RESOURCES FOR ARTISTS
Above: Dion Burroughs shares insight about his creations with the community during the Q&A Session from opening night of his 2022 solo exhibition, “The Creative Art of Diversity by Artist Dion Burroughs”
WHAT CAN BCAC DO FOR YOU?
The Bertie County Arts Council is a nonprofit organization encouraging all artistic disciplines, including visual art, music, dance, fiber/textile art, theater, literary arts and others. The arts are at the core of the creative economy of our community and county, and should be nurtured and encouraged by all of us in every way possible. The BCAC strives to connect people to the arts in a meaningful manner, by incorporating art into county events and by helping educate our Bertie children as we partner with our schools and provide classes, seminars, and activities for people of all ages.
BCAC is here to work for you as an artist. We can help you promote your work through our gallery sales and art exhibitions. We also need your ideas, inspiration, imagination, and your volunteer time -- that includes serving as committee chairs, administrators, donors, and as workers at events.
Please use this website to find out more how to get involved with Bertie Arts and learn more about our programs and events. We also encourage you to join the mailing list for our monthly email newsletter and to keep up with us on social media.
CALL TO ARTISTS: UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES
(Until a specific event has past, this event will remain in this section. Events in this section are listed by the event with the earliest submission date / exhibition date. When new items are added, based on the criteria, the order of events may shift also.)
SEPT 25, 2025 PHOTOGRAPHY SHOW: Call for Entry & Artist-BCAC Contract
To our Photography Artists, the BCAC annual Photography Show is coming up—the submission deadline is September 19, 2025. This year's theme is TRAVEL. Share your travel photos from far away or local spots in this non-juried exhibit. Please review the PDF for details and required forms. To download this PDF, click on the upper right hand corner icon on the document.
Perquimans Arts League to Manage 2025–2026 NC Arts Artist Support Grants
From: Perquimans Arts League <president@perquimansarts.org>
Date: August 20, 2025 at 6:23:07 AM EDT
To: bertiearts@gmail.com, Laura Goguet <lgoguet@hotmail.com>, Chowan Arts Council <cacedenton@gmail.com>, Lauren Luther <executivedirector@artsaoa.com>, rbryant@earlibrary.org, gallerytheatreahoskie@gmail.com, ccacginfo@gmail.com
Cc: Dorothy Ansell <ansell2000@gmail.com>, "Wilder, Leigh" <leighann.wilder@dncr.nc.gov>Subject: Perquimans Arts League to Manage 2025–26 NC Arts Artist Support Grants
Dear Area 1 Consortium Members,
We are pleased to share that the Perquimans Arts League (PAL) has been selected to manage the NC Arts Artist Support Grants for the 2025–26 funding year.
As you know, the Artist Support Grant program is a vital opportunity for individual artists across our region to invest in their creative growth. This year, PAL will serve as the central administrator for the program, handling outreach, application processing, and panel review.
We will keep you updated with program materials, outreach announcements, and important deadlines. Your continued support in sharing this opportunity with artists in your communities is essential to ensuring that we reach a wide and diverse pool of applicants.
PAL looks forward to working closely with each of you to make this year’s Artist Support Grant cycle a success. Together, we can continue to strengthen and sustain the arts across our region.
The Press Release below will give you further details. Dorthy Ansell is your contact person, ansell2000@gmail.com.
The applications and guidelines are on PAL’s website at
https://perquimansarts.org/artist-support-grants
Information Coming September 1 to Learn more…perquimansarts.org,
With appreciation,
Tom Brennan
President
Perquimans Arts League
Press Release
For Immediate Release
Media Contact: Dorothy Ansell, ansell2000@gmail.com, (252) 333-2767
Perquimans Arts League Seeks Applications for the North Carolina Arts Council Artist Support Grants
The Perquimans Arts League seeks applications for Artist Support Grants for 2025-2026. The deadline to apply is October 17. These grants support artists in all disciplines with funding for projects that will have a significant impact on the advancement of their professional artistic careers.
The Artist Support Grant program is managed through a partnership with Bertie County Arts Council, Arts of the Albemarle, Chowan Arts Council, Perquimans Arts Council, Camden County Library, Currituck County Arts Council, and The Gallery Theatre (Ahoskie). to serve artists in Bertie, Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Gates, Hertford, Pasquotank and Perquimans counties.
Funding is provided by the North Carolina Arts Council.
Artists at any stage of their careers, emerging or established, are eligible to apply for grants in all disciplines, such as visual art and craft, traditional art forms, music composition, film/video, literature and playwriting, and choreography and dance. Types of fundable projects include the creation of new work, purchase of equipment and materials, and professional development workshops. Complete funding guidelines and applications are available online at [Website].
Grant awards generally range from $500 to $1,000.
Applications must be received by Friday, October 17, 2025. For more information, contact Dorothy Ansell, ansell2000@gmail.com, (252) 333-2767.
An applicant workshop will be held via Zoom on September 15, 2025 at 5:30 pm. For more information or to register go https://perquimansarts.org/artist-support-grants.
SAMPLE TIMELINE
Grant promotion: September -October.
Application Workshop September.
Application Deadline: October 17, 2025.
Panel Meeting November applicants notified of panel decisions by December 1, 2025.
Announcement of the awardees December 2025,
Applicant Guidelines
North Carolina Arts Council Artist Support Grant Applications due by Friday, October 17, 2025,
Guidelines and Information
The Artist Support Grant is a regional grant program to support individual artists in all phases of their career. The grant funds professional and artistic development for emerging and established artists to enhance their skills and abilities to create work or to improve their business operations and capacity to bring their work to new audiences.
Artists representing visual, craft, performing, traditional, and interdisciplinary art forms are encouraged to apply. Applicants should demonstrate a commitment to spending a significant portion of their time on their work as artists. The Artist Support Grant will support projects from [grant funding period]. Awards may range from $500 to $1,000. Applicants may receive full or partial funding.
Eligibility
Individuals and Artist Collectives — Both individual artists and small, unincorporated groups of collaborating artists are eligible to apply.
Residency — Artists should have lived continuously in the region where they are applying for at least one year before the consortium’s application deadline. An applicant must be at least 18 years old and either a U.S. citizen or a permanent
resident alien. The consortium may require proof of residence and status. Artists who live in more than one region should apply only where they spend most of the year. All members of a collaborating team must be North Carolina residents, live in the region in which they are applying, and meet the other eligibility requirements. Résumés documenting residence for all team members should be included with the application.
Multiple Awards — Artists who are sole proprietors of organizations that have already received funding for FY 2025-2026 from the N.C. Arts Council are ineligible to apply. Awardees must also wait at least two years after the award year before becoming eligible to reapply.
Conflict of Interest — Current board and staff members of the consortium partner organizations and their family members are not eligible to apply for the award.
Student Status — The Artist Support Grant is intended for adult, nonstudent artists. Artists enrolled full-time in undergraduate or associate degree-granting programs may not apply for the grant. Artists in certificate programs are generally eligible. Artists pursuing graduate degrees in subjects other than their art form may be eligible if they meet the other eligibility criteria. Other questions and special circumstances should be discussed with N.C. Arts Council staff.
Eligible Projects and Costs
Up to 50 percent of the grant amount may be used for artist fees.
Completion/Presentation of a New Work — Cost of resources necessary to complete or present a significant new work (e.g., purchasing art supplies or equipment or space rental)
Career Promotion — Projects aimed at advertising artists’ work and/or demonstrating their skill level (e.g., websites, portfolios, audio-visual documentation, and online presentation)
Training — Costs to attend a class or workshop (in-person or virtual) aimed at either enhancing the artist’s skill level or professional development (e.g., a master class or workshop taught by acknowledged authorities in the applicant artist’s medium)
Travel — Costs of transportation, lodging, and food for training, professional conferences, or research.
Ineligible Projects and Costs
• Scholarships for undergraduate- or graduate-level education
• Projects that support or oppose a particular candidate for public office
• Projects that are exclusive to members of a particular religious faith group
• Projects that do not have a direct effect on the applicant’s growth as an artist (e.g., the promotion of other artists’ work)
Deadline
Applications must be completed and emailed (ansell2000@gmail.com), mailed or hand delivered to PAL 133 N Church St, Hertford, NC 27944 by October 17, 2025.
Evaluation Criteria
• Overall excellence of the applicant’s artwork as demonstrated by work samples
• Feasibility of the proposed project
• Contribution of the proposed project to the advancement of the applicant’s professional artistic development and practice
Review Process
All completed Artist Support Grant applications will be judged by a multi-county panel of established artists, arts professionals, arts educators, and administrators who will review and evaluate the applications and allocate funds for selected projects.
Information and Assistance
For more information, please contact Dorothy Ansell, ansell2000@gmail.com
An applicant workshop will be held via Zoom on September 15 at 5:30pm. Contact ansell2000@gmail.com for the Zoom link.
Local Arts Council Contact Information
• Bertie County Arts Council: Laura Goguet, Board President • Lgoguet@hotmail.com
General Email: bertiearts@gmail.com
• Chowan County Arts Council: Kim Asack, Managing Director: cacedenton@gmail.com
• Arts of the Albemarle: Lauren Luther, executive director executivedirector@artsaoa.com
• Camden County Library: Rachel Bryant • rbryant@earlibrary.org
• Gallery Theatre, Ahoskie: Latrice Carter • gallerytheatreahoskie@gmail.com
• Currituck County Arts Council: ccacginfo@gmail.com'
• Perquimans Arts League: Dorothy Ansell, ansell2000@gmail.com
Artist Support Grant Application Form FY 2025-2026
Submit this report to your funding agency. It should not be submitted to the North Carolina Arts Council.
Applicant Information
Name: ___________________________________________________________________
Mailing Address: ___________________________________________________________________
City: ____________________________ State: North Carolina Zip Code: _____________
County: ________________________________
Date of Residence in this County: _________________
Cell Number: (_____) _____________________
E-mail Address: ___________________________________________________________________
Website: ___________________________________________________________________
Race: __________________________________
Artistic Medium: ________________________________________
Certification
I certify that I am not a student currently enrolled in an associate’s, undergraduate or graduate program.*
I certify the information contained in this report, including all attachments and supporting materials, is true and correct to the best of my knowledge.
Signature of Applicant: _____________________________ Date: __________________
*Applicants pursuing graduate degrees in subjects other than their art form may be eligible if they meet the other eligibility criteria. Exceptions must be confirmed with granting agency.
Project Description Narrative (Attached separately – 1,000 word limit)
Your Project Narrative should explain your proposed project and how it will have an impact on your career as an artist. Include your artist statement and project description:
· Describe your project and the proposed use of funds.
· Explain what this project will enable you to do that you are unable to do now.
· Summarize how this project will advance your career or development as an artist.
Grant Amount Requested [$500 - $1,000]
$ ______________________
Proposed Project Period
Start Date: ___________________________ End Date:_________________________
Project Budget
Expenses:
Provide your project expenses, describing what will be paid for using your grant award, and what will be paid for with supplemental funding*. Grant expenses must be cash, but matching funds may include in-kind costs.
Description Total Grant Supplemental Funds
_______________________ ____________ __________ __________________
_______________________ ____________ __________ __________________
_______________________ ____________ __________ __________________
_______________________ ____________ __________ __________________
_______________________ ____________ __________ __________________
_______________________ ____________ __________ __________________
Total Expenses: ____________ __________ __________________
Income:
Provide any project income including personal funds, additional grant funds, or other sources that contribute towards your match amount. List different sources separately. The Total Income amount should equal the Total Expenses amount listed above. Identify in-kind support, as appropriate.
Budget Sheet can be downloaded if needed at ncarts.org/asg-applicant-budget-sheet
*This is not a matching grant, so the matching amount is not required. You may apply for the full amount of your project, provided it is within funding range for the grant. If additional funds will be necessary to complete the project, indicate the amount and anticipated source on the income table.
*An itemized budget, itemized store receipts, and copies of cancelled checks or credit card receipts are mandatory when submitting your Final Report, so be sure to keep all payment records.
Work Samples
Applicants must provide high-quality, digital work samples (links or attachments –jpg, mp3, pdf, etc.). Samples must be of artist’s work only. Hard copies will not be accepted. Work must be completed within the past three years. Applicants must attach an inventory list with the following descriptions for the applicable discipline:
· Dance and Performing Arts: Documentation of up to three recorded performances. Videos uploaded may not exceed a total time of ten minutes.
o Description: include date and location of performance, title of piece, names and roles of key people, including directors, choreographers, lead performers/actors, etc. A short summary may also be included.
· Music: Documentation of up to three recorded performances, live or studio. Audio or video uploaded may not exceed a total time of ten minutes.
o Description: include date and location of performance, title of piece, names and roles of key people, including directors, choreographers, lead performers/actors, etc. A short summary may also be included.
o Composers and songwriters should also submit scores, lyrics, and/or lead sheets, as appropriate.
· Writing: Fiction, creative nonfiction, and playwrights may submit no more than 12 pages each of one to two manuscripts. Poets may submit five to seven poems. Playwrights may also submit documentation of a recorded performance or staged reading of their plays (videos, clip not to exceed five minutes.)
· Visual Art and Craft: Up to 15 images of your work.
o Description: date of completion, medium, and dimensions.
o Time-based work can be documented with video, up to five minutes.
· Film: Documentation of one or more completed films. (Video clips not to exceed five minutes.)
o Description: include date and location of performance, title of piece, names and roles of key people, including directors, choreographers, lead performers/actors, etc. A short summary may also be included.
*For video and audio work samples: please note that due to file sizes, YouTube and Vimeo links are preferred for video. Do not upload MP4s directly to the application. Please indicate if the work sample is professionally mastered.
Application Checklist
o Applicant Profile
o Narrative
o Artist Statement – Attach an artist statement that describes your work and the key ideas, goals, or cultural practices that drive you to create. (one typed page)
o Artist Résumé – Attach an artist résumé that includes education, employment, public presentations of your work, publications, commissions, honors, grant/fellowship awards, and relevant experience. (four pages maximum)
o Budget Support – Provide support information for your budget, i.e. cost of materials, price quote on services, etc.
o Support Materials – You may submit digital copies of reviews, programs, catalogs, and other support materials relevant to the project. (Physical materials may be submitted if digital is not an option.)
o Letters of Recommendation (optional)
o Work Samples and Inventory List
Carolina Roots is Artspace's inaugural biennial juried exhibition celebrating artists currently living in or who come from rural counties. This exhibition will bring perspectives of artists from across our state into focus and honor the rich creative output beyond our urban centers.
Artspace is a non-profit visual arts center located in Downtown Raleigh. Click on this link Artspace – Artspace is a nonprofit visual art center in downtown Raleigh. Artspace inspires positive community impact through art., to access the Artspace website and learn more about what Artspace does.
Entry Deadline: 08/17/2025 at 5 pm
Exhibition Dates: 10/03/2025 - 11/30/2025
No entry fee and you can submit up to three works for consideration.
Eligibility:
· Artists over 18 years of age.
· Artists creating artworks in any media.
· Artwork must be original, entirely the work of the submitting artist, created without the supervision of an instructor.
· Artwork must have been completed within the last three years.
Artist must be from or currently living in one of the following rural counties designated by the North Carolina Rural Center : Alexander, Alleghany, Anson, Ashe, Avery, Beaufort, Bertie, Bladen, Brunswick, Burke, Caldwell, Camden, Carteret, Caswell, Chatham, Cherokee, Chowan, Clay, Cleveland, Columbus, Craven, Currituck, Dare, Davie, Duplin, Edgecombe, Franklin, Gates, Graham, Granville, Greene, Halifax, Harnett, Haywood, Hertford, Hoke, Hyde, Jackson, Jones, Lee, Lenoir, Macon, Madison, Martin, McDowell, Mitchell, Montgomery, Moore, Nash, Northampton, Pamlico, Pasquotank, Pender, Perquimans, Person, Polk, Randolph, Richmond, Robeson, Rockingham, Rutherford, Sampson, Scotland, Stanly, Stokes, Surry, Swain, Transylvania, Tyrrell, Vance, Warren, Washington, Watauga, Wayne, Wilkes, Wilson, Yadkin, Yancey. *This year we are extending the call to the following counties affected by Hurricane Helene: Buncombe, Henderson, Catawba, Gaston.
If interested in applying, click on this link Carolina Roots Exhibition Application.
Upcoming Artist Events:
(Details in event section or will be forthcoming in the near future)
Beginning August 26, 2025:
Fall 2025-Spring 2026 Kid’s Art Classes
September 25, 2025 Photography Show