Guidelines for Grassroots Arts Program Subgrants
Since 1977, the North Carolina Arts Council’s Grassroots Arts Program (GAP) has provided North Carolina citizens access to quality arts experiences. The program distributes funds for the arts in all 100 counties of the state primarily through partnerships with local arts councils.
Eligibility for Application
- All organizations must have been in operation for at least one year.
- While nonprofit 501(c)(3) status is preferred, organizations that are nonprofit in nature may also apply.
- All organizations must reside and carry out projects within the county they are applying for funds (Randolph).
- Individuals are not eligible to apply for Grassroots Arts funds.
- Applications and support materials must be completed and received by the due date.
- All projects must take place between July 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025.
- Grant amounts range from $500 and up.
- Funding may be awarded in part, in full or not at all through the discretion of the Grassroots Advisory Committee, see “How Subgrant Applications Are Evaluated” below
What the Grassroots Arts Program Funds
Grassroots Arts Program funds may be used for expenditures to conduct quality arts programs. Typical uses of Grassroots money include:
- Program expenses such as professional artists’ fees, artists’ teaching fees, arts education programming, multicultural art programming and experiences, space rental, advertising, marketing and publicity, scripts, costumes,sets, props, music and equipment rental.
- In an effort to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion, preference will be given to organizations whose projects engage multicultural artists and communities.
Priorities for Funding
The first priority of the Grassroots Arts subgrant program is to provide program support to qualified arts organizations not already receiving or eligible to receive support from the N.C. Arts Council. These include theaters, symphonies, galleries, art guilds, choral societies, dance companies, folk arts societies, writers’ groups and arts festivals, among others.
The second priority of the Grassroots Arts subgrant program is to support arts learning and arts in education programs conducted by qualified artists. These can be artist residencies in schools, after school or summer camps or adult arts learning classes. The third priority of Grassroots Arts subgrants is to community, civic and municipal organizations. These programs must be conducted by qualified artists.
In an effort to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion, preference will be given to organizations whose projects engage multicultural artists and communities.
Funding Policies
- Tribal organizations that receive Grassroots funds must represent state or federally recognized tribes.
- Colleges, universities and libraries may receive grants for arts programs that are community-based or generate regional arts involvement. Grants may not support their internal programs, administration or operation expenses (library books, band boosters, equipment purchases).
- Subgrants may not be awarded to individuals or to organizations for prizes, competitions, tuition, or financial rewards.
- Grassroots funds may not be used for art supplies or equipment.
- Religious organizations or churches may not receive Grassroots funds unless the programs are presented outside regular church services, engage the larger community and do not contain religious content.
- Grassroots funds may not be used for activities associated with a school’s internal arts programs such as in-school student performances, the purchase of art supplies, or student arts competitions and publications.
- Municipalities (city/county governments) may receive grants for arts programs which use qualified artists to conduct programs that involve the greater community. Grants may not support internal programs, administration or operating expenses.
Grassroots Arts Program money may not be used for the following kinds of expenditures:
- Art, music, and dance therapists
- Transportation cost
- Artifacts
- Purchase artwork
- Purchase equipment or art supplies
- Capital expenditures or equipment
- Contingency funds
- Deficit reduction
- Fundraising events
- Food or beverages for hospitality or entertainment functions
- School band equipment
- School choral activities
- Lobbying expenses
- Oral history and history projects
- Tuition for academic study
- Interest on loans, fines, or litigation costs
Grassroots Arts Program Subgrant Requirements
Matching Requirement
All subgrantees must match their grant amounts dollar for dollar. The funds must come from other public or private sources. Other N.C. Arts Council funds cannot be used as a match.
North Carolina Arts Council Recognition
Subgrantees must acknowledge the N.C. Arts Council’s and Randolph Arts Guild’s support of their event or projects by including the N.C. Arts Council’s logo, RAG logo, and funding credit line in all print and promotional materials related to the grant. In all communications, North Carolina Arts Council should always be written out on first reference. N.C. Arts Council is acceptable on second reference. NCAC should not be used. The N.C. Arts Council’s website offers information and downloadable logos at http://www.ncarts.org/Grants/Logo-Use
LOGO FILES FOR DOWNLOAD NCAC AND RAG
Credit Line
Choose the appropriate credit line to use with the Arts Council logo, depending on your grant award’s source of funding. Credit lines must also be displayed on all digital and printed publicity materials:
| Credit line for those who receive state funds | |
| This project was supported by the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. | |
| Credit line for those who receive state and federal funds | |
| This project was supported by the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts. | |
Donor Recognition
If you list donor participation on printed materials or your website, you must include the North Carolina Arts Council in the appropriate category (e.g. sponsors, directors, benefactors, etc.)
Reproducing the Arts Council Logo
Grantees may download logos from the N.C. Arts Council’s Logo & Branding Materials page. Do not reproduce the logo from faxed or photocopied images. The logo must be reproduced as a unit without alteration. Please see our Logo Usage Guide for best practice.
The NEA logo can be downloaded from the NEA website.
Subgrant Application and Form FY 2024-2025
Organizations applying for Grassroots Art Program Funds must fill out the FY 2024-2025 State Grassroots Subgrant Application Form, downloadable below or in alternate forms at http://www.ncarts.org/resources/local-council-resources under Grassroots Arts Subgranting Tools. You may need to answer narrative questions on separate pages and attach them to the application for appropriate space.
Complete applications are due to the Randolph Arts Guild no later than 4:00pm Friday, December 6, 2024. Please note that in order to receive funds Organizations must be prepared to provide a notarized No Overdue Tax Form.
Questions and Assistance
Randolph Arts Guild will host a virtual Grassroots Arts Program Grant Workshop to assist interested applicants in preparing grant applications on Tuesday, November 12, 2024 at 3:00 p.m. Representatives of all interested organizations and institutions are encouraged to participate. Please call the Guild office (336) 629-0399 or email roselonguillo@randolphartsguild.com for information. Grant applications will be evaluated by a panel of community members and approved by the Randolph Arts Guild Board of Directors. Awards will be announced by Mid January 2025.
For more information contact Rose Longuillo at (336) 629-0399 or roselonguillo@randolphartsguild.com
Reporting Requirements
Each awarded subgrantee is required to submit a final report providing a detailed description of the funded project, participation statistics and demographics, sample marketing and program materials using the N.C. Arts Council credit line and logo, and copies of their legislative letters. The Subgrant Report form can be downloaded from the N.C. Arts Council Website http://www.ncarts.org/resources/local-council-resources. Or here with the link below
Final Reports are due to RAG by Friday July 4, 2025.
Legislative Letters
Applicants may be required to write their state representatives to thank them for appropriating Grassroots funds. If required, the letter should provide information about how Grassroots funds were used to support your program or project, and the community impact of the event. A copy of all letters to legislators must be included in the final report materials.
How Subgrant Applications Are Evaluated
Subgrant applications are reviewed by a diverse panel of community members including artists, county, public officials and arts council board members among others. The panel evaluates each application based on the subgrant guidelines and the following criteria:
• Artistic quality of proposed project or programs
• Community impact of project or programs
• Ability to plan and implement project
• Stability and fiscal responsibility of the organization
Panelists discuss and score the grant using an established rating system. The subgrant panel’s funding decisions are then presented as recommendations to the N.C. Arts Council’s Board. The board of votes and gives final approval to the subgrant panel’s recommendations.