Artist Access Grants Program

The Artist Access Grant Program is a local funding initiative sponsored by the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with FUNDarte. Its primary mission is to assist professional artists residing in Miami-Dade County in pursuing non-credit, artistic professional development opportunities that will directly impact and advance their careers. The program is structured around three seasonal funding periods—Fall/Winter, Spring, and Summer—allowing for multiple application cycles annually. Artists are eligible to receive funding once per fiscal year, and must observe a one-year waiting period before applying again if awarded. The program targets practicing professional artists working in any medium or discipline. Eligible applicants must be 18 years or older, legal full-time residents of Miami-Dade County for at least one year prior to applying, and not enrolled in high school or college. Eligible opportunities include in-person or virtual artistic workshops, artist residencies, technique classes with master artists, conferences, and teaching or leadership training programs. Funding can be used for associated expenses such as registration fees, travel, lodging, per diem, materials, and required specialized equipment. Proposals involving travel-related creative research are also considered if the applicant provides sufficient evidence of research goals, scope, collaborators, and outcomes. Project-based opportunities—such as public performances or exhibitions—are specifically excluded from funding, along with professional certifications, academic degree programs, student-presented opportunities, touring engagements, studio rentals, and unrelated equipment purchases. Applications involving these disallowed uses will be disqualified without panel review. The application process is conducted through the SurveyMonkey Apply portal accessed via the Department’s official website. Required submission materials include an artist’s CV and bio, project budget, work samples, proof of residency, and documents verifying the development opportunity (e.g., letters of invitation or registration). Artists are encouraged, though not required, to attend a Pre-Submission Workshop offered both virtually and in-person. For the Fall/Winter 2025 cycle, the workshop is scheduled for September 8, 2025, at 4:00 PM. Application deadlines are aligned with the respective funding periods. For Fall/Winter 2025, the application opens on August 25, 2025, and closes at 11:59 PM on September 29, 2025. For Spring and Summer 2026, deadlines are January 6 and June 1 respectively. Evaluation of applications is conducted by a panel of volunteer professionals, using criteria focused on the impact of the opportunity on the artist’s career, alignment with program objectives, and clarity of application. All grant awards are made on a reimbursement basis following approval of the final report and proof of eligible expenses. Primary contact for application questions is Roxana Barba, Program Administrator at Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs, available at roxana.barba@miamidade.gov or (305) 375-4209. Final reporting and payment inquiries are handled by Carlos Caballero, Program Director at FUNDarte, via info@fundarte.us or (786) 348-0789. The program's next anticipated application cycle will begin in August 2026, based on the annual recurrence schedule.

Attend Pre-Submission Workshop for guidance; clearly demonstrate how opportunity advances career