As the designated county partner for the North Carolina Arts Council’s Grassroots Arts Program (GAP), the Iredell Arts Council is committed to strengthening the local arts community through equitable distribution of state arts funding. In accordance with state guidelines, counties with populations over 50,000—such as Iredell—are required to subgrant at least 50% of their Grassroots allocation to other organizations within the county to support arts programming. Even if not mandated, any optional subgranting must adhere to the same criteria outlined below.

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Subgrant Eligibility Criteria

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To be eligible for a Grassroots Arts Program (GAP) subgrant through the Iredell Arts Council:

• Organizations must have been actively operating for at least one year.

• 501(c)(3) nonprofit status is preferred; however, organizations that operate as nonprofits without formal IRS designation may still be considered.

• Programs must be arts-related and serve Iredell County residents.
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Subgrant Funding Priorities

We prioritize funding in the following order:

 

1. Support for Arts Organizations

Our top priority is to provide programmatic or operational support to arts-focused organizations. This includes entities such as:

• Community theaters

• Art galleries and guilds

• Choral societies

• Symphony orchestras

• Dance companies

• Folk and traditional arts organizations

• Literary groups

• Local arts festivals

Note: Organizations receiving operating support directly from the N.C. Arts Council are not eligible to receive additional operating support from Grassroots subgrants.

 

2. Arts Education and Learning Programs

The second priority is arts learning initiatives led by qualified artists. Examples include:

• Artist residencies in public schools

• After-school or summer arts programs

• Community-based adult art education

Please note: Grassroots funds may not be used for a school’s internal arts programming (e.g., in-school performances, classroom supplies, or student competitions).

 

3. Community-Based Arts Programs

The third funding tier includes civic, municipal, and community organizations offering high-quality arts programming that is accessible to the general public. All programs must be led by qualified artists.