Six North Carolina artists were recently awarded Artist Support Grants that were made possible through a partnership between the North Carolina Arts Council, Pocosin Arts, Arts of the Pamlico, 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 six artists from a pool of applicants from Dare, Tyrrell, Washington, Martin, Beaufort, and Hyde Counties to receive Artist Support Grants.

2024 Artist Support Grant Recipients:

- Patrick Berran of Kill Devil Hills, NC for framing materials and travel expenses for his 2024 solo exhibition at CHAPTER NY in New York City
- Amber Roth of Frisco, NC for an indoor dust box and versatile power tools for carving quahog shells
- Heather Summers of Washington, NC for a Shimpo Whisper pottery wheel
- Iana Volotovskaia of Ocracoke, NC for a Shimpo Slab Roller, a set of plaster molds, and a glaze spray gun
- Christina Lorena Weisner of Kill Devil Hills, NC for welding frames for two sculptures and a pair of VR goggles for an upcoming exhibition
- Taylor Williams of Southern Shores, NC for a Mabef Artist Easel M-02 Plus for large-scale paintings

Teacher and artist Heather Summers received an Artist Support Grant to purchase a pottery wheel so that she could improve the overall experience for students at her pottery learning center Mud In Motion, and create stronger pieces of her own.

“Receiving this grant has been an honor,” said Artist Support Grant recipient Heather Summers. “I have already purchased the pottery wheel and have seen a tremendous impact on my work as well as my abilities to teach and demonstrate to my pottery students. I am producing five times as much pottery now because of the quality of this new wheel, and every day I get so excited to be able to use it.”

To overcome physical complications from her disability that make creating art difficult, Amber Roth received an Artist Support Grant for tools that will make carving easier and more accessible.

“I was both stunned and exceptionally grateful when I received the congratulations call,” said Artist Support Grant recipient Amber Roth. “I'm an artist with indigenous heritage and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome who enjoys carving local quahog shells into feathers. Unfortunately, my hands are significantly impacted by my disorder and working outside for necessary safety can also present health challenges. The grant is allowing me to purchase power tools so I can continue the work that is important to my heritage as well as a dust box so I can safely do my work inside. It has renewed my hope that I can continue doing what makes my soul sing despite my disability.”

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 2024 Artist Support Grant application will be available online at DareArts.org/asg in the fall.

Dare Arts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organization dedicated to encouraging the arts in Dare County through advocacy, enrichment and opportunity.