about the Artists Support Grant, please contact your county’s ASG Region 12 arts organization listed below:
ANSON COUNTY
Contact the Arts Council of Moore County representative
MONTGOMERY COUNTY
STARworks NC
Mary Holmes, Special Projects Coordinator
Physical Address: 100 Russell Dr., Star, NC
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 156, Star, NC 27356
Phone: 910-428-9001 | Email: mary@starworksnc.org
Website: STARworksNC.org
MOORE COUNTY
Arts Council of Moore County
Chris Dunn, Executive Director
Physical Address: 482 E. Connecticut Ave., Southern Pines, NC
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 405, Southern Pines, NC 28388
Phone: 910-692-2787 | Email: acmc@mooreart.org
Website: MooreArt.org
RICHMOND COUNTY
Arts Richmond / RCAC
Physical Address: 123 E. Washington St., Rockingham, NC
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 1296, Rockingham, NC 28380
Phone: 910-997-6008 (Leave a message)
Email: ArtsRichmond@gmail.com
STANLY COUNTY
Stanly County Arts Council
Renee Van Horn, Executive Director
Address: 26032-G Newt Rd., Albemarle, NC 28001
Phone: 704-982-8118
Email: stanlycountyartscouncil1974@gmail.com
Website: StanlyCountyArtsCouncil.org
UNION COUNTY
Union County Community Arts Council
Melanie Miller, Executive Director
Physical Address: 120 N. Main St., Monroe, NC
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 576, Monroe, NC 28111
Phone: 704-283-2784 | Email: melanie@unionarts.org
Website: UnionArts.org
The Artist Support Grant is provided through a partnership with the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural & Cultural Resources, and other arts councils divided into 18 statewide regions. The Arts Council of Moore County is the Lead Partner for Region 12, which includes Anson, Montgomery, Moore, Richmond, Stanly, and Union counties.
