Public Art for Business Grants

About the Program

The Public Art for Business Grant program is an initiative of the Office of Economic and Workforce Development’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.

Who Should Apply?

  • Businesses located within the City or County of Durham.
  • Businesses that have been in existence for more than six months.
Eligible Expenses
The Public Art for Business grant program will only fund the following expenditures:
  • Installation Fees: Artist design and engineering fees, fabrication, shipping, installation and permit fees.
  • Artist commission fees.
Matching Requirements

The grant program requires that applicants must provide a financial contribution at a ratio of 1:1 of business funds to City funds. For example, if an applicant would like to install a piece of public art that costs $2,000, the applying business would need to commit to covering $1,000 of the cost of the artwork, and the City grant would reimburse half of the total cost, at $1,000. Please note: This is a reimbursement grant; City funds will be administered to the selected business after receiving appropriate proof of business funds expended on the project. 

How to Apply

Application must be received by 11:59 MST on May 11, 2018.

  1. Review the grant guidelines to determine eligibility.
  2. Submit your application here.
  3. Complete the project budget sheet here, and attach to online application.

Public Art for Business  Grant Program Timeline

Milestone Date
Grant Cycle Opens and applications available March 27, 2018
APPLICATIONS DUE May11, 2018 pm by 11:59 MST
Cultural Advisory Board review of applications May16, 2018
Grant award announcement Late May 2018
Public Art installation deadline Within 180 days of grant award
For more information about this program, contact Brian Smith at the email or phone number above.