ORLANDO – July 1, 2021 – United Arts of Central Florida has opened the application process for the 2022 Operating Support Grants. The deadline is 5 p.m. Thursday, August 5, 2021, for 2022 funding
Operating support is essential funding for arts and cultural nonprofits, which helps “keep the lights on” by funding a portion of their entire season of operations and programming. This comprehensive grant program recognizes the high value of arts and culture for our region and the established institutions that provide cultural programming for the public year‐round. These grants are supported by gifts to United Arts – Arts for ALL Fund.
“Since its inception in 1989, United Arts has invested more than $162 million in the growth and development of Central Florida nonprofit cultural groups,” said President & CEO Jennifer Evins. “This highly competitive grant process ensures that Central Florida residents and visitors have access to intriguing, inclusive, and creative programming from cultural institutions.”
The value of these grants is clear: In 2021, United Arts’ Operating Support Grants helped 34 arts organizations mount 2,954 exhibitions and productions, provide arts access and arts education to 359,574 students, offer 1,086,901 free tickets, and attract 1,808,429 visits. These grants support 367 full-time and 281 part-time staff positions, as well as 8,439 artists. Last year United Arts of Central Florida awarded $2,288,000 in Operating Support Grants.
The grant review process is based on a 100-point evaluation system covering Artistic or Historic/Scientific Merit (43%), Management & Fiscal Responsibility (36%), and Outreach & Education (21%). In recent years, the evaluation of the grant application added diversity, equity and inclusion. United Arts has provided extensive education for cultural groups in how to engage the diverse community of Central Florida through programming, target marketing and inclusion in decision-making. Many grantee organizations have made significant outreach to diverse audiences in the past few years and are expanding the diversity of their boards of directors and advisory councils to make the arts more equitable.
The maximum request for this cycle is 5%, as a percentage of the organization’s three‐year average operating cash revenue; this percentage will be recalibrated each year based on fundraising forecasts. New applicants must first send three years of financial statements and programming history to Grants & Arts Education Coordinator Ivan Quintero, Ivan@UnitedArts.cc, for eligibility.
A large cross-section of the cultural community participates in the grant review panels in late October and November to determine the scores, on which the awards are determined by staff, and approved by the United Arts Board in December 2021. Grants cover cultural programs from January 1 through December 31, 2022. The Operating Support Grant program is one of more than six United Arts funding programs, including designated giving secured through the Collaborative Campaign for the Arts; match dollars provided by United Arts’ Trustees and corporate donors; and contracts for services supporting educational programming.
Please visit www.UnitedArts.cc/Grants for more information and the complete application guidelines and requirements.
About United Arts of Central Florida
United Arts is a collaboration of individuals, businesses, governments and school districts, foundations, arts and cultural organizations, and artists. Its mission is to enrich communities by investing in arts, science and history. United Arts serves residents and visitors in Lake, Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties through the more than 60 local arts, science and history organizations it supports. It does this by providing direct support through grants and contracts for services, collaborative fundraising, arts education opportunities, advocacy, and technical and administrative assistance. Since 1989, United Arts has invested more than $162 million in Central Florida’s arts and culture.
For more information, visit http://www.UnitedArts.cc or call 407.628.0333.
