Arts Council of Winston-Salem & Forsyth County Announces FY25 Grant Allocations

Arts Council of Winston-Salem & Forsyth County Announces FY25 Grant Allocations

More than $1 Million Granted to Support Local Arts and Cultural Programming

Arts Council of Winston-Salem & Forsyth County is pleased to announce its FY25 grant allocations, investing more than $1 million into the community through grants supporting local artists, arts organizations, schools, and cultural initiatives. These grants, made possible by generous contributions to the Community Fund for the Arts from individual donors, corporations, foundations, and government entities, reinforce Arts Council’s commitment to fostering a thriving and inclusive arts ecosystem.

"Our mission has always been to uplift and sustain the creative heartbeat of our community," said Samantha Howard, President & CEO of Arts Council. "This year’s grant allocations reflect our deep commitment to transparency and impact. Every dollar invested strengthens our local arts organizations, ensures equitable access to arts education, and fosters cultural initiatives that make Winston-Salem a more vibrant place to live, work, and create."

Grant Allocations and Impact

The FY25 grants provide crucial funding across multiple programs, directly benefiting artists, students, and cultural institutions across Forsyth County.  In fall 2024, Arts Council restructured its outgoing grants program and launched three new primary grant programs: 1) General Operational Support Grants, 2) Arts for Everybody Community Project Grants, and 3) Multicultural Grassroots Arts Grants in addition to Arts in Education Grants and Artist Support Grants. To learn about the criteria and eligibility of these grant programs, please visit intothearts.org/funding. 

General Operating Support Grants (GOSG) – $270,897

These grants provide essential funding to arts organizations, ensuring operational stability and growth:

• Sawtooth School for Visual Art – $95,097 (facility subsidy)

• Bookmarks – $33,400

• The Winston-Salem Symphony – $32,700

• North Carolina Black Repertory Company – $31,900

• Piedmont Opera – $26,400

• The Enrichment Center – $26,400

• Reynolda House Museum of American Art – $25,000

Wells Fargo Arts in Education (AIE) Grant & Arts Council AIE Support – $267,115

This 100% restricted fund is dedicated to integrating arts into local schools, ensuring students have access to transformative creative experiences. Arts Council is the largest funder of arts education for Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools:

• WSFCS Professional Development – $17,257

• Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools Teacher Supplies for 2024-25 academic year – $125,000 (funded by Forsyth County ARPA allocation)

• Grants awarded to arts educators, organizations, and performers enhancing arts programming in schools:

  • William Scheidt – $12,000

  • Nicholas Psihountas – $1,500

  • Karl Kassner – $8,640

  • Music Carolina – $5,700

  • Winston-Salem Symphony – $9,000

  • Carolina Music Ways – $9,720

  • Bamboo Roots – $500

  • The Pluck Project – $1,500

  • Winston-Salem Festival Ballet – $5,000

  • Spring Theatre – $800

  • Shared Radiance Performing Arts Company – $1,400

  • Diane Faison – $3,600

  • Mark C. Donnell – $4,500

  • North Carolina Museum of Art W-S – $8,500

  • Marlene Kuser – $3,440

  • Redhawk American Indian Educational and Cultural – $1,000

  • Kathryn Gauldin – $3,870

  • Piedmont Wind Symphony – $2,500

  • Hispanic League – $3,000

  • Piedmont Craftsmen – $15,000

  • The Ugly Duckling, by Jon Deak with Jodi Burns, Paul Sharpe, and Mary Siebert – $2,573

• Modern Automotive Spring Arts Extravaganza for K-12 at Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts – $12,500

• Arts Council AIE Discretionary Fund – $8,615

Arts For EveryBody Community Project Grants – $269,200

Funding projects that expand community access to the arts and foster cultural enrichment:

• Mixxer Community Makerspace – $35,000

• Christina Soriano – $34,500

• Senior Services – $19,305

• Action4Equity: WS Freedom Schools – $12,860

• Authoring Action – $33,500

• Arts District of Winston-Salem – $32,500

• Winston-Salem Symphony – $32,500

• a/perture cinema – $30,000

• Mona King – $20,000

• Sawtooth School for Visual Art – $19,035

Multicultural Grassroots Arts Grants – $210,000

Supporting organizations that uplift underrepresented voices and celebrate diverse cultures. This grant is funded by the NC Arts Council’s Grassroots Grant and Arts Council’s Community Fund for the Arts:

• Royal Curtain Drama Guild – $35,000

• Comunidad Mujer Valiosa – $35,000

• Triad Cultural Arts – $35,000

• Hymns for Him, Inc. – $34,000

• Hispanic League – $33,000

• Thankful Heritage Museum – $26,300

• Action4Equity: WS Freedom Schools – $11,700

Artist Support Grants – $33,500

In partnership with the Arts Council of Greater Greensboro, Arts Council provided $33,500 in grants to artists across Forsyth, Davie, Davidson, and Randolph Counties to sustain and grow their creative careers. A full list of ASG recipients can be found online at https://www.intothearts.org/about/grantrecipients. 

Ensuring Transparency and Community Trust

In addition to these community grants, Arts Council provides substantial facility subsidies to resident companies such as The Little Theatre of Winston-Salem, RiverRun International Film Festival, and other community partners, offers fiscal sponsorships, and delivers impactful community programming. Further details of these initiatives will be shared soon. Following recent community discussions about funding transparency, Arts Council reaffirms its dedication to responsible stewardship and clear communication. Every grant awarded is a direct investment in the artists, educators, and organizations that make Winston-Salem a City of Arts and Innovation. To learn more about this year’s community investments, visit intothearts.org/about/communityinvestment. 

"We recognize the importance of transparency in how funds are distributed," added Howard. "We remain fully committed to accountability, and this funding cycle reflects our ongoing promise to invest in the people and organizations that bring creativity to life in our city."

Arts Council of Winston-Salem & Forsyth County is the leading advocate of arts in our region and seeks to enhance and support the local artistic and cultural landscape. Established in 1949 as the first arts council in the nation, the pioneering organization is celebrating its 75th anniversary. Arts Council owns and operates a campus which includes Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts and Hanesbrands Theatre. In 2024, it hosted 360 on-campus events with 66,000 attendees and distributed over $1.4 million in grants and programs, benefiting over 800,000 people. Additionally, Arts Council is the largest funder of Arts Education for Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools.  Arts Council relies on community support to sustain and grow its impact. To learn more about grant opportunities, donate, or get involved, visit www.intothearts.org.