United Arts Grants Osceola County Cultural Facilities & Venues

Please read the full grant program guidelines!

Program Overview

The Osceola County Cultural Facilities Grant Program supports capital investments that strengthen Osceola County's cultural infrastructure, enhance visitor experiences, increase public access to eligible cultural facilities, and generate measurable impact for Osceola County residents and visitors.

Funding is intended to support repair, renovation, construction, and equipping projects at eligible cultural facilities located in Osceola County. Projects should help preserve, improve, expand, or equip facilities that provide arts, culture, heritage, and visitor-serving experiences open to the general public.

Funding is provided through Tourist Development Tax revenues and is intended to support eligible facilities that contribute to Osceola County's cultural tourism economy, visitor experience, and quality of life.

Funding Information

Applicants may request funding for one eligible cultural facilities project. The requested project should be clearly defined, achievable within the project period, and directly related to an eligible facility located in Osceola County.

Eligible Project Types

Applicants must apply under one of the following project categories. The proposed project should be a single, clearly defined project. Related project components may be included when they are integrated into the same overall project scope.

Eligible Applicants

• Be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in good standing with the IRS, Florida Department of State (Sunbiz), Osceola County and United Arts.
• Operate eligible cultural programming, services, or facilities within Osceola County for at least 2 years prior to applying.
• Have a minimum two-year operating history.
• Be current on all required grant reporting and contractual obligations, if previously funded.
• Demonstrate organizational and financial capacity to manage the proposed project.
• Submit a complete application and all required attachments by the published deadline.
• Including the 990s for the two most recently completed fiscal years.

Facility Eligibility

Projects must occur at eligible facilities located within Osceola County. Facilities must be open to the general public and must support cultural, heritage, or visitor-serving experiences consistent with applicable Tourist Development Tax requirements.

Eligible facilities may include:

• Publicly owned or nonprofit-operated museums open to the general public.
• Publicly owned or nonprofit-operated auditoriums open to the general public.
• Performing arts venues that meet applicable eligibility requirements and are open to the general public.
• Historic cultural facilities open to the general public.
• Other eligible cultural or natural attractions that meet applicable Tourist Development Tax requirements.

Arts education facilities are not eligible unless the facility otherwise meets the applicable definition of an eligible cultural facility and is open to the general public.

Site Control

Applicants must demonstrate legal control of the facility where the project will occur.

Owned Facilities

• Applicants must provide documentation demonstrating ownership of the facility.

Leased Facilities

• Applicants must provide a copy of the current lease agreement.
• Applicants must provide a letter from the property owner supporting the proposed project and acknowledging the proposed use of grant funds at the facility.
• Applicants may be required to demonstrate that the lease term is sufficient for the useful life and public benefit of the proposed investment.

Project Period

• All project work must occur during the approved project period.
• Grant funds may only be used for approved project expenses incurred after execution of the grant agreement.
• Projects must be completed within the timeframe established by the grant agreement (August 2028).
• Expenses incurred before execution of the grant agreement are not eligible for reimbursement or payment.

Eligible Expenses

Eligible expenses must be directly related to the approved project and necessary to complete the repair, renovation, construction, or equipping of the eligible facility.

• Construction labor and materials directly related to the approved project.
• Repair or replacement of facility systems, including roofing, HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and fire suppression systems.
• ADA accessibility improvements and code compliance improvements.
• Permanent or facility-related furniture, fixture and equipment directly tied to the cultural facility and approved project.
• Design, engineering, permitting, and related soft costs when directly required for the approved project.
• Project-specific professional services, contractor services, vendor services, and installation costs.

Ineligible Projects and Expenses

• Acquisition of land.
• Acquisition of buildings.
• Debt service, mortgage payments, past due debts, fines, penalties, or interest.
• Organizational operating deficits.
• Fundraising expenses.
• Lobbying activities.
• Food and beverage expenses, including alcohol.
• General administrative expenses unrelated to the facility project.
• General office furniture, office equipment, or administrative technology not directly related to the approved facility project.
• Routine operational expenses unrelated to the approved facility project.
• Expenses incurred prior to execution of the grant agreement.
• Projects located outside Osceola County.
• Projects that restrict access to members only or are not open to the general public.