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United Arts Grants Cultural Tourism (CT) Funding

About the Grant

Orange County Arts & Cultural Affairs' Mission: To elevate Central Florida’s arts and culture to that befitting a diverse, world-class community.

Objectives:

  • Enhance the Orlando area’s arts and cultural identity
  • Present quality arts and cultural experiences
  • Promote tourism

United Arts of Central Florida facilitates the Orange County Cultural Tourism Funding program.

Eligibility Requirements:

Any arts and cultural organization that meets every one of the following eligibility requirements:

  1. Cultural nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation registered and in good standing with the State of Florida and IRS, OR, an American Alliance of Museums (AAM)-accredited museum that meets all other requirements the same as a 501(c)(3); AND current with any open Orange County grants.
  2. Completed minimum of one year of providing cultural programming in Orange County that attracts tourists.
  3. Produce in ORANGE COUNTY the arts and culture event for which you are applying that is accessible and promoted to the general public. The project occurs within the Project Period of Nov. 1, 2024 to Feb 28, 2026, with actual event(s) that occurs between January 1 to December 31, 2025.
  4. The arts and culture activities proposed are not a supplementary event at a non-arts conference, professional meeting, reunion or other similar gathering.
  5. Market this project to potential visitors beyond the immediate four-county area of Orange, Osceola, Lake and Seminole counties.
  6.  Show community support in donations specifically for this project that match the request amount at least dollar-for-dollar.
  7. Attend a FY25 Cultural Tourism Funding workshop – mandatory for first-time applicants and applicants that have not been awarded in the previous cycle.
  8. All applicants must have a checking account with a licensed financial institution.
  9. All applicants must prepare at least quarterly financial statements (Balance Sheet and Profit & Loss Statement), also called Statement of Financial Position and Statement of Activities, that are reviewed and approved by the board (either signed statements or shown in board minutes to have been approved); within 9 months of fiscal year-end. The level of financial statements required (self-reported, to reviewed financials, to audited financial statements) and the maximum amount of the request is based on prior year revenue, as reported on the IRS Form 990.
  10. Have a current profile on the Central Florida Foundation Nonprofit Search website, bearing the “Reviewed” stamp, and accessible (enter URL for profile on grant request) by the application deadline (Optional for all applicants in the Small Requests category.)
  11. Complete the online application: forms, narrative questions and back up materials, as uploads or posted to profile.

 

Important Dates

The FY25 Cultural Tourism Funding application period is now open, for events that occur between January 1-December 31, 2025.

Application opens: May 31, 2024

How to Apply for FY25 Cultural Tourism Funding - workshop (on Zoom): Thurs, May 30, 2024, 9:30-11:15 a.m., Webinar was recorded and posted on this website (see Documents). First-time applicants are required to attend, or review the recording, and may also meet by appointment with Trudy Wild.

Application deadline: Sunday, July 14, 2024, by 11:59 p.m. EST

  • Staff question deadline Thursday, July 11, 2024, at 5 p.m.
  • Staff courtesy review of proposal - request deadline Sunday, July 7, at 11:59 p.m.

Applications submitted: See list of applications received (pre-staff review)

Cultural Tourism Review Panel meeting -- Thursday, September 19, 2024, 8a-4:30p (schedule pending); Location Holden Heights Community Center, 1201 20th Street, Orlando, FL 32805, in the Multipurpose Room. (At least one representative from each applicant organization must be present)

Advisory Council meeting – Wednesday, Sept 25, 2024, 8:30-10 a.m., Largo Training Room - IOC-1 450 E. South St., Orlando, FL 32801

Board of County Commissioners meeting: Final approval - Tuesday, October 29, 2024, 9:00 a.m. meeting start, Orange County Administration Center, 201 S Rosalind Ave, Orlando, FL 32801

For eligibility, applicant meetings by appointment only, or more information, contact Trudy@UnitedArtsCFL.org

 

Acknowledgments

Orange County Arts & Cultural Affairs "leaper" logo
Verbiage: “This project is funded in part by Orange County Government through the Arts & Cultural Affairs Program.”

FAQS

Can we use a portion of our United Arts General Operating Support for 2025 as part of our match?

No, that has historically not been an allowable match due to the fact that Orange County contributes significantly to the funding pool for United Arts' Operating Grants.

Project grants can apply as match if that funding is specifically for the same proposed item(s) in the Cultural Tourism Funding proposal.

Documents

FY25 Cultural Tourism Funding Program has launched.

WORKSHOP:

APPLICATION

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FY24 Cultural Tourism Funding Program - Resources to maintain grant 

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Agreement & Report Forms (for FY24 Cultural Tourism Funding):

Learn How to apply

This video guide on the right is designed to help grant holders manage their grants and clarifies our expectations and requirements. For more how-to videos, please go to our YouTube channel.

video guide to help grant holders manage their grants
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