Grants and opportunities from the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts are a public investment in the cultural life of our state. Each competitive grant and opportunity category is designed to meet an important purpose and need and aligns with our current Strategic Plan.
Before applying for a grant or opportunity, it is very important to learn about the requirements and obligations of a grantee and read over the guidelines carefully. Click here for a list of Grant Resources, where you'll find information on how the grant application process works, grantee responsibilities, a glossary of grant terms, information on preparing your work samples, making your programs accessible, some grant writing tips, as well as information on setting up a nonprofit organization.
Arts grants and opportunities impact our communities in many ways, helping to promote a lively economy and enhance the quality of life in communities. To learn about previously funded arts grants and the impact they have in New Hampshire, please click here.
Please click here for a complete listing of current grant and opportunity categories and links to guidelines.
Each year artists interested in schools and communities may apply to be included in the New Hampshire Arts Education (AE) Roster of Teaching Artists. Applications are reviewed by a panel for artistic quality and the ability of the artist to share their artistic process with others in educational settings. The Roster is published online on the Arts Council's website at www.NH.gov/NHArts.
The guidelines and recommendation form for this program can be found here.
The deadline for this application is rolling.
The Arts in Health Artist Directory is a resource for organizations in search of artists who are experienced and skilled in leading projects that deliver health and healing benefits within a variety of health care settings, or in leading public health-focused work in partnership with health-based entities and professionals. Artists may apply to either the Health & Healing Track or the Public Health Track, or they may submit separate applications to both. Performing, literary, media and visual artists are eligible to apply.
Guidelines for this program can be found here.
Deadline is rolling.
Youth Arts Project (YAP) Grants fund high-quality and experiential educational opportunities in the arts for students pre K through 12th grade. Arts learning fosters positive social and emotional skills and bolsters creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration. YAP grants broaden access to diverse forms of artistic and cultural practices and can engage youth in contributing to community goals. Grants fund programs in all arts disciplines including dance, theatre, media, music, visual arts, craft, and creative writing. NHSCA is committed to sustaining the capacity of teaching artists and supporting their impact on local communities. Engaging teaching artists to lead the arts learning is a core element of this program.
Full guidelines and downloadable budget forms for this program are available here.
The application deadline for this program is 11:59 pm Friday, April 18, 2025 (for projects occurring between July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026).
Artist in Residence (AIR) grants provide funding to bring juried teaching artists on the NHSCA roster into classrooms to lead rigorous educational experiences in the arts, both in public schools and nonprofits serving as alternative education sites Visiting teaching artists support deeper learning of arts competencies, STEAM projects, interdisciplinary arts integration, and broadening access to culturally diverse artistic practices. Learning through the arts develops creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration and supports school goals for wellness and social and emotional learning. Grants can be used to fund residencies in all arts disciplines including dance, theatre, media, music, visual arts, craft, and creative writing. NHSCA is committed to sustaining the capacity of teaching artists and supporting their impact on local communities.
Full guidelines and downloadable budget forms for this program are available here.
The application deadline for this program is 11:59 pm Friday, April 25, 2025 (for projects occurring between August 1, 2025 - September 30, 2026.
The Arts in Health project grant category responds to the Arts Council’s recognition that arts and culture facilitate the physical, cognitive, and social-emotional aspects of individual healing, and that when applied to public health, promote healthy environments and policies in communities by promoting empathy, awareness, and social cohesion through shared narrative and aesthetic experiences. Two tracks are available for this category: Health & Healing and Public Health.
Arts in Health Project Grants support arts activities that occur in community spaces and health-based facilities; the latter may include hospitals, social service agencies, rehabilitation/ recovery centers, assisted living facilities, nursing homes, adult day centers, senior centers, veterans’ homes, hospice/grief programs, and correctional facilities.
Full guidelines and downloadable budget forms for this program are available here.
The deadline for this application is 11:59 pm Friday, May 2, 2025 (for projects occurring between August 1, 2025 and September 30, 2026).
The Traditional Arts Apprenticeship grants help communities preserve their cultural heritage through the learning and passing on of traditional arts– including crafts, music, and dance - so that future generations can continue to benefit from them. Apprenticeship grants fund a master traditional artist to teach an experienced apprentice in one-to-one sessions for a minimum of 65 hours over a period of six to ten months. Traditional arts are passed down from one generation to the next within communities through observation, conversation, imitation, and practice. They represent a sense of beauty, skills, knowledge, and community values refined over generations and are an important part of our living cultural heritage. Communities can be defined in many ways such as groups that share the same ethnic heritage, language, geographic area, religion, occupation, or way of life.
Full guidelines and downloadable budget/meeting plan forms for this program can be found here.
The application deadline for this program is 11:59 PM Friday, June 13, 2025 (for projects occurring between November 1, 2025 - September 30, 2026).
This grant category recognizes the importance of the creative workforce to New Hampshire’s economy. Artist Entrepreneurial Grants support opportunities that will benefit artists’ careers and small businesses, including the development of business skills, participation in programs to raise the level and quality of their art, and participation in programs that will bring their art to the widest possible markets.
Full guidelines and downloadable budget forms for this program are available here.
The NH Teen Poet Laureate (NHTPL) program consists of two components: the team itself made up of students in grades 8 to 11 and the seniors who are the actual team leaders, the Teen Poets Laureate.
Candidates will assume responsibilities for their position effective immediately upon their acceptance; however, accepted eighth graders must wait until the following school year to officially join the team. Students must re-apply each year to be a part of the team.
TEAM MEMBERS.
To be eligible for consideration for the NHTPL team, students should consider the following information:
1. They must be enrolled in a NH high school during the time of their appointment.
2. They must be in grades 8 through 11 at the time of applying.
3. They will be involved in weekly meetings and activities.
4. They can contribute in many ways, such as managing the website and online zine, writing letters, editing poetry, seeking ways to spread poetry around the state, doing readings and workshops, visiting schools, thinking of innovative ways to expand the program, assist with program budget, grant writing, and so on.
5. Students can apply at any time to be on the team.
6. Prepare for a possible interview.
The program is supported by A Conversation with Jimmy and Friends, the Poetry Society of NH, the NH State Council on the Arts, NH Poetry Out Loud, and Monadnock Writers' Group.
Any questions, please feel free to contact the NHTPL advisor Jimmy Pappas at jpappas235@gmail.com
For technical questions about Submittable, feel free to contact Allison Hawkins at allison.hawkins@dncr.nh.gov
The NH Teen Poet Laureate (NHTPL) program consists of two components: the team itself made up of students in grades 8 to 11 and the seniors who are the actual team leaders, the Teen Poets Laureate.
They can contribute in many ways, such as managing the website and online zine, writing letters, editing poetry, seeking ways to spread poetry around the state, doing readings and workshops, visiting schools, thinking of innovative ways to expand the program, assist with program budget, grant writing, and so on.
New Hampshire Teen Poet Laureate
To be eligible for consideration for the NHTPL, students should consider the following information:
1. Applicant must be enrolled in a NH high school during the time of their appointment.
2. Applicant must currently be a junior in order to apply.
3. Applications can be sent starting April 1, 2025. The final deadline is Friday, June 6, 2025 at 11:59 pm. Decisions will be made by June 30. Applicants will be contacted by phone.
4. We will contact the applicant regarding a potential interview post-submission.
The program is supported by A Conversation with Jimmy and Friends, the Poetry Society of NH, the NH State Council on the Arts, NH Poetry Out Loud, and Monadnock Writers' Group.
Any questions, please feel free to contact the NHTPL advisor Jimmy Pappas at jpappas235@gmail.com
For technical questions about Submittable, feel free to contact Allison Hawkins at allison.hawkins@dncr.nh.gov
Arts Conservation License Plate grants fund the conservation of publicly owned artworks, artistic elements of publicly owned facilities that serve as sites for arts programming, projects that improve public access to significant artwork or arts documents, and projects that make historic cultural facilities and the arts programming that takes place in them more accessible to the public.
IMPORTANT: Applicants are required to submit a Letter of Intent to Apply on official letterhead, to the grant coordinator (by email or hard copy) prior to May 2, 2025 in order for the applicant to be eligible to submit a full grant application. Please click here for detailed guidelines.
Revenues generated by New Hampshire’s Conservation License Plates, often called “Moose Plates,” help to promote, conserve and protect New Hampshire's natural, cultural, and historic resources. Since 2001, the Conservation License Plate program has contributed to the success of many important projects around New Hampshire, helping to preserve the historic character of our state. The NH Department of Natural and Cultural Resources receives a percentage of the funds raised from the sales of Conservation License Plates. These funds are directed back into communities through grant programs facilitated by the Department’s Divisions. Interested applicants should apply for funding from the Division whose criteria and eligibility requirements best match their project activities.
Please note that this application is for Arts Council grants only. Guidelines for the other DNCR Divisions can be found at:
- New Hampshire State Library www.nh.gov/nhsl - for the conservation of historic documents
- New Hampshire Division of Historical Resources http://www.nh.gov/nhdhr - for the conservation of historic artifacts and properties
The application deadline for this program is 11:59 PM Friday, June 20, 2025.
Folklife and Traditional Arts Project Grants support projects that focus on presenting and preserving folklife and traditional arts in New Hampshire. The goals of this funding category are to promote a deeper appreciation for and a better understanding of folklife and traditional arts so that they continue to be a meaningful and visible part of our community life, support traditional artists and cultural communities so that they can continue to preserve these living traditions, and sustain the variety of folklife and traditional arts so that future generations may continue to benefit from them.
Full guidelines and downloadable budget forms for this program are available here.
The deadline for this application is 11:59 pm Friday, June 27, 2025 (for projects occurring between December 1, 2025 and November 30, 2026).
Arts for Community Engagement Grants support community enrichment and public benefit by providing access to high-quality arts performances, activities, and programs presented by community-based organizations, Main Street programs, and municipalities. The goals of this funding category are to promote increased community engagement, especially for people who are economically disadvantaged, underserved or marginalized; to stimulate local economies through cultural tourism and the arts; and to enhance the vibrancy of New Hampshire communities and quality of life for New Hampshire citizens. This grant category supports a wide range of activities including performances, exhibits, workshops and community arts programming.
Full guidelines and downloadable budget forms for this program are available here.
The deadline for this application is 11:59 pm Friday, June 27, 2025 (for projects occurring between December 1, 2025 and November 30, 2026).
This final report form should be used for Artist Entrepreneurial grants only.
FY2024 are due no later than 11:59 PM July 31, 2024.
FY2025 are due no later than 11:59 PM July 31, 2025.
FY2026 are due no later than 11:59 PM July 31, 2026.
Extensions may be requested for up to 90 days. Requests must be submitted in writing to the appropriate grant program coordinator before the deadline for filing has passed. Failure to submit this report by the original or extended due date will make you ineligible to apply for any type of State Arts Council grant for two years from the due date of report.
This final report form should be used for all State Arts Council grants except Public Value Partnerships, Traditional Arts Apprenticeships and Artist Entrepreneurial Grants. Final reports are due no later than 30 days after the end of the State Fiscal Year (June 30) in which the grant was awarded.
July 31, 2024: Artist Residencies (AIR) | Youth Art Projects (YAP)
November 30, 2024: Arts in Health (AIH) | Arts for Community Engagement (ACE) | Traditional Arts Project Grants |ARTS Conservation License Plates (Mooseplates)
January 31, 2025: Cultural Facilities
Extensions may be requested for up to 90 days. Requests must be submitted in writing to the appropriate grant program coordinator before the deadline for filing has passed. Failure to submit this report by the original or extended due date will make your organization ineligible to apply for any type of State Arts Council grant for two years from the due date of report.
This final report form should be used for all State Arts Council grants except Public Value Partnerships, Traditional Arts Apprenticeships and Artist Entrepreneurial Grants.
Final reports are due no later than 30 days after the end of the State Fiscal Year (June 30) in which the grant was awarded.
July 31, 2025: Youth Art Projects (YAP)
October 31, 2025: Artist Residencies (AIR) | Organizational Capacity November 30, 2025: Arts in Health (AIH) December 31, 2025: Arts for Community Engagement (ACE) | Traditional Arts Project Grants |ARTS Conservation License Plates (Mooseplates)
Extensions may be requested for up to 90 days. Requests must be submitted in writing to the appropriate grant program coordinator before the deadline for filing has passed. Failure to submit this report by the original or extended due date will make your organization ineligible to apply for any type of State Arts Council grant for two years from the due date of report.
This Interim Report form should be used by all Public Value Partnership grantees.
FY2024 Interim Reports are due no later than 11:59 pm July 31, 2024 - if you need an extension, please contact the Grant Coordinator.
Extensions may be requested for up to 90 days. Requests must be submitted in writing to the appropriate grant program coordinator before the deadline for filing has passed. Failure to submit this report by the original or extended due date will make your organization ineligible to apply for any type of State Arts Council grant for two years from the due date of report.
FY2025 Final Reports are due no later than 11:59 pm July 31, 2025.
Extensions may be requested for up to 90 days. Requests must be submitted in writing to the appropriate grant program coordinator before the deadline for filing has passed. Failure to submit this report by the original or extended due date will make your organization ineligible to apply for any type of State Arts Council grant for two years from the due date of report.
These Grant Guidelines are valid for the two-year grant period July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2027. Applications must be submitted by 11:59 pm Friday, April 25, 2025 for both years.
Public Value Partnerships for general operating support of nonprofit cultural organizations are an investment in the cultural infrastructure and creative economy of New Hampshire.
The creative economy is made up of artists, nonprofit organizations and creative businesses that positively impact quality of life in communities, generate jobs and produce revenue for municipalities, cities and the state. Public Value Partnerships also ensure that the arts are available and accessible to all New Hampshire citizens.
A limited number of competitive and matching grants will be awarded to nonprofit arts and cultural organizations that demonstrate excellence in planning, administration and programming. Grantees are expected to provide high quality and broadly accessible arts experiences, activities and services for New Hampshire citizens. They are also expected to promote the arts as integral to the local economy by developing and maintaining close relationships with other community-based organizations and businesses and policy makers.
Full guidelines and a downloadable budget form for this program are available here.
The application deadline for this program is 11:59 pm Friday, April 25, 2025.
FY2021 Final Reports are due no later than 11:59 pm January 31, 2022
Extensions may be requested for up to 90 days. Requests must be submitted in writing to the appropriate grant program coordinator before the deadline for filing has passed. Failure to submit this report by the original or extended due date will make your organization ineligible to apply for any type of State Arts Council grant for two years from the due date of report.
The New Hampshire State Council on the Arts welcomes nominations for the 2025 Governor’s Arts Awards. The honorary non-cash awards recognize outstanding contributions to the excellence, growth, support, and availability of the arts in New Hampshire.
Please read the Nomination Guidelines - Governor's Arts Awards | New Hampshire Arts Council
Deadline: 11:59 PM Friday, May 2, 2025