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About the Cary Art Daze Grants
The Cary Art Daze Grants program is a community-centered funding initiative administered by the Cary Art Daze Work Group in partnership with the Town of Cary. The program is dedicated to stimulating, supporting, and expanding arts and cultural programming that enriches life in Cary and the surrounding communities.
One of the primary goals of the Cary Art Daze Work Group is to reinvest festival proceeds back into the community by awarding grants to nonprofit organizations that create meaningful arts experiences for Cary residents. These grants are directed toward arts-based programs and projects that inspire creativity, foster connection, and strengthen Cary’s cultural arts landscape.
This year, the Work Group is proud to offer $40,000 in grant funding—generated from proceeds of the 32nd annual Spring Daze Arts & Crafts Festival and the 49th annual Lazy Daze Arts & Crafts Festival, both taking place in 2025.
Since its inception, the Festivals Committee has awarded more than $950,000 in grants to local nonprofit organizations, supporting a wide variety of creative endeavors and helping the arts continue to thrive in our community.
Grant Pool & Funding Amount
- In the current cycle, Cary has allocated $40,000 to distribute among eligible applicants.
- The grants are competitive, and awards are made based on the relative strength of proposals, alignment with program goals, and local impact.
- Individual grant awards will not exceed $5,000.
Eligibility Criteria
To be considered for funding through the Cary Art Daze program, applicants must meet these core eligibility requirements:
- Be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
- Propose art-based projects or programs with a clear arts or cultural focus.
- Be Cary-based (or serve Cary’s population) or operate in ways that provide demonstrable benefit to Cary residents.
- Project / Program must take place between Jan.1 - Dec. 31, 2026
Funding Priorities
When evaluating grant applications, priority is given in the following order:
- Cultural arts organizations or projects with a primary cultural arts focus.
- Projects that support Town of Cary initiatives (e.g. community goals, public engagement).
- Projects that support downtown Cary initiatives (e.g. activities located in or benefiting downtown area).
- Projects that are more about fundraising for school or booster club activities (PTA, etc.) are generally lower priority.
Application Timeline & Process
Applications are accepted once a year.
- October 15, 2025 | 2026 application opens online
- November 16, 2025 | Applications due
- December - The Cary Art Daze Workgroup reviews and gives final approval of grant awards.
- January - Award notifications are emailed to applicants.
Post-Award Requirements
Recipients must complete a Grant Report Form to document project outcomes, finances, and deliverables.
The report for the 2025 cycle is due by October 24, 2025.