Eleven artists from Region 18 (Clay, Cherokee, Graham, Jackson, Macon and Swain counties) received a total of $10,071 in funding from the NC Arts Council. 

The grants were administered through the Cowee School Arts & Heritage Center in Franklin. The Artist Support Grants were created to provide direct support to individual artists during and following the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The initiative will fund professional and artistic development for emerging and established artists to enhance their skills and abilities to create work or to improve their business operations and capacity to bring their work to new audiences.

In addition to the funding provided by the NC Arts Council, several matching grants were given by local arts councils and organizations. Jackson County Arts Council granted an additional $1,000, Clay County Arts Council granted $600, and the Cowee School Arts and Heritage Center granted $600.

Leaders of local arts organizations served on an advisory committee as well, overseeing the process in their own counties and working with Cowee School. Lena Woods (Jackson County), David Vowell (Cherokee County), Reba Beck (Clay County), Beth Fields (Graham County) and Rachel Lackey (Swain County) served on the advisory committee.

In order to apply for this grant, artists eligible represented either visual, craft, performing, traditional or interdisciplinary art forms. Each of the 11 recipients received full project funding, in amounts ranging from $571 to $1,000 per artist.

Here are the 2020-21 grant recipients, along with their artistic discipline and county of residence:

• Allyson Gernandt, Jewelry, Swain County

• Ann Woodford, Painting, Cherokee County

• Annette Clapsaddle, Writing, Jackson County

• Betty Maney, Basket Weaving, Jackson County

• Deborah Bryant, Textiles, Jackson County

• Eric Reagan, Sculpture, Swain County

• Kathleen Marshall, Textiles, Macon County

• Lindsey Liden, Woodworking, Cherokee County

• Mary Thompson, Basket Weaving, Jackson County

• Tom McMillan, Woodworking, Jackson County

• Zan Barnes, Pottery, Jackson County

For additional information, contact Cowee School Arts & Heritage Center at 828.369.4080 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..