The Arts Council of Fayetteville | Cumberland County is pleased to announce the distribution of $182,679 in funding during the Spring 2024 grant cycle. This funding includes $147,376 in Project Support grants and $35,303 in Mini Grants. These two grant programs are  designed to stimulate the local arts economy and support the livelihoods and career development of local artists and arts, culture, and history-focused programming. 

The Project Support grants provide substantial funding for organizations with programs beginning on July 1, 2024, ensuring a broad range of artistic and cultural activities can flourish in the community. The Mini Grants, awarded to local artists, nonprofits, institutions of higher education, and municipal offices, emphasize the Arts Council's commitment to fostering creativity and innovation at all levels.

Michael Curtis Houck, the Arts Council’s Director of Grants and Allocations, expressed his enthusiasm about the impact of these grants in a press release stating: "We are incredibly proud to support our local artists and organizations through these vital funding programs. The arts are a crucial part of our community's identity and economic vitality, and this funding ensures that creativity continues to thrive across Cumberland County."

The Arts Council of Fayetteville | Cumberland County remains dedicated to enhancing the cultural landscape through these grant programs, which play a pivotal role in sustaining the vibrant arts community and enriching the lives of residents and visitors alike. In FY25, the Arts Council has shifted to two Project Support Grant cycles; a second opportunity is now accepting applications with a due date of August 15 to support activity in winter/spring 2025; Mini Grants for individual artists will continue on a quarterly basis with the next cycle accepting applications through August 1. 

The Arts Council awarded Project Support Grants to the following organizations for Arts, Culture, and History-focused projects and programs:

• Artist Village Community Theatre will produce a theater series consisting of three productions between October 2024 and May 2025. 
• Cape Fear Studios, Inc. will produce ten gallery exhibitions across the 2024-2025 fiscal year.  
• Cape Fear Valley Medical Foundation, Inc. will provide art therapy sessions in the Adult Behavioral Health Unit & the Youth Behavioral Health Unit (two awards).
• Cape Fear Valley Medical Foundation, Inc. will provide art therapy sessions for patients and caregivers in the Cancer Center. 
• City of Fayetteville/Fayetteville-Cumberland Parks and Recreation will produce the annual Independence Day Concert on July 4 in Festival Park featuring the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra. 
• Community Concerts of Fayetteville, Inc. will produce a series of concerts taking place at Crown Theatre during the 2024-2025 fiscal year. 
• Crossroads Outreach Alternative Program Ministries will produce Arts Ex'Posion, weekly after-school courses with a multi-disciplinary arts focus. 
• Cumberland Choral Arts will produce a choral series with six concerts over the 2024-2025 fiscal year. 
• Cumberland Choral Arts will produce a youth choral series with concerts and public presentations across the 2024-2025 fiscal year. 
  Fayetteville State University will produce The Sound that Jazz Makes, a year-long new play development project with a premiere in 2025 during Juneteenth. 
• Friends of the Skateparks Foundation  will produce the One People Reggae & Arts Music Festival, a one-day music and vendor festival with performances by Inner Cirlc, Etana, and The Wailers. 
• FTCC Foundation, Inc. will continue their Guest Artist Series with professional musician workshops and masterclasses across the 2024-2025 year. 
• Groundswell Pictures will produce the 2024 Indigo Moon Film Festival, a three-day international film festival in downtown Fayetteville. 
• Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex will produce History Live! Fall 2024, an annual live series with events between Halloween and Christmas. 
• Service Source will continue Community Inclusion Days - Bloom Art Therapy, art therapy sessions for adults with disabilities. 
• The Tulsa Initiative, Inc.will produce the Tulsa Leadership and Entrepreneurship Academy, a creative arts mentorship program for BIPOC entrepreneurs. 

The Arts Council awarded Mini Grants to the following individual artists and organizations for Arts, Culture, and History-focused projects and programs: 

• Dreamville Dance Company will host weekly classes for students ages 5-18. Funds will be used for artist contracts. 
• Ellington-White will produce a fine art catalog to include images and articles by local artists. The project will culminate in a book signing in August 2024. Funds will be used for printing, editing, and designing the catalog.
• FTCC Foundation will fund a mural by local artist Brittany Devault on an exterior wall on the FTCC campus. Funds will be used for artist contract and production supplies. 
• Greater Life of Fayetteville will host the I AM YOU-nique Summer Academy, a 5-week session for youth which culminates in the “Through My Eyes” art showcase. Funds will be used for artist contract, venue rental, marketing, and production supplies. 
• Hope Mills Parks and Recreation will produce the Juneteenth Liberty & Legacy Celebration on June 15 at Dirtbag Ales. The event will feature music, spoken word, and dance. Funds will be used for artist contracts. 
• Town of Eastover will produce the Sounds of Summer Concert, a free community concert featuring Blackwater Band, on June 8. Funds will be used for artist contract. 
• Town of Spring Lake will execute a public art sculpture at the traffic circle on Main and Poe Streets. Funds will be used for lease contract for the selected sculpture. 
• Kay Barnes will write and produce the comic book “Sensational.” The project will culminate in a public reading and signing event on October 26. Funds will be used for visual artist contract and marketing. 
• Judson Clark will direct and produce “The Escape,” a short film starring local actors with an online release in October 2024. Funds will be used for actor and editor contracts. 
• Doris Curry will create free mini art kits for “The Art Share Project,” self-service art stations around Cumberland County. Funds will be used for production supplies. 
• Mary Hill will lead and perform in The Eastern Carolina Ukulele Jamboree on October 12 which will include ukulele workshops, jam sessions, and performances. Funds will be used for venue rental, artist contracts, and marketing. 
• Anthony Hirtz will record “Single Malt Santa,” a humorous holiday song written by the applicant. Funds will be used for equipment, musician and editor contracts, and copyright. 
• Tishana Oates will lead a craft workshop called “Pumpkin Baddies” where participants will design and create their own faux pumpkin. Funds will be used for production materials and venue rental. 
• Kenneth Phillips will complete a 5-song album of original music for digital release in Fall 2024. Funds will be used for artist contracts, mastering, production supplies, and marketing.  
• Andre Sansbury will produce and record “The Hangover,” a poetry album featuring the applicant and local poets. The project will culminate in an album release party in September 2024. Funds will be used for artist contracts. 
• James Throssel will film, produce, and edit “THE MAKERS SERIES,” a mini documentary series about four local artists. Filming will culminate in a public viewing at the Cameo in August. Funds will be used for artist stipends, equipment, and venue rental. 

The next Project Support and Mini Grant cycles open in July with dates due in August. 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.