Artist Support Grants
The North Carolina Arts Council Artist Support Grant is a regional grant program to support individual artists in all phases of their careers. The program funds professional and artistic development for emerging or established artists to create work, improve their business operations, or bring their work to new audiences.
This grant is intended to support a broad range of talented artists in the genres of visual arts, performing arts, literary arts, music composition, choreography, and interdisciplinary arts. Applicants should demonstrate a commitment to spending a significant portion of their time on their work as artists.
Grants range from $500 to $1,500. The deadline to apply is August 29, 2025 at 11:59 pm.
The ASG program is funded by the North Carolina Arts Council to provide the opportunity for regional consortia of local arts councils to award project grants to artists in their regions. Region 17 is led by ArtsAVL and includes Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson, Polk, Rutherford, and Transylvania counties.
2025-26 Timeline
July 21, 2025 | Application opens
August 29, 2025 | Application deadline
Late October | Awards Announced
Early November 2025 | Funds distributed
January 31, 2027 | Final report due
Allowable Expenses
In project year 2025-2026, applicants may apply for up to 50 percent of the grant to support 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 either at 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
Evaluation Criteria
Applications will be reviewed by a panel of arts professionals with experience in various disciplines. Panelists will score each application based on the following evaluation criteria:
Artistic Merit – Work samples provided show artistic excellence, and there is originality, inventiveness, and/or cultural significance in the project proposed, as well as a clear commitment to a career as a practicing professional artist.
Project Feasibility – The project proposal is clear and well-organized, showing preparation and planning. The proposal’s goals are realistic and achievable. The project budget shows forethought and consideration.
Professional Development – The project is consistent with the applicant’s career stage and will be meaningful in expanding and/or promoting the applicant’s artistic career and professional growth.
The following 5 point scale will be used to score each criteria: 5 – Outstanding, 4 – Very Good, 3 – Good, 2 – Fair, 1 – Poor
Please be sure you are both thorough and clear in your responses. Incomplete or unclear responses will make it more difficult for panelists to evaluate your proposal and will negatively impact your score.
City of Brevard Public Art Policy
"In order to beautify public areas, enhance the quality of life for Brevard citizens, attract tourism, promote arts and culture, and encourage businesses to locate within the city, thus expanding Brevard’s economic base, it is the policy of the City of Brevard to promote public art, where appropriate, through the implementation of a clarified process and design guidelines."
In February 2021, the Brevard City Council adopted a Public Art Policy and Application Process, which defines "public art" as "art on publicly- or privately-owned non-residential property that is visible from public streets and pedestrian walkways to be approved by City Council prior to installation."
To learn more about the Public Art Policy and Application Process, see the links below.