Orange County Venue Subsidy Funding for Arts and Culture

The Orange County Venue Subsidy Funding for Arts and Culture is administered by United Arts of Central Florida, in partnership with Orange County Arts & Cultural Affairs. This grant program is intended to support 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts and cultural organizations registered in Orange County, Florida, by subsidizing short-term venue rental costs for publicly accessible performances, exhibitions, or festivals. The initiative is designed to enhance cultural programming in the county by increasing accessibility, production value, and outreach to underserved and diverse communities. Organizations may request up to 50 percent of the total venue rental costs, with a maximum grant award of $60,000. The funding is exclusively applicable to venue-related expenses billed directly by the venue, such as rental fees, security, custodial services, stagehands, sound and lighting engineers, and other operational costs directly associated with the venue. Costs unrelated to the venue rental, including artist fees, staffing, or third-party invoices, are not eligible. Additionally, applicants must supply a formal venue quote detailing the production dates and all itemized costs to be covered by the grant. Reimbursement for costs is contingent upon the submission of a final signed contract or rental settlement from the venue, along with documentation confirming the event’s completion and all required payments. Eligible applicants must be arts or cultural nonprofits with active 501(c)(3) status, physically registered in Orange County, and in good standing with the IRS and the Florida Division of Corporations. Organizations must also align with a list of eligible National Taxonomy of Exempt Entities (NTEE) codes. Ineligible applicants include educational institutions, faith-based or political organizations, entities governed by municipalities or the state, and nonprofits with a primary mission unrelated to arts, science, history, or culture. The organization’s operating budget must not exceed $50,000,000, and they may submit only one application per funding cycle. Priority is given to projects engaging underserved or diverse communities. Applications are reviewed for eligibility and completeness by United Arts staff, rather than through a competitive panel. Funding is distributed based on available resources. Projects with total eligible requests under $2,500 may receive full funding. Projects requesting above this threshold may receive a proportional award, based on available funds and alignment with the grant’s goals. Payment is made in two phases: an initial 50 percent upon execution of the award agreement and submission of insurance documents, followed by a second disbursement after the venue rental has occurred and all final documentation has been submitted. Insurance requirements include Commercial General Liability of $500,000, with both United Arts of Central Florida and Orange County Government named as additional insured. The application for the FY26 cycle opened on August 18, 2025, and closes on October 31, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. All proposed events must occur between October 1, 2025, and September 30, 2026. Award notifications are expected by November 20, 2025. A final report must be submitted within 45 days of the venue rental completion. Awardees are also required to list their events on the United Arts of Central Florida’s online calendar and acknowledge the funding in all publicity with the official Orange County Arts & Cultural Affairs logo and a specified funding statement. The primary contact for the program is Beatriz Ramirez, Outreach Program Officer at United Arts of Central Florida. She can be reached by email at Beatriz@UnitedArtsCFL.org or by phone at 407.636.5126. More information, including application guidelines and venue lists, is available at www.UnitedArtsCFL.org/grants. New applicants are encouraged to review eligibility in advance and contact United Arts for guidance.

Partner with other orgs if possible; confirm venue charges are eligible and itemized; contact staff with questions