Eligibility

Applicants must be:

• 21 years of age or older 
• Eligible to receive taxable income in the U.S.
• Residing in Western North Carolina for at least a year before Helene and for the duration of the Grant Period (counties include Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Cherokee, Clay, Cleveland, Gaston, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Qualla Boundary, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes, Yancey). 
• Able to provide evidence of a continued  studio practice for a minimum of three years
• Experienced at least one of the following due to Hurricane Helene:
  • Displacement from your home
  • Physical damage or loss to your home or studio
  • Physical damage or loss to equipment, tools, inventory, or materials required for your artistic practice
  • Studio Interruptions (e.g. temporary closure  or limited access to your studio due to compromised access, lack of utilities, etc.)
  • Loss of revenue
  • Audience or market disruptions
  • Other unexpected impacts directly resulting from Hurricane Helene.

Applicants cannot be:

• Collectives, groups, partnerships 
• A current employee, consultant, board member, or major funder of the Center for Craft, or an immediate family member of such a person

For this grant, the Center for Craft understands craft to include 3D work produced primarily by hand.

Craft is commonly recognized as being made of clay, glass, fiber, metal, and wood.  We also welcome craft made from other materials, such as concrete, plastic, gourds, shells, bones, leather, natural, and recycled materials, among others. We look for works in which the artist transformed the materials into something new.

Examples of craft include but are not limited to jewelry, ceramics, basket making, furniture, wood carving, sculpture, weaving, tapestry, knitting, sewing, bookmaking, paper-making, blacksmithing, knife-making, glass blowing, casting, and mask-making, among others.

The Center for Craft prohibits discrimination, harassment, and retaliation based on sex, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability or perceived disability, age, marital status, gender identity, veteran status, or any other protected category. The Center encourages applications from historically underrepresented populations. Applying does not constitute a promise or guarantee of being awarded a grant.

Requirements

Cohort Requirements

• The initial 70% of funds will be awarded upon completion of the grant agreement and receipt of the awardee’s W9. 
• The final 30% of the grant will be awarded upon completion of the Grant Period, as well as an evaluation survey and interview. 
• The grant funding is unrestricted. Grantees should put the funds toward their area of greatest financial need.
• Recipients will be required to participate in a 6-month cohort experience by attending at least 80% of the cohort convenings. Convenings will take place up to twice monthly from March to August 2025 and may be held virtually or in person, though locations may vary throughout the region.  Each convening may last up to 150 minutes plus travel time. More information about the cohort will be provided upon receipt of the award. 
• Contribute one (1) artwork for a group exhibition in the Bresler Family Gallery at the Center for Craft from April - August 2025 (exact dates TBD). A separate loan agreement will be issued once the artwork is mutually agreed upon.
• Participate in a program evaluation survey and exit interview in September and October 2025.
• Grant permission for the Center for Craft to use the language and images from the recipient's application on our website and in press releases, social media, and/or reports.
• Recipients must acknowledge support from the Center for Craft by:
  • including the tag: “Center for Craft WNC Craft Futures Cohort” in their email signature, website, and/or social media page for the duration of the Fellowship Period

Residency Requirements

‍Four (4) regional craft artists in the Cohort will also receive six (6) months of free studio space in the Center’s Ideation Lab.  Artists who lost their studio space during Helene will be given priority for the residency space.

Center for Craft will provide residents with workspace and a Cowork pass in the Center for Craft's National Craft Innovation Hub.

In addition to the Cohort Requirements, Resident Artists will: 

• Commit to spend at least 20 hours a week in the studio space located at the Center for Craft in downtown Asheville
• Acknowledge support from the Center for Craft during the residency period by including the line: “Virginia A. Groot Craft Futures Residence” in their email signature, website, and/or social media page for the duration of the residency period
• Participate in a public “open studio” program produced by the Center for Craft

‍

Privacy and Use of Information

Recipients of the WNC Craft Futures Cohort grant will be published on the Center for Craft’s website and announced through social media and electronic newsletters. We plan to share statistics representing Helene's impact, how these funds were distributed, and quotes pulled from applications. 

All applicants will be automatically enrolled to receive the Center for Craft’s newsletter. You can unsubscribe at any time. 

Alumni Network

Recipients of this grant will be eligible for membership in the Center’s forthcoming Alumni Network. 

How to Apply

Applicants must apply using the online application program SlideRoom at the link here.Applicants will not be required to pay an application fee. Please review the sample application below before beginning your application. 

All applicants should create a login to be able to partially complete the form and return to finish it at a later date. Before submitting your application, you will be directed to a confirmation page where you can review your form and return to edit or delete your uploaded files as needed. Your application can not be accessed once submitted. Applicants will receive a confirmation email once the application form has been successfully submitted. A virtual application information session will be held on December 13, 2024 at 2pm ET.

DEADLINE: 

Applications must be submitted via SlideRoom no later than 11:59 pm ET on January 13, 2025. Notification of awards will be sent in February 2025.

NOTIFICATION: 

Recipients will be notified of funding at the e-mail address listed on the application form. Please be sure that it is a valid account that you check regularly. 

SAMPLE APPLICATION

Cover Sheet

• Name
• Pronouns (optional)
• Address
• Website or Online Portfolio Link
• Social media handles
• Email Address
• Phone Number

Eligibility

• Are you 21 years of age or older  (Y or N)
• Are you  eligible to receive taxable income in the U.S.  (Y or N)
• Have you lived in Western North Carolina for at least one year prior to Helene (Y or N)
• What county do you live and work in? (DROP DOWN MENU OF WNC COUNTIES)
• What is your primary medium?
  • Ceramics
  • Fiber, textiles
  • Glass
  • Metals, Jewelry
  • Wood
  • Other (please specify):
    

• What career stage do you identify with the most? (Early, Mid, Established)
• Please list up to three communities with whom you most frequently work. You might consider age, skill, materials, identity, sexuality, geographic area, or other characteristics that the people you work with have in common (for example, veterans, refugees, queer communities, youth, textile artists, or other groups and communities of practice not mentioned here)

Which of the following have you experienced as a result of Hurricane Helene? (Select all that apply)

1. Displacement from your home
2. Physical damage or loss to your home or studio
3. Physical damage or loss to equipment, tools, inventory, or materials required for your artistic practice
4. Studio Interruptions (e.g. temporary closure  or limited access to your studio due to compromised access, lack of utilities, etc.)
5. Loss of revenue
6. Audience or market disruptions
7. Other unexpected impacts directly resulting from Hurricane Helene.

The Center for Craft is offering four (4) regional craft artists six (6) months of free studio space in the Center’s Ideation Lab for the duration of the cohort (March-August 2025). 

Are you interested in being considered for the residency opportunity? (Y/N)

‍Please note: Artists who lost their studio space during Helene will be given priority for the residency space.  

‍
Application Questions

1. Please provide an artist statement (up to 250 words / 1,500 characters)
2. How does your current practice relate to the materials, processes, or histories of craft? (up to 250 words / 1,500 characters)
3. What are your recovery goals, what do you need to recover, and how will this funding and cohort experience help you get there? (No more than 500 words/2500 characters)
4. References: Please list the name, email address, and phone number for two (2) people who support your application and who you have known for at least two years. Only references for the top-tier applicants may be contacted.
   

Media and Uploads

1. A CV of relevant experience (no more than 4 pages).
2. Please provide a portfolio of 10 images of your most current work (created within the previous 5 years). Please include title, date, medium, size, and a short explanation for each.

Allowed Media Types:

• Images (up to 5MB each)
• Video (up to 250MB each)
• Audio (up to 30MB each)
• PDFs (up to 10MB each)
• 3D Models via Sketchfab
• External media from YouTube, Vimeo, and SoundCloud

You have the option of uploading any combination of images or video links (from hosting sites such as Vimeo, Flickr, or YouTube.) Only the first 2 minutes of each video sample will be shown during the review process, so please edit your materials accordingly. Images should be in a JPEG format no larger than 1600 pixels or only size @72 dpi. Name each jpeg file with “LastNameImageTitleNumber.jpg” Each uploaded image or video link must be accompanied by a corresponding image description (up to 50 words). Please include title, date, medium, size, and a short description of each uploaded image or media file.

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Demographic Survey
Please note that the demographic survey data will only be used anonymously. Your participation in this survey helps us and our local and national funders understand who the Center for Craft is reaching so that we can continue to develop equitable and accessible programming. Completion of this survey will in no way affect your application. We require all applicants to complete this form; however, you may answer each question with the “ I prefer not to answer” option. Thank you.

1. Which age group best describes you?
   1. 18 or younger
   2. 19-24
   3. 25-34
   4. 35-44
   5. 45-54
   6. 55-65
   7. 65+
   8. I prefer not to answer
2. Which of the following best describes your gender identity? (Select all that apply)
   1. Female/Woman 
   2. Non-binary 
   3. Transgender 
   4. Male/Man
   5. Unsure
   6. I prefer not to answer
   7. Other (please specify):
3. Do you identify as LGBTQIA+?
   1. Yes
   2. No
   3. Prefer not to answer
4. Which of the following best describes your race/ethnicity? (Select all that apply)
   1. Alaska Native, American Indian, or Indigenous
   2. Middle Eastern or North African
   3. Asian or Asian American
   4. Black, African American, or African origin
   5. Latino/a, Latinx, Hispanic, or Spanish origin
   6. Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
   7. White/Caucasian
   8. I prefer not to answer
   9. Other (please specify):
5. Do you have a disability? (such as a physical disability, a cognitive or learning disability, sensory impairment, Autism Spectrum Disorder, or mental illness)
   1. Yes
   2. No
   3. I prefer not to answer
6. In what kind of community do you live and work?
   1. Urban
   2. Suburban
   3. Rural
   4. Other
7. How did you learn about this opportunity?
   1. Center for Craft Newsletter
   2. Center for Craft Website
   3. Social Media
   4. News Organization (Arts AVL, Mountain Xpress, etc.)
   5. 3rd Partie’s Opportunities Listing
   6. Word of Mouth
   7. Other

FAQ

If I am awarded, will I have to pay taxes on my award?

Grant awards are considered taxable income. Please consult a tax expert for questions and clarifications.

I just moved to Western North Carolina, can I apply for the residency?

No, all applicants must be a resident of Western North Carolina for at least 1 year before Helene and during the duration of the residency. 

What are the reporting requirements? 

Grantees will be asked to complete an evaluation survey and exit interview after the end of the Grant Period.

How can I use the funds? 

This is an unrestricted grant. Grantees should put the funds toward their area of greatest immediate need. 

What if I used to live in WNC but am now displaced - am I still eligible?

We recognize that many residents of Western North Carolina are currently displaced. However, the cohort-based format requires participants to be able to attend in-person gatherings up to two times per month during the Grant Period. Therefore, recipients must reside in Western North Carolina for the duration of the Grant Period.

May I mail a hard copy of my application materials to the Center for Craft’s office?

Hard-copy submissions will not be accepted. The application must be completed and submitted through SlideRoom.  

Can I work on my application and return to complete it at a later date?  

Yes, creating a login account will enable you to complete the form in several online sessions.  

I just submitted my application, but I want to return to it and make an edit. Is this possible?

No, once your application is submitted you cannot return to the form or change any submitted information. 

Are art collectives or collaboratives eligible to apply?

No, partnerships, collaboratives, and collectives are not eligible to apply. Members of such groups are encouraged to apply individually.

I have a question that wasn’t answered. How can I reach the Center for Craft?

If you have any further questions, please contact grants@centerforcraft.org, or call 828-785-1357.