The Xpand Your Vision (XYV) grant provides financial support to committed, gifted, individual artists and small unincorporated groups of collaborating artists. The grant is awarded to projects that have artistic merit and promise to enhance underserved communities in access and exposure to art. The grant is open to emerging and established artists as well as organizations and nonprofits.

Each member or organization must meet the eligibility requirements and shall not circumvent these requirements

The XYVG Grant will fund: 

Program Enhancements [cost of purchasing materials or services to increase awareness, or reach]

Equipment [the cost of purchasing equipment to implement the project]

Operations [staff pay/training, advanced study, coaching, or workshops that will enhance the programs services]

Grants may NOT be used for scholarships to assist in obtaining degrees, either academic or professional.

The XYVG is designed to award projects that will advance the individual or organizations creative program in demonstrable ways. The relationship of the project to the community advancement of the proposed project must be clearly defined in the “Narrative” section of the application.

Applications may be individual artists small groups of collaborating artists or incorporated arts organizations

Applicants may be either emerging/established artists and should possess a strong record of artistic accomplishment appropriate to the stage of the applicant’s career OR an incorporated arts organization with a strong record of creative program accomplishment

The applicant must be a resident or established business of Buncombe or surrounding WNC Counties and have resided there twelve months or from August, 2017.

Applicant may not be a board or staff member of the sponsoring entity. In addition, the applicant may not be a spouse, family member, or significant other of a board or staff member of the sponsoring entity.

Individual Applicants must be 18 years of age

XYVG recipients who were awarded the grant during the last two grant cycles are not eligible

A volunteer panel will evaluate applications based upon the following criteria:

Feasibility and realistic budget