• 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 July 28, 2025. An applicant must be at least 18 years old and either a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident. 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.
• Conflict of Interest — Current board and staff members of the partner organizations and their family members are not eligible to apply for the award.
• FY25 Artist Support Grant Recipients— Artists who received an award through this program in FY25 will not be considered for funding in FY26.
• Student Status — The Artist Support Grant is intended for adult, nonstudent artists. Artists enrolled full-time in undergraduate or associate degree-granting programs may not apply for the grant. Artists in certificate programs are generally eligible. 

All proposals must align to one or more of the following funding categories – those proposals that do not align to at least one funding category will not be eligible:

• 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)
• 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 or professional conferences

• 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)