Creative Placemaking for Artists in Florida

The United Arts of Central Florida is accepting applications for its Creative Placemaking Open Call for Artists. This opportunity is part of a larger initiative by the United Arts Creative Placemaking team to integrate the arts into community spaces and make the arts accessible to residents, employees, and tourists in the Central Florida area. United Arts, in collaboration with the Downtown Development Board and the City of Orlando, seeks to provide live performances in downtown areas and other locations as a way to invigorate public spaces and foster engagement through artistic experiences. This grant specifically targets performing artists who are interested in participating in live activations throughout Central Florida. The initiative includes various programs such as DTOLive!, Inter&Co Fanzone events, Downtown Orlando Partnership (DOP) events, Main Street gatherings, Lake Eola festivities, and corporate and private bookings. Through these programs, artists will contribute to the vibrancy of community life by offering engaging and accessible performances in public venues. DTOLive! performances are scheduled across weekdays and weekends in multiple time slots, and other event-based activations occur as coordinated with United Arts and its partners. For the DTOLive! program, artists receive a minimum compensation of $250 for a two-hour performance block. Payment for other engagements is negotiated individually. Performances must adhere to content standards (PG-13 or lower unless otherwise specified), and all locations are prepared to accommodate performers with canopies or shaded areas. Artists are expected to deliver full two-hour performances during assigned time blocks to ensure program consistency and audience engagement. To be eligible for this opportunity, applicants must be at least 18 years old, reside in one of four specified counties in Central Florida (Lake, Orange, Osceola, or Seminole), and be legally eligible to work in the United States. The application window opened on August 5, 2025, and will remain open through May 1, 2026, at 12:00 AM. No pre-application steps are required; the full application is submitted at once. The process is straightforward, requiring only the completion of the online application for consideration across all performance programs under the Creative Placemaking banner. United Arts does not specify the total number of artists it intends to engage or the overall funding allocated to this effort. However, it emphasizes fair compensation and the importance of accessibility. The organization intends to use its relationships and funding to expand access to arts programming and build a sustainable network of creatives who actively engage with the community. The main point of contact for this opportunity is Audra Fern, Director of Creative Placemaking at United Arts. Interested applicants are encouraged to reach out with questions or for more information by emailing CreativePlacemaking@UnitedArtsCFL.org. This initiative presents a significant opportunity for local performers to contribute to the cultural vibrancy of Central Florida while receiving paid engagements through a well-structured and community-centered platform.