Five North Carolina artists were recently awarded Artist Support Grants that were made possible through a partnership between the North Carolina Arts Council, Pocosin Arts, Beaufort County Arts Council, Dare Arts, Ocracoke Alive, Pettigrew Regional Libraries, and Martin County Arts Council.
A panel of artists, art professionals, and experts in various disciplines selected the five artists from a pool of applicants from Dare, Tyrrell, Washington, Martin, Beaufort, and Hyde Counties to receive artist support grants.
2025 Artist Support Grant Recipients:
Patch Clark of Washington, NC was awarded a grant to develop a collection of interactive scripts for young people titled Tales from Around the World, which will combine theatre and literature to promote cultural appreciation.
Carolina Coto of Kitty Hawk, NC was awarded a grant for travel expenses toward the Château d’Orquevaux’s Artist Residency in Champagne-Ardenne, France.
Emily Holmes of Kill Devil Hills, NC was awarded a grant to assist with the purchase of a glass fusing kiln, which will enable her to add painted glass elements into mixed-media pieces.
Lianne Merlos of Washington, NC was awarded a grant to bring dance programming to underserved students in Beaufort County.
Iryna Welch of Kill Devil Hills, NC was awarded a grant to upgrade her art materials (oil paints, wood panels, and linen canvases) for a 2025 exhibition.
Artist Carolina Coto was awarded a grant to support travel expenses for an artist residency in France, where she will have two uninterrupted weeks to solely focus on creative exploration.
“I found out that I was awarded the grant just before Christmas, and it was the most wonderful gift,” said Coto. “The Château d’Orquevaux, where the artist residency will take place, looks like something out of a fairytale. All our meals, lodging, and studio space are provided, so I’ll be able to focus entirely on painting and drawing inspiration from the experience. This dedicated time to create, without the distractions of daily life, is much needed after a busy summer and holiday season. My goal for this residency is to mentally reset, focus, play, and experiment creatively.”
Artist Lianne Merlos was awarded a grant to create and deliver a unique dance program that will introduce students to the arts, while supporting their mental, emotional and behavioral development.
“I am deeply honored to receive the Artist Support Grant,” said Merlos. “Upon learning the news, we immediately began working to implement the grant toward creating opportunities for underprivileged students in our county. Specifically, we’ve partnered with our local public schools to establish an in-house dance club that addresses common barriers—such as logistics and finances—that often prevent youth from participating in performing arts programs. The grant supports performing arts classes during school hours, teaching students various dance disciplines, teamwork, and confidence. It also funds our summer showcase, Retro Rewind, a tribute to the 1960s, giving students a platform to shine while celebrating the era’s cultural legacy. This grant has been instrumental in helping me, as an artist, to expand programming within our community and reach those who otherwise might not have access to such opportunities.”
Artist Support Grants is a program funded by the North Carolina Arts Council to provide the opportunity for regional consortia of local arts councils to award project grants to artists in their regions.
The 2025 Artist Support Grant application will be available online at DareArts.org/asg in the fall.
In 2025, Dare Arts is commemorating their 50th anniversary by celebrating their past, present, and future. Dare Arts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organization dedicated to encouraging the arts in Dare County through advocacy, enrichment and opportunity.
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