SCHOLARSHIPS & GRANTS

The Surry Arts Council provides numerous scholarship and grant opportunities for artistic endeavors in Surry County through subgrants and funding from our endowments and sponsorships. Opportunities for you to submit applications are announced online throughout the year.

  • SAC Scholarship Applications

    The 2024 Surry Arts Council Scholarship application is now available. The program is open to all residents of Surry County. The application form (MS Word) includes complete details and requirements. It can also be picked up at the Surry Arts Council office at 218 Rockford Street. Submission deadline is Friday, May 3, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. Please contact Marianna by email or phone at 336.786.7998 with any questions.

    Summer Camp Scholarship applications may be downloaded or picked up in the Surry Arts Council office. Email Marianna or call 336.786.7998 for more information regarding this application.

  • Summer Camp Scholarship Applications

    Summer camp applications are now available. Please visit our Summer Camps page for complete details of the variety of summer camps we are offering this summer. Please contact Marianna with any questions.

    • SCHOLARSHIP & GRANT AWARDS

  • 2023-24 Grassroots Subgrants Awarded

    The Surry Arts Council subgranted a total of $42,398 in Grassroots funds from the North Carolina Arts Council Grassroots Arts Program to nine Surry County nonprofit groups who provide arts programming. The subgrant committee consisted of Lenise Lynch, Swanson Snow, Heather Elliott, Jody Crawford, and Terri Champney. The Surry Arts Council Board of Directors approved the recommendation of the committee.

    Agencies receiving subgrants include: Mount Airy Downtown, Inc.; Veterans Memorial Park; Friends of the Mount Airy Library; Voce; African American Historical and Genealogical Society; Mount Airy Downtown Business Association; Mount Airy Photo Club; Pilot Mountain Development Corporation; and the Reeves Community Center Foundation. All agencies who applied received funding.

    SURRY ARTS COUNCIL 2023 SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED

    The Surry Arts Council awarded over $2,800 in scholarships in 2023 to Surry County students planning to further their education in the arts. The Scholarship Committee consisted of Jody Crawford, David Pruett, Kelly Merritt, Emily Loftis, Jennie Lowry, and Sylvia Lowry. Marianna Juliana, Surry Arts Council’s Contract & Grant Administrator, coordinated the process that was held with in-person auditions. The Surry Arts CounApplications were received for Arts Administration, Drama, Instrumental Music, Musical Theatre, Visual/Fine Arts, and Voice.

      - Jacob Mills, Visual/Fine Arts, is the 2023 Betty Lynn Scholarship recipient. Mills is attending Appalachian State University and is pursuing a degree in Arts Education

      - Cristoto Bautista Lim, Instrumental Music, is the 2023 Jimmy Lowry Scholarship recipient. Lim is attending Western Carolina University and pursuing a degree in Commercial Music/Audio Production.

      - Jack Denny, Instrumental Music, is the 2023 Mildred Wolfe Robertson Scholarship recipient. Denny is attending Western Carolina University and is pursuing a degree in Commercial Music/Audio Production.

      - Raegan Amos, Voice, and Lilly Ruth Beck, Musical Theatre, are the 2023 Sandy Beam Scholarship recipients. Amos is attending the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and is pursuing a degree in Theatre Education/Music Theatre. Beck is attending Lees-McRae College and is pursuing a degree in Musical Theatre.

    All of these students have connections with the Surry Arts Council as volunteers in summer programs, high school internships, and/or participants in community theatre and other programs and classes.

    These endowments are set up and managed by the North Carolina Community Foundation and the Winston-Salem Foundation. For information regarding the establishment of your own endowment or scholarship fund, and/or making contributions to existing endowment and scholarship funds, contact Tanya Jones, tanya@surryarts.org . 2024 Surry Arts Council Scholarship applications are available online or by calling (336) 786-7998. Additional scholarships were awarded for SAC in-house programs and summer camps by the Kester Sink Birthday Endowment and the John L. Gravitte, DDS, PA “Dentistry with Heart” scholarships, and other earmarked contributions.

    SCHOLARSHIPS & GRANT OPPORTUNITIES

  • Arts Scholarships

    Scholarships are made possible by endowments and scholarship funds established by donors. These endowments are managed by the North Carolina Community Foundation and the Winston-Salem Foundation. The Surry Arts Council works with these foundations to set up new endowments at no cost to the donors. Contributions to existing endowments are always welcome.

    The following endowments and funds are set up to provide scholarships for area students planning to further their education in the arts:

      - Kester Sink Birthday Endowment (scholarships for Arts Alive and Missoula Children’s Theatre)

      - Cindi and Andy Griffith Endowment (free arts programming)

      - Barbara and Emmett Forrest Endowment Fund (Andy Griffith Museum and Mayberry Days)

      - Mildred Wolfe Robertson Scholarship Fund (scholarship for students pursuing instrumental music degrees)

      - Sandy Beam Scholarship Fund (scholarship for students pursuing vocal or musical theatre degrees)

      - Diane Holcomb Endowment (musical theatre performances)

      - Betty Lynn Scholarship Endowment (scholarship for students pursuing dance or acting career)

      - Surry Arts Council Endowment (free arts programming)

      - Sarah J. and Richard T. Howerton, Jr. Memorial Fund (choral performances)

      - The Jimmy Lowry Scholarship Endowment (donor directed scholarship)

  • Grassroots Arts Programs Subgrants

    Since 1977, the North Carolina Arts Council’s Grassroots Arts Program has provided North Carolina citizens access to quality arts experiences. Using a per capita based formula, the program provides funding for the arts in all 100 counties of the state through partnerships with local arts councils. Surry Arts Council serves as the North Carolina Arts Council’s partner in awarding subgrants to local organizations for arts programs in Surry County.

  • Regional Artist Project Grant

    This program, funded by the North Carolina Arts Council, provides the opportunity for regional consortia of local arts councils to award project grants to artists in their regions. These grants support professional artists in any discipline and at any stage in their careers to pursue projects that further their professional development. Types of fundable projects include:

      - Creation of new work

      - Purchase of equipment and materials

      - Professional development workshops

      - Professional development workshops

      - Development or upgrading of promotional materials such as brochures, DVDs, CDs, and websites

    Grant amounts vary from region to region. Statewide, they range from $300 to $5,000, though most grants are between $500 and $2,000. Inquire at the Surry Arts Council for assistance with these grants.