The WNC Craft Futures Cohort is a grant initiative by the Center for Craft aimed at supporting regional craft artists in Western North Carolina (WNC) affected by Hurricane Helene. This program will provide selected artists with a $10,000 grant, participation in a group exhibition at the Center for Craft, and a six-month cohort experience designed to rebuild their artistic practices and strengthen peer-to-peer networks through mutual aid. The initiative is part of the larger Craft Futures Fund, which also supports regional craft organizations’ recovery efforts through dedicated grants.

The grant focuses on three key goals: stabilizing and rebuilding the practices of impacted artists, enhancing community vitality through craft, and fostering connections between regional craft artists via collaborative learning and support networks. The program emphasizes recovery, resilience, and the significant role craft plays in enriching local communities.

Applications open on December 4, 2024, and close on January 13, 2025. An informational session will be held on December 20, 2024, at 2 PM ET to guide applicants through the process. Award notifications will be issued in February 2025, with public announcements and the grant period beginning in March 2025. The grant concludes in August 2025, followed by an evaluation period in October 2025. Interested artists can apply online, download the grant kit, and sign up for the info session through the Center for Craft's website.

Eligible applicants include craft artists based in WNC whose practices have been significantly impacted by Hurricane Helene. The program encourages artists to detail how the grant will support their recovery and contribute to their communities. Selected artists will engage in a cohort that provides opportunities for mutual learning and community engagement while exhibiting their work as part of the program.

The initiative is made possible by over $1 million in contributions from individual donors and foundations, including the Windgate Foundation, The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina, and others. These funds have been raised to deliver critical resources to affected artists, underscoring the community’s commitment to the craft’s cultural and economic impact.

For more information, prospective applicants can contact the Center for Craft, review the detailed grant kit, or attend the info session. The program highlights the Center's mission to activate resources, catalyze craft communities, and amplify craft’s role in cultural and economic resilience.