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GREENSBORO — Arts organizations felt the uncertainty.

They knew that it was a tough time for the United Arts Council of Greater Greensboro to raise money to help support their work.

They also knew that the arts council had retooled grant criteria to make more artists and groups eligible. For 13 to 15 nonprofits that were longtime recipients, money that had been theirs was not guaranteed.

Still, some were surprised and disappointed when the council announced its annual grants late last month.

Greensboro Opera had asked for $60,000. It received nothing.

“I didn’t think we would get it all, but thought we would get a portion,” executive director Barbara Peters said. “I don’t think that any of us were prepared for nothing.”

Prompted in part by the loss of that grant, Greensboro Opera will present only one performance of its major November production, Verdi’s “La Traviata,” instead of the usual two. By canceling one show and reducing scenery and costume costs, it will save $100,000.

Nineteen other organizations and artists had more success: The arts council divided $629,500 among them for the fiscal year that began July 1.

Some, such as N.C. A&T’s visual and performing arts department, earned a grant for the first time. It secured $14,250 to teach African music and dance to local children.

Recipients were grateful, especially in a sagging economy that has forced many arts groups to cut budgets.

“We are tickled to death,” said Casey Hazelman of the Piedmont Blues Preservation Society, which received $4,250 to bring a national blues artist to schools for teacher workshops and shows.

But no one got all they asked for. Among longtime recipients, only two — the African American Atelier and the Center for Visual Artists — received more than last year.

Other recipients say they will have to find money to supplement grants or figure out how to make their projects happen with less.

And like Greensboro Opera, three other longtime recipients — Bel Canto Company choral ensemble, Music for a Great Space concert series and the N.C. Dance Project — got nothing.

They had valued the grants for the stable operational support they provided when ticket sales, other grants and donations fluctuated.

Those groups, although chagrined, say they will survive.

“It is hard to be excluded from something you have been part of for so long,” said Jan Van Dyke, executive director of the Dance Project.

Jeanie Duncan, arts council president and CEO, said re-engineering the grant process wasn’t easy.

But this was the right change to make, she said, even when its most recent United Arts Fund drive fell 10 percent short of its $1.6 million goal and had less to give out.

By helping more organizations, the council also hopes to attract more arts participants and donors.

As the council made choices, it kept a mission in mind: “We take in public funding and funding from individuals, corporations and foundations,” Duncan said. “How can we best and most wisely invest those precious resources to better serve the people of Greensboro?

For guidance, the council turned to the community, gathering opinions from about 2,000 people through surveys and discussion groups. Three priorities emerged: education, diversity and positioning Greensboro as a nationally recognized arts destination, Duncan said.

Respondents believe, Duncan said, “One of the most important things we can do is educate young people through the arts.”

Arts organizations also said they struggled to attract African Americans, Latinos/Hispanics and young adults. In forums, groups told the council that they participate in the arts in churches, schools, neighborhoods and alternative venues.

“Some said they go to a coffee shop and someone starts reading poetry or playing music,” Duncan said.

“We thought we had a communication problem — that there is plenty here and people don’t know about it. We do have that, but we also found that we had challenges with the product offering. It has to appeal to a range of interests to be a draw.”

So, the arts council changed criteria for its main grant program, now called Cultural Partner Grant Investments.

No longer would it base allocations on past grants. It would expand the applicant pool to any local nonprofit group, school, church or artist. It would choose those whose work best advanced one or more of the three priorities.

Among 39 applicants, a panel of council board members chose 19. Then came the challenge of dividing the money.

As the panel made decisions, panel co-chairman Mike Phillips said, “We tried to give a meaningful investment to help them achieve what they set out to achieve in whatever focus area they would have the greatest impact.”

Last year’s recipients still received 85 percent of the money.

Several said they support opening the pool to more artists and organizations.

“Many groups are in the same situation that Community Theatre of Greensboro was in 60 years ago, wanting an opportunity to perform their craft and a venue to perform it in,” said Mitchel Sommers, the group’s executive director. “Everyone needs a benefactor and an opportunity.”

But Sommers and Adrienne Blocker, president of the Community Theatre board, take issue with nearly half of the money going to three groups: the Eastern Music Festival, Greensboro Symphony Orchestra and Triad Stage. Community Theatre received $38,000, 35 percent less than last year.

“Shouldn’t there be as much support for organizations that actively involve our community in the arts versus those that are professional?” Sommers said.

Although the grant rewarded Community Theatre’s efforts to serve a diverse community, Blocker said, “I don’t feel they recognized our dedication to education of children” in camps, classes and schools.

Community Theater and Greensboro Opera are among applicants voicing concerns to Duncan and council members.

In 2008, the opera lost its council funding because it submitted its application a day late. It had hoped to be reinstated this year.

Duncan said the council will refine the grants process if needed. Now, though, she looks forward to seeing grants used to create great art.

“We can’t wait to see our investments at work,” Duncan said.

Contact Dawn DeCwikiel-Kane at 373-5204 or dawn.kane@news-record.com