The Orange County Arts Commission (OCAC) is seeking applications for its Grassroots Program Grant.
Donor Name: Orange County Arts Commission (OCAC)
State: North Carolina
County: Orange County (NC)
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 06/30/2026
Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000
Grant Duration: 1 Year
Details:
The N. C. Arts Council’s Grassroots Arts Program has provided North Carolina citizens access to quality arts experiences. The program distributes funds for the arts in all 100 counties of the state primarily through partnerships with local arts councils. The Orange County Arts Commission (OCAC) serves as the N.C. Arts Council’s partner in awarding subgrants to local organizations for arts programs in Orange County, as well as additional local grant funds approved by the Orange County Board of County Commissioners.
Grassroots Arts Program funds may be used for expenditures to conduct quality arts programs or operate an arts organization. Typical uses of Grassroots money include:
- Program expenses such as professional artists’ fees and travel, space rental, advertising, marketing and publicity, website and electronic media, scripts, costumes, sets, props, music and theater equipment rental. Program-related requests have a maximum request limit of $5,000.
- Operating expenses for qualified arts and cultural organizations not already receiving operating support from the N.C. Arts Council or N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. These can include salaries, telephone, office supplies, printing, postage, rent, utilities, insurance and equipment rental. Organizations must have an arts-based mission and an annual operating budget of less than $2M in order to request operating funds. Operations-related requests have a maximum request limit of $5,000.
Funding Information
- Total Funding available: $106,959.50
- NC Arts County Grassroots Arts Program Allocation: $48,448.50.
- Orange County Outside Agencies Allocation: $29,711
- Orange County Local Arts Grants Allocation: $28,800
Grant Period
All projects must take place between July 1, 2026 and June 30, 2027.
Eligibility Criteria
- All organizations must have been in operation for at least one year, and must be either a nonprofit organization or have a nonprofit sponsor to receive funds on their behalf. (Unincorporated artist groups are encouraged to apply through the Artist Project Grant Program)
- All organizations must physically reside in Orange County. (Organizations serving more than one county should apply for Grassroots funding through the county in which they are physically located)
- Applications and support materials must be submitted electronically by the due date.
- Prior grantees must have submitted a completed grant report for prior funding in order to be eligible for new funding.
- Grassroots Arts Program money may not be used for the following kinds of expenditures:
- Competitions, scholarships, tuition, financial awards, or prizes
- Art, music, and dance therapists
- Fundraising events
- Purchase of artwork
- Food or beverages for hospitality or entertainment functions
- Internal school programs such as band activities or equipment or choral activities
- Oral history and history projects
- Interest on loans, fines, or litigation costs.
For more information, visit OCAC.
