WS native Elaina Barron always believed in the power of her poetry.
But without the means to move forward, turning her voice into a published work felt like a distant dream.
That all changed the day Barron earned an Artist Support Grant from Arts Council of Winston-Salem & Forsyth County, funded by the North Carolina Arts Council.
📚 Set up for success
Barron used part of the grant to purchase her first laptop, which helped her finalize “Ely B(e) Speakin’,” her debut poetry collection.
The funding also covered printing costs for the first 50 copies, which she brought to a national audience at the International Black Theatre Festival.
All 50 copies sold out, and the success of the project marked a turning point. Not just for Barron’s career, but for her confidence.
Her book has since been added to a university library collection, cementing a milestone she once only dreamed about.
📈 Grant applications reopen soon
Know any aspiring artists who could use a similar boost? The next round of Artist Support Grants opens soon, offering $500 to $2,000 in support funds to gifted artists groups in our area.
Whether they need new equipment, time to create, or financial support for a big idea, this grant could be the next artist’s turning point, too.
Explore the six types of artist funding here.
