Brightwork Grants: Professional Development

The Brightwork Grants: Professional Development, initiated by the North Carolina Arts Council, aims to support visual artists in their professional growth. Starting in 2026, one selected artist will receive funding for activities enhancing their development, such as workshops, portfolio documentation, and equipment purchases. Eligible applicants must reside in specific North Carolina counties for at least one year and be 21 or older. Notably, those awarded the Brightwork Fellowship after 2022 are ineligible.

North Carolina Arts Council
The North Carolina Arts Council launched its work in 1967 as awareness of the importance of arts to all citizens was becoming a national movement.
After decades of vigorous work, experimentation, and refinement, our state’s arts infrastructure reaches into all 100 counties through one of the most highly developed and effective networks of local arts councils in our nation. An abundance of outstanding artists and arts organizations continues to enrich our communities.
About Anchorlight
Anchorlight is a creative space, founded with the intent of fostering artists at varying stages of their development. Anchorlight provides a combination of artist studios, residency opportunities, and exhibition space. Through the establishment of an internal community of artists, designers, and craftspeople, Anchorlight encourages mentorship and the cross-pollination of knowledge and skills.
The Brightwork Program at Anchorlight will begin offering a Professional Development Grant and a Special Project Grant to visual artists in 2026.
Brightwork Grants: Professional Development Grant
One artist will be selected for the 2026 Professional Development grant. Grant funds may be used for activities that further the professional development of the applicant. Examples of appropriate uses of funds (not limited to):

• Attending a workshop, class, conference or acquiring 1:1 technical instruction.
• Professional documentation of portfolio.
• Hiring of a designer to create a professional website.
• Purchase of equipment, tools, or studio materials.

Eligibility

Eligible artists have lived in the following counties in North Carolina full time for a minimum of one year (twelve consecutive months) at the time of their application and will continue living in eligible North Carolina counties for the duration of the grant period. Eligible counties of residence are: Wake, Durham, Orange, Chatham, Lee, Harnett, Johnston, Nash, Franklin, Granville, Vance, Wilson.Practicing visual artists of all backgrounds and at any stage of their career are eligible to apply. Visual artists 21+ years of age.
Applicants may not be enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree program during the granting period. Applicants may be enrolled in such programs during the application process, if they will have graduated by the start of the grant period. Doctoral candidates that have finished all coursework may apply.
Artists who participated in the Brightwork program between 2017- 2021 may apply.
Applicants may only apply for one grant or fellowship per application cycle. If you are applying to the Brightwork Fellowship you will not be eligible to apply for a Brightwork Grant this year. Conversely, if you are applying for a Brightwork Grant you are not eligible to apply for the Brightwork Fellowship this year. Applicants must choose to apply for either the Professional Development Grant or the Special Project Grant, you may not apply for both in the same year.

Ineligibility

Choreographers, dancers, theatrical performers, filmmakers, musicians, writers, and other artistic disciplines outside of contemporary visual art are not eligible to apply.Artists who have been awarded the Brightwork Fellowship in 2022 or later are not eligible for a Brightwork Grant.