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 Basics, where you'll find information on how the grant application process works, grantee responsibilities, a glossary of grant terms, frequently asked questions, information on grants workshops, 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.
Questions about the online application system should be directed to Cassandra Mason at cassandra.a.mason@dncr.nh.gov or 603-271-7926.
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.
The Traditional Arts & Folklife Listing is a directory of traditional artists, community scholars, and folklorists who are available for performances, demonstrations, workshops, and other community-based presentations in New Hampshire. The Traditional Arts and Folklife Listing is a resource for arts organizations, museums, community groups, schools, and other groups that want to include traditional arts and artists in their programs and for artists who wish to present their traditions in community settings. The Listing provides information about the artist, their traditional art form, and types of presentations offered.
Full application guidelines can be found here.
Applications for this Listing are reviewed on a rolling basis.
Artist Residencies in Schools (AIR) grants provide partial funding to bring juried teaching artists into classrooms and public schools to support creative learning and skills development in the arts. AIR grants funded by the State Arts Council are intended to show best practice for this work and can support residencies in variety of arts disciplines.
Full guidelines and downloadable budget forms for this program are available here.
The application deadline for this program is 11:59 pm Friday, April 19, 2024 (for projects occurring between August 1, 2024 - September 30, 2025.
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 3, 2024 (for projects occurring between August 1, 2024 and September 30, 2025).
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 next deadline for this category is 11:59 pm Friday, May 3, 2024
Organizational Capacity Projects strengthen nonprofit arts organizations providing high quality arts services and programming. This grant may be used to meet a variety of arts management needs. The proposal should demonstrate how the grant will assist the applicant in strengthening their overall capabilities, effectiveness, and sustainability. Proposals may include the costs of engaging contractors who specialize in nonprofits to assist with long-term planning, marketing planning, technology, or board development.
The deadline for this application is 11:59 pm Friday, May 10, 2024 (for projects occurring between August 1, 2024 and September 30, 2025).
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 14, 2024 (for projects occurring between November 1, 2024 - September 30, 2025).
The NH Teen Poet Laureate (NHTPL) is a volunteer, one-year position held by a NH high school senior who has shown a dedication to and excellence in writing, and who demonstrates the enthusiasm to share it with the public. The NHTPL serves as an ambassador who will heighten the visibility and value of poetry by and for young people in New Hampshire.
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.
The NH Teen Poet Laureate is an appointed, unpaid position. The NH Teen Poet Laureate can serve a maximum of one term which will run from September 1 to August 31 each school year. The NHTPL will have an opportunity to assist in the management of an online zine for the purpose of publishing teen poets and will organize the NHTPL Team meetings. The Committee may choose to interview candidates and appoint more than one NH Teen Poet Laureate.
To be eligible to be considered for the NH Teen Poet Laureate, the student must be:
- Enrolled in a NH high school during the term if their appointment.
- In 12th grade as of September of the year the position begins. The student may graduate before the appointment ends on August 31.
- If not chosen as NH Teen Poet Laureate, applicants will be invited to be on the NHTPL Team.
To be eligible to be considered for the NH Teen Poet Laureate Team, the student must be:
- Enrolled in a NH high school during the term of their appointment.
- In 9th-12th grade as of September of the year the position begins. The student may graduate before the appointment ends on August 31.
- A student must reapply each year.
Expectations for all NHTPL Team Members
- The NHTPL will be expected to dedicate approximately 5 hours per month to the program.
- Participate in at least four annual events, readings, or school visits of their choosing during the year of their appointment. Events should focus on supporting and increasing opportunities for young people to read and write poetry.
- Attend monthly meetings with other NHTPL team members via Zoom.
- Participate in the publication of the online zine.
- The designated NH Teen Poet Laureate will be expected to lead the Team.
Key Dates:
April, 2024 Call for Nominations
June 14, 2024 Deadline to submit nomination
June 30, 2024: NHTPL selection is announced
Questions or More Information Contact:
Jimmy Pappas, A Conversation with Jimmy and Friends
jpappas235@gmail.com
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 3, 2024 in order for the applicant to be eligible to submit a full grant application. Please click here for instructions.
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.
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.
Please click here for detailed guidelines.
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 21, 2024.
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 28, 2024 (for projects occurring between December 1, 2024 and November 30, 2025).
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 28, 2024 (for projects occurring between December 1, 2024 and November 30, 2025).
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)
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 final report form should be used for Traditional Arts Apprenticeship grants only.
FY2024 Final Reports are due no later than 11:59 pm October 31, 2024
FY2025 final reports are due no later than 11:59 pm October 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.
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.
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.