Individual Artist Grants

About the Program

Individual Artist Awards provide competitive funding to practicing, professional artists, historians, scientists, and creative professionals across all disciplines in Central Florida. Up to 20 artists will receive a $5,000 award to advance their creative practice, with up to $100,000 in total direct funding distributed throughout Lake, Orange, Osceola, and Seminole counties. Awards are competitive; not all applications may be funded. Only one application per individual will be accepted. Applicants will apply for either a specific project OR to acquire supplies/professional development, but not both.

Eligibility

• Professional working artist living and working in Lake, Orange, Osceola, or Seminole counties
• Must plan to reside in one of these counties throughout the project period (July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027)
• Proof of residency required to receive payment
• U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident with the right to work in the United States
• Must be 18 years or older at the time of application
• Must not be a United Arts employee or board member
• Must not be pursuing an undergraduate degree in the same field during the project period
• Non-professionals and nonprofit organizations are ineligible

Maximum Award & Allowable Expenses

• Maximum request: $5,000
• Artists' fees (paying yourself or collaborative artists)
• Materials & supplies (equipment purchases and/or rentals)
• Presentations & documentation (slides, discs, catalogs, demos, manuscripts, marketing materials)
• Facility rentals
• Trainings, workshops, & classes (education directly related to your arts practice or arts business growth

Key Dates

• Application opens: March 11, 2026
• Information webinar: Monday, March 23, 2026, 10 am – 11:30 am
• Application deadline: Sunday, April 19, 2026 @ 11:59 pm
• Last day for staff courtesy review: Monday, April 13, 2026 @ 5:00 pm
• Last day for staff questions: Thursday, April 16, 2026 @ 3:00 pm
• Award review panels: May 15, 18, 19, and 20, 2026
• Board approval: Mid-June 2026
• Notification of award: Mid/Late-June 2026
• Funding period: July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027

Environmental Sustainability Focus (Optional)

Duke Energy, as one of the funders, is interested in funding projects that promote, raise awareness of, or address environmental sustainability challenges. Artists with such a practice or project in mind are encouraged to apply. This is not a requirement to apply; projects with other focuses are still eligible for funding.

Payment & Reporting

All awardees are considered independent contractors and will receive a 1099 form. Funded artists will receive 90% of the award upon signing an award agreement, and the final 10% upon successful completion of the final impact report. A W-9 form must be filed before award payments can be made. Final reports are due within 30 days after project completion.

Requirements During Grant Period

Funded artists must acknowledge the award in all project publicity and materials with the United Arts logo and statement: 'This project is funded in part by United Arts of Central Florida, your local agency for the arts.' Significant project or budget changes must be requested in advance; changes may require a return of grant funds. Contact [email protected] with questions. All contact and project information will be made available to the press, and United Arts may use quotes or pictures from applications in publicity.

Contact Information

• Cameron Robinson: [email protected] or 407-504-0684 (questions before April 16, 2026)
• Elyse Jardine: [email protected] or 407-790-7844 (questions after April 16, 2026)
• Outreach: [email protected]