The Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville, in partnership with the City of Jacksonville, recently announced a new grant program 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-plus 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 the 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.
“Arts and culture has been a priority to my administration since the get-go,” said Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan. “It's no secret that Jacksonville is brimming with talent and creativity, so we are excited to be able to further support our artists, who truly exemplify the creative heart and soul of our city. Through this new program, Jacksonville-based creatives will have an even greater support system to help them to develop and showcase their talents, build a larger audience and succeed financially. And ultimately, I hope that it will encourage them to stay here and continue to share their talents with us.”
“As champions for Jacksonville’s creative sector and vibrant cultural landscape, we believe in the transformative power of arts and culture, mutually enhancing economic growth and quality of life for our city,” said Diana Donovan, executive director of the Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville. “As we leveraged national best practices, we anticipate this program will ignite Duval County’s creative economy, while trailblazing Jacksonville as a city that acquires and retains creative talent through professional development and intentional capacity building. The Artist Grant Program will ensure that Jacksonville becomes the place for talented creatives to live, work, play and stay.”
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 Sept. 30, 2025.
Applications will open Monday, July 29, and close Aug. 30. For more information on the Artist Grant Program, go to culturalcouncil.org/artistgrant.
