Cary awards 22 grants to boost local arts programs

Cary announced 22 recipients of the 2026 Cary Art Daze Grants, directing municipal support to nonprofit arts organizations that provide community festivals, performances and ongoing arts education. The grants, rooted in the success of the town’s Lazy Daze and Spring Daze Arts & Crafts Festivals, aim to sustain creative programming that reaches residents across Wake County.

Recipients span cultural festivals, music ensembles, dance companies, youth programs and disability-focused initiatives. Funded groups include Asian Focus Corporation for Asia Fest; ATA-NC for the Children’s Day Festival of Cary; Cary Art Loop for Final Fridays; Cary Ballet Company; Cary Downtown Farmers Market for Music at the Market; Cary-Apex Youth Choir; Concert Singers of Cary; Esteamed Coffee for TeachAbility Art Nights; Fine Arts League of Cary; Friends of the Page Walker; GiGi’s Playhouse; Graceful Expressions Dance Company; Leela Foundation for Vaat; Lucy Daniels Center for Early Childhood; North Carolina Storytelling Guild; Northwest Cary and Taylor Family YMCA; Raleigh Camerata; The Carying Place; Triangle British Brass Band Ltd; Triangle Wind Ensemble; Triangle Youth Music and others.

Local impact will be visible in parks, market stages, cultural gatherings and classrooms. Grants help underwrite free and low-cost events that lower economic and geographic barriers to the arts, provide performance opportunities for young musicians and dancers, and support inclusive programming for people with disabilities and families with young children. By funding a range of partners, the town is bolstering neighborhood-level access to arts experiences that contribute to social connection, cultural expression and youth development.

From a public health and equity perspective, the awards reflect municipal investment in social infrastructure. Community arts programs can strengthen social cohesion, provide accessible outlets for creative expression and supplement mental well-being supports available in other parts of the county. For small nonprofit organizations, this funding stabilizes season planning, staffing and outreach efforts, helping keep events free or affordable for residents across income levels.

Cary’s continued support of arts programming follows a model that ties community festivals to year-round cultural offerings, keeping downtown and neighborhood venues active and welcoming. Residents seeking information about events, schedules or grant-funded programming can contact the town through carync.gov/311.

For Wake County residents, the grants mean more visible, diverse arts programming throughout the year, from market concerts and storytelling nights to youth ensembles and culturally specific festivals. Attend a Final Fridays event, stop by Music at the Market, or check local listings to see how the renewed investment in the arts shows up in your neighborhood.