Central ND News

The North Dakota Council on the Arts (NDCA) has announced the opening of its Fiscal Year 2026 grant programs, inviting artists, nonprofit organizations, and educational institutions throughout the state to apply for funding. These grants aim to support various initiatives, from artist development to community arts projects, contributing to the state's creative sector.

Applications are now being accepted, with early submissions recommended due to limited funding availability. Artists and organizations can apply for multiple programs depending on their needs and eligibility.

Several grant opportunities have an April deadline for projects starting after July 1, 2025. These include:

- Accessibility Grant: Up to $2,000 for projects enhancing arts accessibility.

- Artist Growth & Development: $5,000 for two individual artists' new creative projects in Literature and Music.

- Arts in Education Collaboration: Up to $6,000 to strengthen partnerships between K-12 institutions and artists.

- Community Arts Access: Up to $4,000 for expanding arts programming in urban and rural communities.

- Folk & Traditional Arts Apprenticeship: Up to $4,500 aimed at preserving cultural traditions. For assistance with applications, contact Program Officer Troyd Geist at tgeist@nd.gov.

- Institutional Support: Between $4,000–$11,000 for operational funding of established arts organizations.

Recurring deadline grants will open soon. Applications must be submitted at least six weeks before project start dates. These include:

- Artist in Residence: Up to $2,500 supporting artist-led residencies in K-12 schools.

- Professional Development: Up to $1,000 assisting with arts-related learning opportunities.

- Special Projects: Up to $1,500 funding various arts initiatives and events.

"We are honored to support the creativity and cultural vibrancy of North Dakota through these funding opportunities," said Jessica Christy, NDCA Executive Director. "We encourage artists, organizations, and educators to apply early and take advantage of these resources."

For more information about the grants or questions regarding the online grant system, visit the Grant Support webpage or call (701) 328-7590. An overview with links to each program is available on the Grants at a Glance webpage.