North Carolina Arts Council Awards Nearly $11 Million in Grants to Organizations Statewide

The North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR), is pleased to announce $10,990,208 in grant awards for fiscal year 2026-27. A total of 340 grants will support nonprofit arts organizations, schools, after-school programs, municipalities, and artists in all 100 counties this year. Grant amounts range from $2,000-$354,262.

In addition to its competitive grant programs, this year the North Carolina Arts Council facilitated $1,118,957 in direct appropriations to the Lost Colony.

“Our state’s investment in arts and culture is essential to the strength of our communities and our statewide economy,” DNCR 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.”

This year’s funding priorities are:

• Emphasizing community outreach and audience engagement
• Improving organizational capacity and capabilities
• Connecting K–12 students with artists across disciplines and expanding statewide access to support, resources, and opportunities to engage dedicated teaching artists
• Through our Heritage Awards program, recognizing North Carolinians who have significantly influenced the cultural life of their communities
• Fostering public-private partnerships that leverage state and federal funding with local support
• Supporting local arts partners in all 100 counties to ensure that all North Carolinians can experience the arts in their own communities

“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.

For a complete list of FY2026-27 grant recipients, visit ncarts.org/fy26-27-ncac-grants-county.

About the North Carolina Arts Council
The North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, builds on our state’s long-standing love of the arts, leading the way to a more vibrant future. The N.C. Arts Council is an economic catalyst, fueling a thriving nonprofit creative sector that generates $2.23 billion in annual direct economic activity. We sustain diverse arts expression and traditions while investing in innovative approaches to art-making. The N.C. Arts Council has proven to be a champion for youth by cultivating tomorrow’s creative citizens through arts education. NCArts.org.

About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina – its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. At more than 100 sites across the state, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency. For more information, please visit www.dncr.nc.gov.

Legal Disclaimer:

EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.