Grants & Scholarships
Instructions for Saving and Accessing Applications in Progress
In order to save your progress on any of our applications, you must first be logged into a user account. When you go into an application and are not logged in, there will be a warning prompt at the beginning of the application advising you to create or log into an account before starting your application to save your progress. You may also log in at the link below.
To access your saved applications, you will click on the "My Dashboard" button on the black bar at the top of your screen. If you have an application in progress, there will be a button labeled "Incomplete Grant & Scholarship Applications".
Featured Grants
Spring Grant Cycle Information:
UAF Allocations Grant
- Full applications are invitation only and will be due by March 19
Innovative Artist Grant
- Applications are open now and will be due by March 19
Edna Bost Barringer Young Artist Award
- Applications are open now and will be due by March 19
Projects Pool Grant
- Applications open on March 9 and will be due by May 14
For Organizations
Grant Applications Open: March 9, 2026
Grant Applications Due: May 14, 2026
Panel Presentation Date: June 4, 2026
Nonprofit organizations are awarded grants for projects that encourage innovative arts projects, will enhance and strengthen the cultural community, and broaden the services offered to Catawba County citizens.
Projects Pool Grants, which are administered by Arts Culture Catawba, are made available by the North Carolina Arts Council through the North Carolina Grassroots Arts Program. Additional dollars are added by Catawba County government and six municipalities, including the Town of Catawba, City of Claremont, City of Conover, City of Hickory, Town of Maiden, and City of Newton.
Applications open year-round. Must apply at least 90 days prior to event date.
The Community Cultural Grant promotes cultural activities, throughout Catawba County enabling municipalities and non-profit organizations to provide cultural programs at community and heritage festivals and events for their respective communities. Special priority is given to the municipalities that fund Arts Culture Catawba, organizations representing diverse populations, events that feature artists of diversity, organizations that target special population groups and events that will potentially reach large segments of Catawba County residents.
Thank you to Piedmont Natural Gas, through the Duke Energy Foundation, for their donation towards this grant.
Applications open year-round. Must apply at least 30 days prior to event date.
Staff and board members of Arts Culture Catawba member organizations, with the exception of public and private school teachers, qualify to receive this type of grant to attend workshops and conferences that will strengthen their professional skills and expand their capabilities.
For the first time, we are opening our UAF Allocations Grant program to allow any eligible organization to apply to become a member of the United Arts Fund Alliance and receive general operating support from our United Arts Fund campaign. Verified eligible applicants will be invited to complete a full application. Current members of the alliance do not need to complete an eligibility form and will automatically be invited to complete a full application. Final applicants will be required to appear for an interview with the selection panel.
Eligibility Applications Open: January 12, 2026
Full Applications Open: January 28, 2026
Eligibility Applications Due: February 2, 2026
Full Applications Due: March 19, 2026
Grant Panel Date: April 13, 2026
The policy linked below outlines terms for Funded Affiliates of the United Arts Fund Alliance. If you are applying for UAF Allocations, please familiarize yourself with this policy document. New "Pilot Partners" will be expected to incorporate this policy into their organization.
THIS GRANT PROGRAM IS BEING RESTRUCTURED. APPLICATIONS ARE CURRENTLY CLOSED FOR THIS PROGRAM.
The Collaborative Arts Project (CAP) grant was established by Arts Culture Catawba to encourage collaborations among cultural and/or community nonprofit organizations for arts, science and history projects reaching underserved audiences.
For Individuals
Webinar: August 29, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Applications Open: September 1, 2025
Applications Due: September 30, 2025 by Midnight
Artists from Alexander, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Iredell and McDowell Counties are now eligible for Artist Support Grants. The grant, operated by local arts councils, will fund professional and artistic development for emerging or established artists to create work, improve business operations, or bring work to new audiences.
How to apply:
Email the contact for your county to set up an appointment to begin your process.
Alexander County: Hiddenite Arts & Heritage Center
Kara Smith, karahiddenitearts@gmail.org 828-632-6966
Burke County: Burke Arts Council
Deborah Jones, director@burkearts.org 828-433-7282
Burke County (Valdese): Rock School Arts Foundation
Sharon Bowman, rsaf1893@gmail.com 828-838-9806
Caldwell County: Caldwell Arts Council
Ellen Ball, ellen@caldwellarts.com 828-754-2486
Catawba County: Arts Culture Catawba
Chris Coffey, grants@artscatawba.org 828-324-4906 ext. 306
Iredell County: Iredell Arts Council
Sydney Koppelmeyer, mail@iredellartscouncil.org 704-873-6100
McDowell County: McDowell Arts Council Association
Susan Pyatt-Baker, mcdowellarts@gmail.com 828-652-8610
Grant Applications Open: January 12, 2026
Grant Applications Due: March 19, 2026
Panel Presentation Date: April 8, 2026
Innovative Artist Grants are made possible by monies raised during a silent art auction held each year as part of our annual fundraising event, the Jingle Bell Bash. The grant awards are for innovative and creative projects, with collaborative efforts encouraged. Seeking to cultivate area artists, the purpose of these grants is to create exposure and a focus on Catawba County’s support of its artists.
For Students and Schools
Applications Open: January 12, 2026
Applications Due: March 19, 2026
Audition Date: April 11, 2026
Created by the family of Edna Bost Barringer in her memory, this scholarship is awarded annually by Arts Culture Catawba to area youth under the age of 21. The competition is alternated each year between visual/literary artists and performing artists. This year will be performing arts. Judges from the North Carolina School of the Arts select the winner(s). The total amount awarded each year is $1,000. This amount may be given to an individual or broken into two awards of $500 each. This award goes to students planning to pursue a career in the arts.
The Board of Arts Culture Catawba has established a scholarship in honor of Kathryn T. Greathouse, who served as the Executive Director of the United Arts Council for many years and had a passion for helping young people achieve their artistic endeavors. The mission of this need and merit-based scholarship is to provide cultural education opportunities to students of the primary and secondary education level. Students seeking collegiate financial help are not eligible for this scholarship.
Recent Grant Award Winners
| 2024-25 Projects Pool Grant Recipients |
|
AnandaRasa Catawba |
|
Catawba County Senior Nutrition Services |
|
Catawba Science Center |
| Centro Latino |
| City of Conover |
|
Downtown Newton Development Association |
|
Elementary Music Teachers of Catawba County |
|
Footcandle Film Society |
|
Green Room Community Theatre |
|
Hickory Choral Society |
|
Hickory Community Theatre |
|
Hickory Museum of Art |
|
Hickory Music Factory |
|
Hickory Playground |
|
Lenoir-Rhyne University |
|
Newton Depot Authority |
|
North Carolina Hmong Woman Association, Inc. |
|
Southwest Community Watch |
|
Greater Hickory International Council |
|
Western Piedmont Symphony |
| 2024-25 Collaborative Arts Project Grant Recipients |
|
Catawba Science Center |
|
Hart Square Foundation |
|
Hickory Ballet & Performing Arts |
|
Historical Association of Catawba County |
|
North Carolina Hmong Woman Association, Inc. |
| 2024-25 Community Cultural Grant Recipients |
| Centro Latino |
| City of Hickory |
|
Downtown Newton Development Association |
|
Greater Hickory International Council |
|
North Carolina Hmong Woman Association, Inc. |
|
Town of Catawba |
| Town of Maiden |
| 2024-25 Staff and Board Development Grant Recipients |
|
Catawba Science Center |
|
Green Room Community Theatre |
|
Hart Square Foundation |
|
Hickory Choral Society |
|
SALT Block Foundation |
|
Western Piedmont Symphony |
| 2024-25 Artist Support Grant Recipients |
| Adam Mackay |
| Amy Brooks |
| Camantha Corsi |
| Daniel Liech |
| Jadaquis Smith-Jeffries |
| Justin Williams |
| Kelly Solesby |
| Leon Pridgen II |
| Nora Kinal |
| Shaina Dyson |
| Sierra Joyner-Kelso |
| Tracy Sherrill |
| Xavier Johnson |
| 2024-25 Innovative Artist Grant Recipients |
| Andrew Moose |
| Andy Thomason |
| Avery Bumgarner and Nicholas Cannady |
| Chrishawn Fewell |
| Jermi Little |
| Paul Hartis |
| Rachel O’Connor |
| 2024-25 Theatre Arts Grant Recipient |
| Bandys High School |
| 2024-25 Edna Bost Barringer Young Artist Award Recipient |
| Aubrey Whitlow |
| 2024-25 Kathryn T. Greathouse Legacy Scholarhip Recipient |
| A’chantis Bruce |