The Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville, in partnership with the City of Jacksonville, recently announced a historic new grant program aimed to serve local individual working artists in Duval County. “The Artist Grant Program: Operational Grants for Individual Artists” is city-funded through the Cultural Council and a first of its kind in Jacksonville.
The establishment of the new Artist Grant Program, leverages the Cultural Council’s extensive 30+ year partnership with the city, as well as its extensive knowledge of the cultural sector. This investment significantly expands the Cultural Council’s grant-making scope and fiduciary stewardship within our city, aiming to enrich the creative sector and provide an economic ripple effect to all residents and businesses in Jacksonville. The Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville currently manages the Cultural Service Grant Program that provides the city approximately $114 million in creative economic impact.
The Artist Grant Program was developed in collaboration with one of the Mayor’s Transition Committees, the Arts, Culture, and Entertainment Committee, and the City of Jacksonville. The inaugural program aims to invigorate and support the artist sector in Duval County, and establish a framework that enhances the local economy and makes our city the best place to live and thrive for Northeast regional artists.
Sixty grants of $10,000 will be awarded in the pilot program’s inaugural year, totaling $600,000 in direct grants for artists across multiple disciplines. A review panel, as outlined in the legislation, will comprise two professional artists, two community members, two Cultural Council board members and a chair, who all have a deep knowledge of artistry, government compliance, fiscal responsibility and city grants. The panel will evaluate all applications and the Cultural Council will announce the grant awards by the end of 2024.
The program is designed to assist practicing, professional artists in any medium or discipline residing in Duval County, and also includes creative entrepreneurs and cultural workers who work directly, primarily and to the benefit of individual artists such as curators, producers, and presenters. In addition to the artist grants, the pilot program will include workshops to educate artists about the grant writing process. Grantees will also receive coaching and professional development training through September 30, 2025.
Applications will open on July 29 and close August 30, 2024. For more information on the Artist Grant Program, visit culturalcouncil.org/artistgrant.
