ORLANDO, Fla. – March 30, 2023— United Arts of Central Florida (United Arts) announced the return of a grant program to intentionally support professional artists in our community and lead towards a stronger local arts ecology. The Individual Artist Grant Program will provide up to $5,000 for artistdriven projects that have a public benefit and will enrich the community of Central Florida by advancing artistic excellence and increasing access to innovative and diverse arts experiences.
“United Arts is committed to making intentional investments into the growth and stability of artists and the local arts ecology,” said Jennifer Evins, president and CEO of United Arts. “We are so grateful for the National Endowment for the Arts and Verizon for helping United Arts bring this vital opportunity back to our community.”
The vision of United Arts is to increase access to the arts for all people of Central Florida. To achieve this vision, United Arts has set strategic goals to grow its grants and outreach programs to be more inclusive, equitable, impactful and sustainable. The Individual Artist Grant Program is designed to support activities that further the careers of emerging and established artists to help them grow and thrive in Lake, Orange, Osceola, and Seminole counties.
“The first grant I ever received was an individual artist grant from United Arts in 2012,” said Cole NeSmith, founder and artistic director of Creative City Project. “I’m thrilled that they’re bringing this opportunity back to our community.”
United Arts announced the return of this program on March 28 at Crealdé School of Art in the Showalter Hughes Community Gallery to over 40 artists and community leaders.
“It was vital that this grant was brought back to our community,” said Peter Schreyer, CEO and executive director of Crealdé School of Art, on Tuesday at the announcement. “I’ve spoken many times with Jennifer Evins about how induvial artists are the backbone of our community, and investing in them is investing in us.”
To be considered for the Individual Artist Grant Program, applicants must be artists with a professional practice in literary, media technology, visual and performing arts. In addition, they must be located and serving communities in Lake, Orange, Osceola or Seminole counties. Submitted applications will be reviewed by United Arts staff for completeness and eligibility before going through a volunteer panel review process. The Individual Artist Grant Program is funded in part by the National Endowment for the Arts, Verizon and United Arts.
United Arts uses a volunteer, participatory panel process to score application competitiveness, appropriateness and impact, resulting in funding recommendations that will support artists and projects that are relevant and approachable to communities throughout Central Florida. Panelists are vital to the integrity of the grant review process. They bring their expertise of their community, the arts (including history and science), and creative entrepreneurship to evaluate each application.
Artists can learn more at https://unitedarts.cc/grantee-resources/grants-2/.
About United Arts of Central Florida
United Arts of Central Florida is the local arts agency uniting the community and fueling the arts. With the help of individual donors, corporations, foundations and public funding, United Arts inspires creativity, builds community and strengthens the economy in Central Florida. United Arts is proud to facilitate arts education programs for all ages and provide critical funding and comprehensive marketing for local art, science, and history organizations and individual artists.
For more information, visit http://www.UnitedArts.cc or call 407.628.0333.