The Arts Council of Fayetteville | Cumberland County is thrilled to announce the latest round of Project Support Grant recipients. Project Support Grants increase cultural arts programming in Cumberland County with awards to 501(c) agencies, colleges/universities and municipal entities. 

“We're thrilled to see such a strong grant cycle of new ideas and fresh perspectives,” expressed Michael Houck, Director of Grants and Allocations, in a press release. “With eight programs and six organizations new to our Project Support Grant program, we’re witnessing a vibrant expansion of Cumberland County's cultural landscape that demonstrates the evolving creative spirit of our community and reinforces our commitment to nurturing emerging voices in the arts.”

The Arts Council awarded Project Support Grants to the following organizations:

• Airborne & Special Operations Museum Foundation will host their “U.S. Army Airborne and Special Operations Forces in Vietnam,” beginning in March 2025. The exhibit will commemorate the 60th anniversary of American combat troops being deployed to Vietnam and the 50th anniversary of the war’s end. The exhibit marks the first large-scale Vietnam temporary exhibit curated by the museum staff and coincides with the museum’s 25th anniversary.
• Circa 1865, Inc. will host the “Juneteenth in The Ville” project, which is a multi-day celebration in June 2025 that includes three main events executed by contracted arts organization Book Black Women. This is a remount of their successful 2024 event that is unique in the area and aims to establish Fayetteville as a cultural tourist attraction for Juneteenth celebrations. 
• Crossroads Outreach Alternative Program will host a “Workshop Music Lesson” project which aims to prepare students for school band programs through two-hour workshop lessons for sixteen students, featuring instrument instruction, music theory, piano lessons, and computer music lab sessions at two Fayetteville locations.
• Cumberland County Library will host the month-long festival titled “Mythical Marvels” in March 2025. The festival will celebrate storytelling through various mediums, highlighting legends and myths from diverse cultures around the world. The festival aims to encourage children to explore stories from different cultural heritages, promote inclusion, and foster creative expression.
• Falcon Children's Home and Family Services will host their new “Potter’s Wheel” clay pottery program from December 2024 to June 2025. The program aims to provide weekly clay pottery classes for 200 children and an evening class for up to twenty adults.
• Fayetteville Area Operation Inasmuch will host their “Imago Dei” program, beginning in December 2024 to May 2025. This program provides art workshops and skills training to homeless men in their Living Hope residential program, culminating in art shows during their March 2025. The program aims to give homeless men a creative outlet for expression, develop their artistic skills, and potentially create entrepreneurship opportunities.
• Follow the Spectrum will host the “Superhero Autism Awareness Event,” planned for April 2025 which aims to raise autism awareness, promote neurodiversity, and provide resources for families affected by autism in Cumberland County, NC. The event will feature superhero themed activities, an arts and crafts showcase with a competition for neurodiverse children, educational presentations, and resource booths.
• Gilbert Theater will bolster their education programs including Gilbert Glee (youth theater classes) and GATE (adult theater education). These programs will begin in December 2024 to June 2025. The theater aims to continue their Glee program with new instructors and events, revitalize and expand their GATE adult classes.
• Gilbert Theater will host their “Second Stage Series,” which includes two new events planned for February to May 2025: "Adventures with Young King Arthur," a family-friendly musical launching the new Gilbert Playhouse series, and a staged reading of "Harvey," inaugurating the Gilbert Golden series for senior actors. The project aims to expand the theater's programming, reach new audiences, and provide more opportunities for both youth and senior actors in the Fayetteville area.
• Gilbert Theater will fund the final three productions of their 2024-2025 season: "Misery," "The Prince," and "Little Shop of Horrors." The project aligns with the theater's mission to produce innovative plays, educate the community, and provide opportunities for local artists while embracing inclusivity and cultural diversity.
• Hope Mills Parks and Recreation will host their second annual “Juneteenth Liberty & Legacy Celebration,” to be held in June 2025 in Hope Mills, NC. The two-day event will feature a Poetry Slam, Art Crawl, open market, live music, dance performances, and education activities about Juneteenth. The event aims to educate the public about Juneteenth, expand cultural awareness, and provide a festive, inclusive atmosphere for families.
• The Rick Herrema Foundation will host the “Messy Monday” Program, a multi-media art program for military families. The program will begin in December 2024 to June 2025 and will offer free art lessons and materials to military families, including regular Messy Monday sessions and Drop Off Art events.
• The Two-Six Project will host their new “uEmerge Program,” which will offer a monthly hands-on workshop in digital arts at the newly renovated Orange Street School in Fayetteville, NC. The program, beginning in January 2025 to June 2025, aims to provide underrepresented youth with access to arts education. The program plans to offer 10 workshop sessions over six months, covering topics such as digital arts, animation, virtual reality, and community-based projects.

Applications for the next Project Support cycle are set to open in January 2025. For more information about the Arts Council grants programs, visit theartscouncil.com/grants or email Michael Houck, Director of Grants and Allocations, at michaelh@theartscouncil.com.