The Arts Council of Greater Greensboro has launched the Festival Grant Program.
Donor Name: The Arts Council of Greater Greensboro
State: North Carolina
County: Guilford County (NC)
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 08/30/2026
Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
The Festival Grant supports one to three-day (consecutive days) festivals that build community engagement through artistic expression, music, craft, and cultural traditions. By providing financial assistance the grant ensures that an organization can strengthen its festival programming while building community engagement and cultural awareness through artistic means.
Funding Information
The Festival Grant offers awards ranging from $500 to $3,000, ensuring that the financial support complements the event’s budget without exceeding 50% of the total projected expenses.
Eligibility Criteria
- Applicants may be Guilford County Non-Profit 501c3, LLC, B Corp, C Corp. Priority will be given to Arts 501(c)3 Non-Profits that support and promote the arts.
- Applicants must demonstrate experience in planning and execution of a one-to-three-day festival event. Festival experience must have a consistent track record of three consecutive years.
- Festivals must take place in Guilford County and benefit residents, encourage visitors, and enhance the local artistic culture and vitality. Guilford County includes Gibsonville, High Point, Jamestown, Oak Ridge, Pleasant Garden, Sedalia, Stokesdale, Summerfield, Whitsett and Greensboro.
- Frequency of Requests: The program will not consider more than one funding request from the same organization in a single fiscal year.
- Excluded from funding: fundraising events, sporting or athletic events, church, religious organizations, government agencies or offices, businesses or private clubs that exclude minors as patrons, and residential projects. Additionally, events used for political purposes, demonstrations, marches, rallies, or protests, as well as trade shows, trade fairs, business conferences, workshops, employee training, professional development activities, and events involving scholarships, prizes, cash awards, additions to endowment funds, deficit or debt reduction, lobbying, building construction or renovation, equipment or real property purchases, hospitality, and re-granting.
Evaluation Criteria
Applications are meticulously evaluated by community panelist based on several criteria to ensure that the selected festivals align with the grant criteria.
- Organization and Festival Information: Organization is clearly established and has a proven track record of producing festivals and working with the community.
- Audience Fit and Community Support- Has the ability to reach a broad audience and encourage participation and growth.
- Festival Objective: Festival uniquely celebrates Guilford County’s cultural Identity and aligns with the goals of The Arts Council of Greater Greensboro.
- Programming Operations and Logistics: Planning outlines are well established and comprehensive to support a successful festival.
- Viability of Execution: The planning supports a festival that can be easily executed and shows thoughtful consideration for safety and community.
- Marketing Power: Strong marketing plan utilizing promotional partners, website presence, social media campaigns and the potential for increased media coverage and public attention.
- Funding Sources and Financial Information: Support from additional funding sources, including ticket sales, sponsorships, grants, and organizational contributions. The proper use of grant funds and demonstrated support from the local community, local businesses, and public-sector partners.
- Sustainability of Event; The ability for the festival event to be repeated on an annual basis and the ability to expand through awareness and attract and engage new audiences.
For more information, visit The Arts Council of Greater Greensboro.
