Engaging the Private Sector in Statewide Arts Development.

As a charitable non-profit, the North Carolina Arts Foundation is a catalyst that enables individuals and organizations to learn about and support arts programs with proven public benefit. As North Carolina emerges from the pandemic, a top priority is to find resources for arts programs that help our youth succeed in school and in life.

Programs We Support

A+ Schools of North Carolina

A+ Schools of North Carolina believes that the arts are fundamental to teaching and learning. Schools in the A+ network develop a creative culture in which our state’s Standard Course of Study is taught through collaboration and multi-discipline integration, with the arts woven into every child's learning experience. Our foundation is building an endowment that will support the growth of A+ Schools across North Carolina.

Ben Folds: Keys for Kids

When acclaimed musician Ben Folds approached the North Carolina Arts Foundation about “giving back” to his home state, together we created Keys for Kids, which provides music lessons and keyboards to students who might not otherwise have access to these resources. Keys for Kids is now in its second year with partner sites in seven counties across the state.

Traditional Arts Program for Students (TAPS)

The Arts Foundation supports a rising generation of traditional musicians, dancers, and crafts artists in North Carolina by supporting folklife apprenticeships and afterschool programs. Traditional Arts Programs for Students (TAPS) employs local artists to teach traditional arts of their home communities.