In partnership with the North Carolina Arts Council, JCAC administers Johnston County's annual allotment of Grassroots funds allocated by the North Carolina General Assembly.

These funds are used to support local nonprofit organizations for arts activities that enrich the cultural life of the county and provide every resident with the opportunity to experience the arts.

Application forms are typically available in June of each year and are due the last Friday of August. Johnston County Arts Council encourages new applicants, emerging & established arts organizations and non-profit service organizations with arts programs to apply.

Typical non-arts organizations allowed to apply are: libraries, historical societies, civic groups, recreation departments and downtown development associations. Funds may be used for programs in: dance, drama, crafts, folk arts, literature, music, photography, visual arts, film and video, as well as other art forms that may be considered.

Applications are user-friendly and a workshop is typically available in mid-July of each year to assist applicants in completing the forms. Attendance is encouraged.

To be eligible for funding, non-profit organizations must be located within Johnston County. Programs will be evaluated for organizational stability, ability to generate 1:1 matching funds, audience development (size and cultural diversity), artistic quality, responsiveness to the community's artistic needs and community outreach.

The Johnston County Grassroots Arts Program recipients are, from left to right:

Front Row: Lynn Wagner, Tobacco Farm Life Museum; Susan Woodard, Keep Johnston County Beautiful; Carolyn Ennis, First Missionary Baptist and Johnston County Schools; Bonnie Sandon, Johnston County Chorale

Second Row:  Bruce Naeglen, Clayton Area Development Foundation; Heidi Stump, Clayton Cultural Arts Foundation; Sammy Smith, Neuse Little Theatre; Tina Ray, Princeton Graded School Alumni Association; George Smith, Joe Morgan, and Doug Strickland of the Johnston County Chorale.

Not pictured:  Noela Sue Woodall, Benson Little Theatre; Angela Lawson, Ava Gardner Museum; and Susan Austin, Johnston Community College Student Government Association.