The council awards five affiliate organizations grants for operating support:

• Gaston Concert Association presents a series of concerts each year on a subscription basis, including a concert for elementary school children. The Gaston Arts Council partners with the association to present the “Parks in the Park” series each year.
  
  
• Gaston Choral Society is an adult group that contributes to the musical and cultural atmosphere of the area by providing two concerts a year and community outreach programs.
  
  
• Gaston County Art Guild enables those interested in the arts to assemble and participate in community activities for the advancement of visual art through shows and exhibits at local venues.
  
  
• Gaston Dance is the governing body for Gaston Dance Theatre and the School of Gaston Dance. Gaston Dance creates and/or presents a repertoire of classical and contemporary dance works by various choreographers.
  
  
• Gaston School of the Arts and Gaston Playhouse provides accessible, affordable visual and performing arts education opportunities for Greater Gaston residents of all ages.

The GAC is the Designated County Partner for Grassroots Grants. Grassroots Grants are available to any non-profit organizations for arts programming in Gaston County.

Grassroots funding is provided by the North Carolina Arts Council, an agency funded by the State of North Carolina and the National Endowment for the Arts, which believes that a great nation deserves great art; as well as the United Arts Fund of Gaston County.

2009-2010 Grassroots Grant Recipients

Subgrant Application

Requirements

Guidelines

This program provides funds for individual artists seeking to further their careers in the arts. Funds are matched on a regional basis and through a grant from the North Carolina Arts Council. Grants rotate annually with applications accepted for visual arts on even years and for performing and literary arts on odd years.

*ALL APPLICATIONS ARE SUBMITTED ONLINE NOW*

Guidelines & FAQ's

Click here to begin a new application
Click here to continue a previously started application

These grants provide funding for supplemental arts programming within the schools. Current programs include a live performance of Peter and the Wolf for Gaston County 3rd Grade Students which takes place in April each year. Please contact Stephanie Jackson at Gaston County Schools or Juliette Shelley at the Gaston Arts Council if your school or homeschool group would like to attend this event.

In addition through a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Gaston Arts Council works with local HeadStart Facilities to bring music education to their students.