Grants

HUGs (Helpful Unfettered Gifts) are $250 strings-free micro-grants – aka “Love Bombs of Cash” – awarded monthly to non-profit and for-profit creative initiatives in Charlotte to help propel the project forward or remove a small obstacle to its overall success. This is real money, making a real difference. All of it is at work today in the Queen City.

Awarded monthly. Emergency Grants provide urgent unrestricted funding for visual and performing artists who: * Have sudden, unanticipated opportunities to present their work to the public when there is insufficient time to seek other sources of funding
* Incur unexpected or unbudgeted expenses for projects close to completion with committed exhibition or performance dates

Myma artist grant is a monthly juried grant that provides an unrestricted $500 award to one artist each month. In addition to the winner, our independent jurors recognize 5 artists as honorable mentions for each edition. We publish a written or video profile of the selected artists on myma's spotlight page and social channels.

Submissions for each edition are open through the end of each month. To ensure accessibility and inclusivity, applications are free.

The Homiens Art Prize, which awards over $12,000 USD annually to artists, is an internationally celebrated event that elevates art careers to new heights. Open to all art forms and artists internationally.

Artworks completed in any year are eligible, and there are no theme or size restrictions. Artists who enter retain full ownership of their submitted works and are free to exhibit or display them elsewhere at any time. Homiens celebrates selected artists across their media, exhibiting their art online where it is viewed by artists and collectors throughout the world. The gallery sponsors a platform for artists to network and collaborate, reach a global audience of buyers and collectors, gain institutional validation, and locate opportunities in the professional artistic industries.

- This round, 3 winning artists and 12 finalists will exhibit with Homiens as part of their seasonal exhibition program.

- Each winning artist receives $1,000 USD, may participate in an optional interview, and may request a letter of recommendation.

ASC Culture Blocks is a vital piece of ASC’s mission to actively remove barriers to access and connect communities across Mecklenburg County with free arts, science, and history experiences.

The program organizes funds and supports cultural experiences shaped by residents, close to where they live, and delivered through our partnership with public libraries, recreation centers, parks, and other community spaces. These programs are focused within historically underserved neighborhoods, with minimal opportunities or access to arts, science, and history experiences. 

Culture Blocks offers a wide range of programs, including though not limited to workshops and experiences in visual arts, dance, theater, writing, photography, culinary arts, music classes, film screenings, concerts, festivals, and multicultural events. These programs serve neighborhoods in Charlotte and the towns of Cornelius, Huntersville, Davidson, Matthews, Mint Hill, and Pineville.  

South Arts is offering up to $3,000 to help individual working artists level up their practice or take part in a milestone opportunity.

Key Details:
-Open to individual artists 18+ in the South Arts region
-Open to visual, craft, media, design, literary, dance, theatre and folk artists
-This is a 2:1 Grant, meaning:
-South Arts covers up to two-thirds of project costs
-Artist covers at least one-third

South Arts recognizes the importance of professional development in building artists’ careers. Even with stipends or payments, overall expenses can make participating in these opportunities inaccessible. South Arts offers Artist Creative Practice Grants (formerly Individual Artist Career Opportunity Grants) to ensure that artists from our region can take advantage of a variety of career enhancing opportunities.

The Artist Creative Practice Grant supports a variety of professional development opportunities including milestone activities in an artist's career that will likely lead to substantial career growth.

Grants up to $3,000 are available for opportunities taking place between November 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026.