State awards millions in grants to support arts programs

Several nonprofit arts organizations, schools, after-school programs, municipalities and artists in coastal counties have been selected this year to receive state funding through the North Carolina Arts Council.

A division of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, the council announced last week that 340 grants totaling $10.99 million for fiscal 2026-27 have been awarded through the competitive grant programs, and facilitated $1.12 million in direct appropriations to the Roanoke Island Historical Association, which produces “The Lost Colony.”

“Our state’s investment in arts and culture is essential to the strength of our communities and our statewide economy,” Department Secretary Pamela B. Cashwell said. “Through these grants and the work of the N.C. Arts Council, lives are enriched and communities across all 100 counties grow stronger. We appreciate this continued investment from Governor Stein and the General Assembly.”

The state said priorities with the program include emphasizing community outreach and audience engagement, Improving organization’s capacity and capabilities, connecting K–12 students with artists, fostering public-private partnerships, and supporting local arts partners.

“As we continue our Sustaining Support for Arts Organizations grants, we’re seeing how added stability in operating expenses empowers organizations to grow and innovate,” Arts Council Executive Director Jeff Bell said. “It’s inspiring to see the positive impact that these organizations are having in their communities and across North Carolina.”

Sustaining Support grants help to fund the ongoing artistic and administrative functions of arts organizations. The grants are reviewed and awarded on a three-year cycle by discipline, with this cycle’s grants going to the Literature, Visual Arts, Film and Dance categories.

The Arts Council also announced that historian and artist Ben Watford of Craven County is among the 2027 North Carolina Heritage Awards recipients. Past recipients of the Heritage Awards range from internationally acclaimed musicians to folks who quietly practice their art in family and community settings. He was awarded $10,000.

Project Support grants, which help organizations that produce or present specific arts programs, include these awards:

• $8,000 to the 2027 North Carolina Rice Festival in Brunswick County.
• $12,000 for a a jazz performance by Tito Puente Jr. at Duck Jazz Fest in Duck.
• $8,000 for a performance by Virginia Symphony Orchestra featuring violinist Grace Park and master class activities to the Outer Banks Forum for the Lively Arts.
• $12,000 to the 37th Annual Meherrin Indian Powwow in Hertford County.
• $10,000 to Thalian Hall Center for the Performing Arts, Inc. for a community-based residency with Achinta McDaniel & Blue13 Dance, including a performance and educational programs.
• $5,000 for sixth annual Onslow Veterans Powwow.
• $8,000 for Pamlico Musical Society Celebration of Abundance: Three concerts and related audience activities.

Recipients of the Artist Support Grants for Lead Partners, which funds regional consortia of local arts agencies that award project grants to artists within their area, include the following:

• $5,000 to Craven Arts Council & Gallery Inc. for artists in Carteret, Craven, Duplin, Jones, Lenoir, Onslow and Pamlico counties,
• $2,500 to Dare County Arts Council for artists in Beaufort, Dare, Hyde, Martin, Tyrrell and Washington counties, and
• $12,500 to Arts Council of Wilmington and New Hanover County for artists in Bladen, Brunswick, Columbus, New Hanover and Pender counties.
• $2,000 to Arts of the Albemarle for artists in Bertie, Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Gates, Hertford, Pasquotank and Perquimans counties.    

Grants through the Grassroots Arts Program, which provides arts funding to all 100 counties through an extensive network of local arts agencies and partner organizations, include the following organizations:

• $37,020 to Beaufort County Arts Council.
• $21,951 to Bertie County Arts Council.
• $113,349 to Brunswick County Arts Council Inc.
• $19,146 Camden County Public Library.
• $52,322 to Arts Council of Carteret County.
• $20,390 to Chowan Arts Council.
• $71,507 to Craven Arts Council & Gallery Inc.
• $30,998 to Currituck County Schools.
• $34,026 to Dare County Arts Council.
• $18,328 to Gates County Educational Association For Excellence.
• $23,187 to Gallery Theatre Inc. in Hertford County.
• $15,424 to Ocracoke Alive.  
• $75,171 to Arts Council of Wilmington and New Hanover County.
• $131,929 to County of Onslow.
• $20,176 to Pamlico County Arts Council.
• $35,527 to Arts of the Albemarle in Pasquotank County .
• $20,415 to Perquimans Arts League.
• $14,855 to Pocosin Arts Incorporated in Tyrrell County.
• $18,551 to Alliance for Greater Eastern North Carolina Washington County.

Sustaining Support grants, which provides flexible funding to arts organizations, include the following:

• $11,000 to Ocracoke Alive. 
• $22,000 to Cucalorus Film Foundation.
• $54,000 to Louise Wells Cameron Art Museum.
• $16,000 to Narrative Arts storytelling project.
• $19,000 to Wilmington Symphony Orchestra.
• $12,000 to Snow Productions Children’s Theater.
• $24,000 to DREAMS Center for Arts Education.
• $13,000 to Brooklyn Arts Music Academy.
• $23,000 to Pocosin Arts Incorporated.

For a complete list of grant recipients, visit ncarts.org/fy26-27-ncac-grants-county.