The Sampson Arts Council has around $20,000 available for nonprofit organizations and eligible individuals across Sampson County through the North Carolina Arts Council’s Grassroots Arts Program, with applications due Thursday, Oct. 1, by 5 p.m.
“It’s a partnership with the North Carolina Arts Council,” Sampson Arts Council Executive Director Kara Donatelli explained Wednesday, “and all 100 counties are eligible to receive funding for programs.”
The Grassroots Arts Program began in 1977. Each year, the Sampson group applies for funding through the program and received around $43,000 for the 2026-27 fiscal year.
Donatelli said the Grassroots grants “usually go through the arts councils, but if (counties) don’t have an arts council, like Duplin County … sometimes the county will take that funding and then they’ll find some ways of giving it out.”
Because Sampson County has a population of more than 50,000, the Arts Council is required to subgrant half of its allocation to organizations across the county. The council may use the remaining half for its own programming and operations.
“The first priority is arts organizations, so the theater would be the first priority; then, the second priority is arts in education-type programs, so like an after-school program, summer camp, or adults’ art class; and then, the third priority is community and civic organizations, so that would be like the City of Clinton,” Donatelli explained.
Arts organizations that already receive operating assistance directly from the North Carolina Arts Council are not eligible for Grassroots subgrants.
“It’s a great program in that it allows for us to be able to offer more programming here in the county,” Donatelli said. “We’re nonprofit and we have to fund raise and ask for money all the time.”
Donatelli hopes the subgrants can be used to bring in professional artists who could offer classes “or something that would be new and different.”
“We really want (people) to think of (programs) that have artistic merit; that are going to make an impact,” she added.
The Arts Council normally has 10 to 11 projects that receive funding, according to Donatelli.
“I had added up how many people were affected by the Grassroots — I also added in all the programs that we do — but it was over 20,000 people,” Donatelli recalled of last year’s subgrants.
“Some of those (programs) were festivals,” she added, “and so there might have been 6,000 people that came to the festival, so it’s kind of an estimate … It doesn’t really depend on the amount of people, though.”
Donatelli pointed to a YMCA art camp held during spring break last year as an example of the program’s reach. The YMCA applied for a subgrant to help with the camp, which attracted around 30 children.
“That was a great program,” she said. “That was the first time (the YMCA) ever did it.”
The 2026-27 fiscal year runs from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, and projects that have already taken place during the fiscal year may still qualify for funding.
“We’re already past July 1, but if someone were to apply for something that happened in July, it could still be funded,” Donatelli clarified.
Grassroots subgrants require a 1-to-1 cash match.
“We don’t just give them $1,000; they would have to spend at least $2,000 on their project,” Donatelli said as an example.
Subgrant funding cannot be used for competitions, scholarships, food and beverages, internal school programs, fundraising, loans or therapists who specialize in art, music or dance.
The Grassroots program seeks to support projects of artistic quality that have an impact on the community. Federally recognized tribes, such as the Coharie Tribe, are also eligible to receive the state subgrants.
“These organizations are able to come up with their own ideas. It’s not like the Arts Council picks what they do; they can choose,” Donatelli emphasized.
Applications will be evaluated by a panel of community members following the Oct. 1 deadline, with grant awards expected to be announced later that month.
The Sampson Arts Council will mail applications and guidelines upon request. Applications and guidelines are also available through the council’s website. Donatelli may be reached at 910-596-2533 or [email protected].