2026 Professional Development for Artists Grant

The Professional Development for Artists (PDA) Grant Program is administered by the Arts Council of Hillsborough County with funding provided by the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners. This program was created to recognize the contributions of creative individuals to the cultural vitality of the county and aims to build a vibrant artistic community that energizes and inspires residents and visitors. It provides financial support to emerging or established professional artists for activities or purchases that directly advance their careers. Grants are offered annually and are limited to a single purpose: attending a professional development experience such as a residency, workshop, or conference, or acquiring permanent equipment integral to the artist’s practice. Funding awards are reimbursement-based and capped at $2,000 per project. Artists must cover all costs upfront and submit receipts dated within the funding period for reimbursement. The program does not require matching funds, but if project expenses exceed the award ceiling, applicants must explain how they will cover the difference. Eligible uses of funds include tuition for approved training, travel directly tied to the development experience, single-room lodging during the event, and purchase of equipment with documented specifications and cost. Excluded expenses include food, gratuities, consumable supplies, entertainment, non-commercial transportation, insurance, and lodging from non-commercial providers. To be eligible, applicants must be active professional literary, performing, or visual artists aged 21 or older, a permanent resident of Hillsborough County since at least July 1, 2024, and either a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Applicants must not have received any Arts Council artist grant in the past three years, cannot be full-time arts-related faculty in higher education, and cannot be enrolled in any degree program during the funded project. Only one application per artist is accepted annually, and grant funds must benefit the individual artist, not an incorporated business or group. Applications open July 7, 2025, at 9 a.m. and close July 25, 2025, at 5 p.m., with no extensions. A virtual grant workshop will be held July 8, 2025, at 3 p.m. The Advisory Board will review and score applications on September 2, 2025, using four equally weighted criteria: need and impact on the artist’s career, demonstrated commitment to career, artistic excellence, and clarity and organization of the application. Scoring ranges from exceptional to weak, with a minimum average score of 70 required for funding consideration. Awards are made in score order until funds are exhausted. The funding period runs from January 1, 2026, through August 15, 2026. All reimbursable costs must be incurred within this timeframe and final reimbursement requests must be submitted by August 15, 2026. A final report with documentation is due by September 30, 2026. Awardees must credit the Arts Council and the Board of County Commissioners in all related communications and may be asked to participate in promotional activities. Grantees are required to submit a high-resolution photo, a 500-word bio, and a completed IRS W-9 form for tax reporting purposes. For further assistance, applicants can contact the Arts Council at Arts@HillsboroughCounty.org.