​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ ​Arts & Cultural Festival and Special Event Sponsorship Header

​ Performance at the 12th Annual Louise Bennet-Coverley Festival at Southwest Regional/BCC Library; photo by Ari Rothenberg. ​

Thanks to the overwhelming interest in this Sponsorship, the Fiscal Year 26 applications have closed. FY 27 guidelines and the application portal will re-open June 1, 2026 for the next fiscal year cycle. All programs for the Fiscal Year 2027 cycle must occur between October 1, 2026 and September 30, 2027.

​Arts & Cultural Festival and Special Event Sponsorship

The Arts & Cultural Festival and Special Event Sponsorship program provides funding to support the planning an​d execution of arts and cultural events in Broward County. This initiative aims to ensure equitable access to financial resources for community-driven projects that promote collaboration, community building, and e​conomic development. Proposals must clearly demonstrate their impact on the arts, culture, community, and economy of Broward County, ​ensure audience engagement, and reflect a high standard of excellence that enhances the County’s cultural image. ​

Virtual Application Workshops

Virtual Application Workshops for Fiscal Year 26 are Available:

January 21, 2026; 10:30 AM- 11:30 AM

Virtual Application Workshops for Fiscal Year 27 will be:

  • ​April 15, 2026; 10:30 AM-11:30 AM
  • July 15, 2026; 10:30 AM-11:30 AM
  • October 14, 2026; 10:30 AM-11:30 AM​

​​Registration required, RSVP on Eventbrite .

Sponsorship Amounts and Categories

  • New and Emerging Arts & Cultural Festivals/Special Events – Up to $25,000
  • Established Arts & Cultural Festivals/Special Events – Up to $50,000
​ download program PDF​  ​


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FY26 Guidelines​

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Fund​ing Eligibility

Overview:

  • Open to nonprofit organizations, tax-exempt entities, local government units, and for-profit organizations focused on arts and culture.
  • Events must occur in Broward County during the specified timeframe.
  • Primary focus should be on arts and cultural creation, utilization, and exhibition.
  • One application per organization per cycle.
  • Organizations receiving other Cultural Division grants may apply for distinct events.

Ineligible:

  • Programs inaccessible to the public
  • Individual artists
  • Educational institutions
  • Projects without artistic merit or excellence criteria
  • Religious or political advocacy
  • Construction or facility renovation
  • Deficit reduction or cash reserves
  • Social activities unrelated to arts
  • Public art installations or monuments


    If a sponsorship is awarded, proper crediting requirements are contingent to receive the award. Learn about them.​

Review Criteria:

Artistic Merit:

  • Strong artistic vision and quality of artists/works
  • Project significance and community impact
  • Commitment to artist compensation
  • Unique programming enriching local culture
  • Audience engagement and support
  • Effective program planning and development

Community Benefit:

  • Community engagement in programming decisions
  • Efforts to diversify audiences and increase access
  • Contribution to neighborhood vitality and economy

Organizational Capacity:

  • Clear project goals and qualified staff/volunteers
  • Realistic budget with diverse funding sources
  • History of successful programming
  • Appropriate marketing strategy​​
  • Effective management of past grants
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