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The Watauga Arts Council Offers 2013-2014 Grassroots Grants Program for Qualified Watauga Projects

Dec. 19, 2013. The Watauga County Arts Council, a designated county partner of the North Carolina Arts Council, is offering grant funding for qualified projects in Watauga County.

Watauga Co. Arts Council logoProjects that are eligible for this grant program are those artistic and cultural activities sponsored by any nonprofit community based organization. Under state guidelines, emphasis will be placed upon the projects of qualified organizations (theaters, galleries, art guilds, choral societies, musical organizations, dance companies, writers groups, art festivals), the support of the arts in education programs conducted by qualified artists which take place in school settings, after school, or though summer programs (however, grass roots funds may not be used for activities associated with a school’s internal arts programs such as in-school student performances, the purchase of art supplies, or student arts competitions and publications), and arts programs provided to the community by other community organizations. These programs should be conducted by qualified artists. 

All projects which receive funding must take place between July 1 2013 and June 30, 2014. All grant awards must be matched by at least an equal cash match from the applicant organization and may not be matched by state funds. 

Criteria for selection will include:

  • Strong community support
  • Involvement of racial and ethnic minorities and other traditionally underserved segments of the community
  • Responsiveness to community cultural needs
  • Involvement of local professional artists
  • The organization’s administrative ability and financial stability
  • The organization’s ability to develop sufficient funding for the project

Application Process:

  • 1)    Complete NCAC Subgrantee Application Form (available from the Watauga County Arts Council website or office) and return it along with the Application Cover Page and Budget Worksheet to the WCAC office by the published deadline.  Applications which do not have all three underlined components will not be considered. 
  • 2)    The NCAC now requires that all subgrant applicants have on file (with the local arts council) their current Conflict of Interest (this needs to updated annually, approved by your board, and signed by the board chairperson) and a current copy of the state’s No Overdue Tax Debt Form.  
  • 3)    Applications are reviewed by a panel of county representatives.
  • 4)    The recommendations of the panel are presented for approval by the Watauga County Arts Council’s Board of Directors.
  • 5)    Applicants are notified by mail of their acceptance into the program.  With this notification, all report forms will be sent to them, along with a list of instructions and a contract which is to be signed and returned upon receipt.  It is advisable to read carefully through all these materials before proceeding. 
  • 6)    Applicants carry out their event, being CERTAIN to include the required credit line in ALL written and oral publicity.
  • 7)    Applicants complete the NCAC Subgrantee Report Form immediately following their event and return it to the WCAC along with sample publicity and any publications which include the credit lines.  Prior to turning in the Report Form it is advisable to use the checklist provided with your notification packet to ensure that you have included all required materials.
  • 8)    The Report Form and all required attachments must be complete and pass review by the Executive Director or Panel Chairperson before payment of the grant award can be made. All forms are available at www.watauga-arts.org.

 The amount of money available for each grant is dependent on the total Grassroots allotment from the North Carolina State Arts Council to Watauga County’s Designated County Partner, the Watauga County Arts Council.  Grant amounts generally range from $100 to $500 per project but may be considered for up to $1000.

 A free workshop to advise and assist prospective applicants is being offered on Thursday, January 16th at 4:30 pm at the Blue Ridge ArtSpace at 377 Shadowline Drive in Boone.  

For additional information contact the Watauga County Arts Council by email at wcac@watauga-arts.org,  by mail at 377 Shadowline Drive, Boone, NC 28607, or by telephone at  828-264-1789.