Apply through July 26 for up to $2,000 for equipment or education in 2025
The economic benefits of the arts industry in Hillsborough County are well-documented, topping $387 million in 2022, when the most recent Arts & Economic Prosperity study was conducted. Professional local artists help nurture this vibrant, creative community. The Arts Council of Hillsborough County's Professional Development for Artists (PDA) Grant Program seeks to support these emerging or established artists by providing reimbursement grants of up to $2,000 for attendance at a professional development experience or to purchase equipment that is pivotal to the advancement of the artist's career.
Grant funding case study: Nneka Jones
Nneka Jones, 2023 grantee, used her PDA grant funding to purchase a laptop that was critical for her success.
"For me to have that grant, it allowed me to not only focus on my work but ensure that I have the right equipment. I was able to purchase a laptop. That helps me to project my designs when I'm doing large-scale murals, to write business contracts, [and to] help me manage my website."
Trinidad and Tobago-born Jones, a 2020 University of Tampa graduate, has been an artist on a serious rise even before finishing college, winning the Emerging Artist award at Gasparilla Festival of the Arts in 2019. Jones has been particularly busy over the past few years, designing the cover of a 2020 special edition of TIME Magazine titled "The New American Revolution," creating fiber art for Disney Marvel Studios' streaming release of "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" in 2022, and taking part in her first international exhibit, "Cut from the Same Cloth," in London this past October.
The fine print
Applications for the 2025 funding period are now being accepted until 5 PM, Friday, July 26, 2024.
Funded projects must take place between Jan. 1, 2025, and Aug. 15, 2025. All eligible applications will be reviewed and scored by the Arts Council Advisory Board members, with grants awarded beginning with the highest scoring application until annual program funding runs out.
Full grant program details, application instructions, and deadlines can be found at HillsboroughArts.org/Artist-Grants.
The Arts Council of Hillsborough County provides a unified voice for all cultural organizations and activities in the Tampa and Hillsborough County region. The Arts Council promotes news about the cultural vitality of the community while providing grants, unified marketing efforts, research, and advocacy to help the cultural community thrive.