ASC Artist Support Grants

The ASC Artist Support Grants program supports emerging and established artists in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg area by funding professional and artist development. Grants of up to $3,000 can be used for various activities, including training, project completion, and career promotion. Eligible applicants must reside in specified counties and demonstrate a commitment to their artistic work. This initiative fosters creativity and enhances the cultural landscape by providing resources for artists to reach new audiences.

About ASC
We serve as the designated “Office of Cultural Resources” for the City of Charlotte, Mecklenburg County and six suburban towns by providing advocacy, cultural education programs, cultural planning, fundraising, grant making, public art and workshops and trainings for the cultural community.
Artist Support Grants fund professional development and artist 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.
ASC is accepting applications from creatives living in Mecklenburg, Cabarrus, Cleveland, Gaston, Lincoln and Rowan Counties. (If you live in another NC county, you can find your county partner here.)
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 artistic work. Artists may request up to $3,000. Applications selected for funding will receive the full award for which they are eligible.

Eligibility

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 Mecklenburg, Cabarrus, Cleveland, Gaston, Lincoln or Rowan County for at least one year before the deadline. An applicant must be at least 18 years old and either a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident alien. 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.Student Status:The Artist Support Grant is intended for adult, non-student artists.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.Eligible Projects and Costs:Up to 50 percent of the grant amount may be used for 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 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, lodging, and food for training, professional conferences, or research as allowed or possible while adhering to social distancing guidelines

Ineligibility

Multiple Awards:Artists who have already received funding for this program in FY24 will not be considered for funding in FY25.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.
Artists enrolled full-time in undergraduate or associate degree-granting programs may not apply for the grant.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
Projects that do not have a direct effect on the applicant’s growth as an artist (e.g., the promotion of other artists’ work)