Cultural Festival Grants

Overview: The Arts & Science Council (ASC) developed the Cultural Festival Grant program in response to a growing number of requests to support festivals in the Cultural Project Grant program. Recognizing the differences between cultural festivals and other cultural projects, this program seeks to create a competitive process specific to festival support while continuing to increase access to arts, science, history and heritage offerings and the quality of cultural programming in neighborhoods and towns throughout Mecklenburg County.

Eligibility: Any Mecklenburg County non-profit organization presenting a festival with a primary programmatic focus of arts, science, history or heritage that is an annual event and in at least the second year. Film Festivals should apply through the Cultural Project Grant program. For complete program eligibility and restrictions, please click here.

What's required: Each applicant will be required to complete the online application form (link below).

  • In lieu of a narrative attachment, the application includes several open-ended response questions throughout the form. Each of these responses is limited to a maximum word count and includes a spell check option, utilized by clicking the red check mark to the right of the response field. Click here to view a list of the open-ended response questions that are included in the application.
  • Other application requirements include the following attachments: A short biography for each of the key paticipants, a copy of the Media Plan for the Festival, a budget form (template provided), and a document outlining Festival Sponsorship Levels.
Assistance: ASC is committed to helping applicants strengthen their request for funding. With a recent update to our online application system, you are now able to email a draft copy of your application from directly inside the form. Simply click the "Email a draft copy" button located in the top right corner of the application form and have the draft directed to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Please note that each organization will be limited to only 1 draft review, and that draft reviews will not be accepted beyond March 16, 2012.

Deadline to apply: Friday, March 23, 2012, at 12:00 noon.

Grant Amount: Applicants will not be asked for a Request Amount as part of the application, but will be required to submit a document outlining Festival Sponsorship Levels. Funding decisions will be made based upon competitive scoring and Festival Sponsorship Levels. All requests may not be funded.

Frequenly Asked Questions: Click here to view the full program guidelines and frequently asked questions.

How to Apply:

All applicants are required to apply through our online application system.

Click Here to start a new application
Click Here to continue a previously started application

Grant Recipients:

Click here to access the online system.  All paperwork requirements are listed on the attachments page. 
Click here to access the Guidelines and logos to acknowledge ASC support.

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