City-Funded Grant Opportunities

parking garage with art mural
Photo by Estlin Haiss

Cultural Arts Capacity Building Grant


The Cultural Arts Capacity Building Grant program is an initiative of the General Services Department’s Cultural Advisory Board to fund scholarships for Durham City or County arts and cultural organization representatives to attend professional development training. Individual grants up to $2,300 each shall be awarded by a competitive application process juried by the Cultural Advisory Board. The program is funded by the Durham Cultural Master Plan, a joint program of the City of Durham and Durham County approved by the City Council and Board of County Commissioners in 2004. 

Public Art in Business Grants


The Public Art for Business Grant program is an initiative of the General Services Department’s Cultural Advisory Board to fund Durham businesses to commission an artist who lives or works in Durham County to create a publicly visible work of art, including performance or participatory art. Up to three matching reimbursement grants with a maximum award of $1,500 each shall be awarded by a competitive application process juried by the Cultural Advisory Board’s Public Art Committee. The program is funded by the Durham Cultural Master Plan, a joint program of the City of Durham and Durham County approved by the City Council and Board of County Commissioners in 2004. As part of this grant program, the Cultural Advisory Board has elected to include temporary performance and participatory art exhibitions as eligible for grant award.

Festival & Special Events Funding 


The City of Durham recognizes that festivals, parades, and other celebrations play an important role in fostering community well-being, creating local identity, and in contributing to an improved quality of life of Durham residents and visitors. Community-based festivals and events reflect the vibrant, distinct and diverse character of Durham and its residents while offering opportunities to create economic, social, health and community benefits. 

The Festivals and Special Events Request for Proposals (RFP) application seeks proposals from qualified entities to support planning projects for the enhancement of new or existing cultural and arts festivals. The FY2021/2021 RFP process is open until the deadline on Monday, August 9, 2021 at 3:00 p.m. EST. 

For more information about the RFP process, visit here. 

Questions? 


For information about City-grant opportunities, please contact the Cultural & Public Art Program staff here: 

Alexandra Benson
Cultural & Public Arts Program Assistant
Email: alexandra.benson@durhamnc.gov
Phone: 919-560-4197, ext. 21238

Rebecca Brown
Cultural & Public Arts Program Manager
Email: Rebecca.Brown@durhamnc.gov
Phone: 919-560-4197, ext. 21245