Active SLED Opportunity · FLORIDA · ALACHUA COUNTY

    Art Tag Grant Program Application Fiscal Year 2027

    Issued by Alachua County
    countyRFAAlachua CountySol. 266655
    Open · 17d remaining
    DAYS TO CLOSE
    17
    due Jul 31, 2026
    PUBLISHED
    Jul 1, 2026
    Posting date
    JURISDICTION
    Alachua County
    county
    NAICS CODE
    711510
    AI-classified industry

    AI Summary

    Alachua County's Arts Tag Grant Program offers $14,000 to support local artists, nonprofits, and cities for public art projects in fiscal year 2027. The program aims to enhance arts access, especially in underserved communities, and foster cultural entrepreneurship. Applicants must be county residents and meet detailed submission requirements.

    Opportunity details

    Solicitation No.
    266655
    Type / RFx
    RFA
    Status
    open
    Level
    county
    Published Date
    July 1, 2026
    Due Date
    July 31, 2026
    NAICS Code
    711510AI guide
    Jurisdiction
    Alachua County
    State
    Florida
    Agency
    Alachua County

    Description

    The Alachua County Board of County Commissioners, in partnership with the Arts Council of Alachua County (ACAC), is pleased to announce the 2026/2027 Arts Tag grant program. The ACAC is serving as a Local Arts Agency (LAA) to grant $10,000 provided by Visit Gainesville, Alachua County, FL, and $4,000 in “State of the Arts” license plate sales, totaling $14,000. Funds will be distributed to provide financial support to Alachua County resident artists, not-for-profit arts organizations, and the cities of Alachua, Archer, Hawthorne, High Springs, LaCrosse, Micanopy, Newberry, and Waldo for public art projects.

    The Art Grant program aims to improve Alachua County’s arts activities to increase access to a wide range of diverse arts experiences, especially in underserved communities. Access to arts and culture can foster the growth of the creative economy, encourage cultural entrepreneurship, and stimulate business development or relationships in related sectors.

    Background

    Location: Alachua County is located in North Central Florida. The County government seat is situated in Gainesville. Gainesville is located 70 miles southwest of Jacksonville, 129 miles southeast of Tallahassee, 140 miles northeast of Tampa - St. Petersburg and 109 miles northwest of Orlando. Alachua County has a population of over 250,000 and a regional airport. The County itself consists of a total area of 969 square miles.

    Form of Government: Alachua County is governed by a Board of five (5) elected County Commissioners and operates under the established County Manager Charter form of government. In addition to the five County Commissioners, there are five elected Constitutional Officers: Supervisor of Elections, Sheriff, Clerk of the Court, Tax Collector, and the Property Appraiser. The Alachua County Attorney also reports to the Board.

    Alachua County Arts Council: The Arts Council of Alachua County (ACAC) serves as a resource for local artists and arts agencies, including all municipalities, throughout Alachua County. The Arts Council prepares applications for state and federal grants and re-grants eligible grants to local artists and local arts agencies. It prepares applications for eligible state and federal grants to provide enhanced resources for local artists and local arts agencies, and educates and advocates at the state and federal level on issues affecting the arts. 

    The mission of The Arts Council of Alachua County is “to enhance the quality of the visual environment in Alachua County, thereby ding to the quality of life and the level of citizen awareness of the importance of aesthetic experience in their everyday lives.”

    Project Details

    • Reference ID: RFA 27-109-LC
    • Department: County Manager's Office
    • Department Head: Michele Lieberman (County Manager)

    Evaluation Criteria

    • Artistic Discipline Question (10 pts)
      1. Clearly worded response to ensure reader understands intended message
      2. Artistic merit and artistic excellence
      3. The writer stayed within their maximum word count throughout
    • Artistic Work Samples (25 pts)
      1. Samples provided clearly relate to Artistic Discipline
      2. Samples provided are of professional quality
      3. Samples provided adhere to maximum number permitted below:
        1. Actors, Dancers, Filmmakers and Musicians - max 2 samples, not to exceed 3 minutes each
        2. Photographers and Visual Artists - max 3 samples
        3. Writers and Playwrights - max 10 pages
        4. Poets - max 4 poems
    • Grant Funding Usage (40 pts)
      1. Proposed deliverable supports arts organizations, arts programs and art activities within Alachua County
      2. Proposed deliverable serves the public interest such as free art lessons or art exhibits for Alachua County Residents or the creation of art to be displayed in public places in Alachua County
      3. Proposed deliverable provides value to Alachua County residents and visitors
    • Why Alachua County Should Fund Grant (5 pts)
      1. Compelling reason why Alachua County should fund grant
    • Focus on Children's Programming (10 pts)
      1. Focus on Children's Art Programming
    • Budget (10 pts)
      1. Budget is complete
      2. Budget is clear, concise and easy to understand
    • Visit Gainesville, Alachua County FL Question (10 pts)
      1. Optional Marketing to out-of-county visitors

    Submission Requirements

    • Are you an Alachua County resident? (required)
    • Add your physical business address in Alachua County. (required)

      Example: 12 SE 1st Street, Gainesville, Florida

    • Are you an Artist? (required)
    • Are you over 18 years old? (required)
    • Are you a US Citizen? (required)
    • Previous Grant Awards (required)

      Have you or your organization been successful in managing previous local, State, or Federal grant awards?

    • How are you applying? (required)

      If you're applying as an individual artist, a collaboration of artists, or a not for profit organization, the maximum grant award you are eligible for is $3,000.

      If you're applying as an individual or an organization, your application must reflect it.

      If you're applying as one of the Small Cities, (Alachua, Archer, Hawthorne, High Springs, LaCrosse, Micanopy, Newberry, or Waldo), the maximum grant award you are eligible for is $5,000.

    • Artistic Merit (required)

      Please tell us about your artistic discipline, focusing on “Artistic Merit”, including how long you have been practicing your craft. (250-word limit). City applicants, please enter “N/A” in the space below.

    • Artistic Work Samples (required)

      Samples provided clearly relate to Artistic DisciplineSamples provided are of professional qualitySamples provided adhere to maximum number permitted below:Actors, Dancers, Filmmakers and Musicians - max 2 samples, not to exceed 3 minutes eachPhotographers and Visual Artists - max 3 samplesWriters and Playwrights - max 10 pagesPoets - max 4 poems

       

      Please attach samples of your work.

      Artistic work sample may be photography, poetry, creative writing, visual artwork, music files, video files, etc.

      Applications or work samples containing profanity, racism, sexism, homophobia, xenophobia, discriminatory behavior, or vulgarity will not be considered.

      PLEASE NOTE:

      Actors, Dancers, Filmmakers and Musicians - Please submit a maximum of 2 work samples. We will listen or view 3 minutes of each media file. Please make note of where you want us to begin if work samples are longer.

      Photographers and Visual Artists - Please submit a maximum of 3 work samples.

      Writers and Playwrights - Please submit a maximum of 10 pages of work samples, including a synopsis.

      Poets may submit 2-4 poems. You may provide links to work samples here including a brief description of your work.

      City applicants, may enter “N/A” in the space below if samples / links are unavailable

    • Links (required)

      Please provide links to your work in your .pdf submittal (link details on page 10). Artistic work sample may be photography, poetry, creative writing, visual artwork, music files, video files, etc.

      Applications or work samples containing profanity, racism, sexism, homophobia, xenophobia, discriminatory behavior, or vulgarity will not be considered.

      PLEASE NOTE:

      Actors, Dancers, Filmmakers and Musicians - Please submit a maximum of 2 work samples. We will listen or view 3 minutes of each media file. Please make note of where you want us to begin if work samples are longer.

      Photographers and Visual Artists - Please submit a maximum of 3 work samples.

      Writers and Playwrights - Please submit a maximum of 10 pages of work samples, including a synopsis.

      Poets may submit 2-4 poems. You may provide links to work samples here including a brief description of your work. (150-word limit).

      Applicants, may enter “N/A” in the space below if links are unavailable

    • Grant Funds (required)

      How will grant funds be used (i.e. what is the deliverable that the grant is paying for) and describe how your project will support public arts programs and arts activities within Alachua County? The deliverable should be something that serves the public interest such as free art lessons, art exhibits, or the creation of art to be displayed in public places. (150-word limit)

    • Why Alachua County should fund your grant application (required)

      Please tell us why Alachua County should fund your grant application. (75- word limit)

    • Impact Focused on Children Arts Programming (required)

      Please tell us how your project will impact communities (especially with a focus on children) throughout Alachua County. (75-word limit)

    • Visit Gainesville, Alachua County Contribution

      Optional Question:

      Please detail your specific out-of-county marketing efforts including an itemized budget, such as social media marketing targeted to out-of-county arts patrons. (100-word limit)

      Visit Gainesville, Alachua County has contributed $10,000 of our Art Grant budget for applicants who advertise and promote their event or activity to tourists.

      A tourist is defined as someone who resides outside of Alachua County. Recipients are required to invest a minimum of 25% of grant funds to out-of-county marketing efforts.

    • Budget (required)

      Please download the below document, complete, and upload.

    • Corporate Resolution (required)

      The response must be submitted by an officer of the business who is legally authorized to enter into a contractual relationship in the name of the proposer. An authorized representative who is not an officer may sign the proposal, but may or upon request provide a corporate resolution granting authorization to the representative to execute on behalf of the business. Are you authorized to submit this RFA?

    • Drug Free Workplace (required)

      In accordance with §287.087, Florida Statutes

      Do you certify that you meet the following:

      1. Publish a statement notifying employees that the unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensing, possession or use of a controlled substance is prohibited in the workplace and specifying the actions that will be taken against employees for violations of such prohibition.

      2. Inform employees about the dangers of drug abuse in the workplace, the business's policy of maintaining a drug-free workplace, any available drug counseling, rehabilitation, and employee assistance programs, and the penalties that may be imposed upon employees for drug abuse violations.

      3. Give each employee engaged in providing the commodities or contractual services that are under proposal a copy of the statement specified in subsection (1).

      4. In the statement specified in subsection (1), notify the employees that, as a condition of working on the commodities or contractual services that are under this proposal, the employee will abide by the terms of the statement and will notify the employer of any conviction of, or plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, any violation of Chapter 1893 or of any controlled substance law of the United States or any state, for a violation occurring in the workplace no later than five (5) days after such conviction.

      5. Impose a sanction on, or require the satisfactory participation in a drug abuse assistance or rehabilitation program if such is available in the employee's community, by any employee who is so convicted.

      6. Make a good faith effort to continue to maintain a drug-free workplace through implementation of this section.

      As the person authorized to sign the statement, I certify that this firm complies fully with the above requirements.

    • Conflict of Interest (required)

      The proposer certifies that to the best of its/his/her knowledge or belief, no elected/appointed official or employee of the County is financially interested, directly or indirectly, in the purchase of the goods or services specified on this proposal.

    • Acknowledgement of Requirements (required)

      Did you review and complete all the required documents, attachments, addenda and questions and answers?

    • Authorization and Certification (required)

      I understand and agree that submission of this application signifies intention to comply with all State and Federal regulations including, nondiscrimination policies.

      I certify that any funds received through this grant will be used exclusively for the purposes set forth in this application. I will notify the Alachua County Arts Council immediately if:

      1) myself or organization encounters a problem which could negatively impact the execution or completion of my project

      2) if myself or organization receives any additional funds from other sources in this same grant period.

      Compliance with the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a Federal Law and a grantee requirement.

      I understand and will adhere to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

      I certify that neither myself nor my organization have been disbarred, suspended, or have any other exclusions or disqualifications from doing business with the federal government.

      Furthermore, I certify that I am a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident, I reside within Alachua County, and I am 18 years of age or older or am a small Alachua County city.

      Finally, I certify that all of the facts contained on this application are true and that this application is complete to the best of my knowledge and understanding.

    • Attestation to Original Work (required)

      By confirming below, I attest that any artwork submitted to the County titled is my original creation. I am the sole owner of all components of the artwork, both in its parts and in its entirety. I affirm that I have full authority to submit this artwork and to release and authorize Alachua County to republish it as needed.

      I further confirm that no part of this artwork infringes upon the rights of any third party and that I accept full responsibility for its originality and authenticity.

    • What year does the grant start? (required)

      Example: 2026

    • What year does the grant end? (required)

      Example: 2027

    Key dates

    1. July 1, 2026Published
    2. July 31, 2026Responses Due

    AI classification tags

    Frequently asked questions

    SLED stands for State, Local, and Education. These are solicitations issued by state governments, counties, cities, school districts, utilities, and higher education institutions — as opposed to federal agencies.

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