Edgecombe County Cultural Arts Council is accepting applications for Grassroots Arts Program subgrants for the fiscal year 2009-10, with funding available for arts programming in Edgecombe County.

Application deadline is 4 p.m. Friday, July 31.

Edgecombe County Cultural Arts Council, designated county partner, receives funding for the Grassroots Arts Program from the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the state Department of Cultural Resources. Created in 1977 by the General Assembly, the Grassroots Arts Program provides funding to each county on a per capita basis. This state funding helps to provide arts programming for citizens, school children and visitors to Edgecombe County.

Applications are available for non-profit organizations whose purpose is to promote and develop diverse cultural arts programming in Edgecombe County. Most grants require that matching funds be raised by the applicant organization.

Funding priority is given to qualified arts organizations, such as theaters, symphonies, galleries, arts guilds, choral societies, dance companies, writers groups and arts festivals. Second priority subgrants support arts in education programs conducted by qualified artists in school settings during and after school. Subgrants may also be given to other local or civic groups that provide quality arts programming for the community. Proposals must be for projects that occur between July 1 and May 30, 2010.

Application forms and grant guidelines for Grassroots Arts Programs are available at the Blount-Bridgers House, 130 Bridgers St. in Tarboro, Wednesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. or. online at:

http://www.ncarts.org/elements/docs/GAPSubgrantApplicationForm09-10.doc.

For more information, call the Arts Council at 823-4159 or e-mail:

edgecombearts@embarqmail.com.