The South Florida Cultural Consortium, an alliance of the arts councils of Broward, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, and Palm Beach Counties, offers grants to visual and media artists at the $15,000 or $7,500 level. These awards are among the largest such honors accorded by local arts agencies in the United States, aligning with a mission to support and elevate professional artists within the South Florida region. Established in 1988, the Consortium has a long-standing commitment to fostering artistic excellence and has awarded over $4 million in grants to more than 300 artists, demonstrating its strategic priority in direct artist support and regional cultural development.
The target beneficiaries of this grant program are emerging, mid-career, and established professional visual and media artists residing in Broward, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, or Palm Beach Counties in Florida. The program aims to have a significant impact on these artists by providing substantial financial support, thereby enabling them to continue their creative work and achieve higher levels of professional recognition. A key impact goal is to strengthen the local arts ecosystem by nurturing its talent base and ensuring the continued production of high-quality artistic works in the region.
The program prioritizes artistic excellence, evidence of an established and recognized body of work over a sustained period, and consistency in the submitted work. All submitted work samples must be from the last three years to ensure contemporary relevance. Additionally, candidates must have resided and worked in one of the participating five counties for a full year before applying, with a requirement to apply from their county of residence. These priorities reflect the Consortium's theory of change, which posits that investing in professional artists through rigorous selection criteria will lead to a more vibrant and recognized arts community.
Expected outcomes include not only the financial empowerment of individual artists but also their participation in an exhibition hosted and organized by a visual arts institution in one of the five counties. Since 2019, artworks by Miami-Dade based artists are also acquired and accessioned for the Art in Public Places Collection, providing further recognition and a lasting legacy. Measurable results include the number of artists awarded, the total grant funds distributed, and the impact of the exhibitions and acquisitions on the artists' careers and the public's access to art. The program excludes individuals pursuing art as a hobby, employees of participating county governments or SFCC's member local arts agencies, and students pursuing degrees, ensuring that the grants directly benefit professional artists dedicated to their craft.
