(ASEF) Greensboro Venue Access Support Grant

The Arts Council of Greater Greensboro, in partnership with The Steven Tanger Center for the Performing Arts Oak View Group and the City of Greensboro, is proud to offer the Greensboro Venue Access Grant. This grant is designed to support performance-based organizations that deliver high-quality, inclusive, and artistically vibrant experiences reflective of our community’s rich diversity and creativity. By directly offsetting venue-related expenses, this funding enables organizations to allocate more resources toward artistic excellence, fair artist compensation, technical production, community outreach, and audience engagement. Through this support, the grant aims to strengthen the viability, growth, and long-term sustainability of creative projects that enrich the cultural landscape of Greensboro.

 Eligible Organizations: 

• Greensboro Nonprofit (501-c3) Arts organizations that have been in existence for at least three years are eligible to apply.
•  Organizations must have filed all required paperwork with the NC Secretary of State. 
•  Organizations must reside in and carry out programming within the city of Greensboro. 

What the Venue Access Grant Funds: Only the cost of the venue. This includes rental fees for spaces used for performances. 

Priorities for funding:

• Funding will be provided to organizations that have proven track record producing performance programs for the public.  
• Provide a realistic estimate of anticipated audience size.  
• Explain clearly why the venue is necessary and how it supports the growth of your programming. 
• Show how your past performances support the need for a larger or different venue.  
• Provide data success stories to show growth over time. 

Funding Timeline: Deadline for Fall Application October 31, 2025 - Funding for venues February to July 2026 

 Spring Application (April 1 to May 31, 2026) -Funding for venues August to January  

Marketing: Performances supported by the Venue Access Grant must be listed on The ACGG Events Calendar, and acknowledge The Arts Council of Greater Greensboro on all promotional materials. A marketing packet will be provided after funding is approved with all guidelines. 

Data Collection: The ACGG will provide a Data Survey Tool which can be completed at your event either digitally (via QR code) or as a physical copy.  The information collected from the survey will be provided to you free of charge within 30 days from the date of the event. 

Evaluation: When applying for the Venue Access Grant, your proposal will be evaluated based on the following key criteria:

1. Readiness Demonstrates a proven track record of successful artistic programming. Has a pending venue identified for the proposed event or project.
2. Artistic Clarity and Vision  Programming is clearly aligned with your organization’s mission. Exhibits define creative and artistic goals with strong conceptual coherence.
3. Community Impact and Public Benefit Meaningfully engages the local community.  Expands access to the arts through outreach, inclusion, or audience development strategies.
4. Marketing and Audience Development  Presents realistic and appropriate marketing strategies for the project’s scope.  Demonstrates planning for audience engagement and attendance.
5. Financial Stability and Fiscal Responsibility  Includes a clear, balanced, and realistic budget.  Shows how the venue grant specifically supports the program's success and sustainability. Is a non-profit in good standing. 
6. Organizational Capacity   Evidence that your organization has the staff, systems, and structures to effectively carry out the project.
7. Equity and Inclusion  Organization reflects a commitment to access, equity, and inclusive community engagement in both programming and operations.
8. Alignment and Goals  The proposed project aligns with the Arts Council of Greater Greensboro’s mission and the goals of the Venue Access Grant Program. The program has strong artistic merit and contributes to the vibrancy and diversity of Greensboro arts ecosystem.

External review committee will review and score using the following rating system. Committee members are given the opportunity to discuss applications, share thoughts and can provide written recommendations. The ranking process utilizes a scale of 20-100. The ACGG’s Board of Directors review all panel scores and recommendations prior to final awards. 

Example: If the applicant’s score is outstanding on all counts, they will receive a score of 100. The 100-point score is equivalent to the following: (100 Outstanding, 80 Very Good, 60 Good, 40 Fair, 20 Poor.) Scores must receive a rating of 80 or above to be eligible for funding. 

 Reporting:  A final report providing a detailed description of the funded project, participation statistics and demographics, sample marketing, and program materials using The ACGG logo, will be required by no later than 60 days following the performance. Applicants failing to provide final reports will not be eligible for future funding from The ACGG.