Miami-Dade County Opens Budget Town Hall Meetings and Arts Funding Opportunities for 2026–2027
Miami-Dade County is opening public Budget Town Hall meetings in August and launching a series of cultural grant programs, artist opportunities and initiatives for the 2026–2027 fiscal year across the county.
Residents Invited to August Budget Town Halls
County residents are invited to attend and participate in this year’s Budget Town Hall meetings and share priorities that will help inform the development of the coming year’s county budget.
The meetings will take place from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at locations across Miami-Dade County, including North Dade Regional Library on Wednesday, Aug. 19 and the Dennis C. Moss Cultural Arts Center on Monday, Aug. 31.
Residents are encouraged to register online to attend, although registration is not required, and interpretation services will be available in Spanish and Creole.
Quarterly Grants for Cultural Organizations
The Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs has opened its FY 2026–2027 cycle of quarterly grants for cultural organizations, including the Community Grants Program for non-profit groups producing small to medium community-based cultural projects such as fairs, festivals and neighborhood events.
For the Community Grants Program, the second-quarter courtesy review deadline is August 27, 2026 at 11:59 p.m., and the application deadline is September 3, 2026 at 11:59 p.m.
The Tourist Development Grants Program is also accepting second-quarter applications for cultural and special events that promote Miami-Dade County as a tourist destination and generate media exposure.
A workshop for potential applicants will be held on September 9, 2026 at 11:00 a.m., followed by a courtesy review deadline on October 5, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. and an application deadline on October 13, 2026 at 11:59 p.m.
New Funding and Calls for Individual Artists
Applications are now open for the first cycle of the FY 2026–2027 Artist Access Grants Program, which provides grants of up to $2,000 for professional development opportunities for practicing artists in Miami-Dade County, funded by the County in partnership with FUNDarte.
Eligible activities include specialized workshops, residencies, master classes, conferences, teaching artist and arts leadership training and other non-credit learning opportunities.
The maximum grant request is $2,000, with an application deadline on Monday, September 14, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. for projects taking place between October 1, 2026 and January 30, 2027.
Artists are encouraged to attend a pre-submission workshop on Thursday, August 20 at 4:00 p.m.; those interested can RSVP online for details on eligibility and the application process.
Visual and media artists in South Florida can also apply for the South Florida Cultural Consortium’s regional grant program, which offers awards of $7,500 and $15,000 to eligible artists in Broward, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe and Palm Beach counties.
Applicants must attend at least one summer workshop, including an online session scheduled for Saturday, August 22 at noon, and submit their applications by Monday, September 14, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. through the Department’s grants portal.
Public Art, Venue and Youth Opportunities
Through its Art in Public Places Program, the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Miami-Dade Aviation Department are seeking qualifications from professional visual artists for multiple public art commissions as part of Miami International Airport’s Capital Improvement Program.
The opportunity is expected to generate a shortlist of 30 to 40 artists who will compete for commissions ranging from approximately $100,000 to more than $500,000, with proposal stipends and travel support available; the request for qualifications deadline is Monday, September 21, 2026 at 11:59 p.m.
In Gainesville, the University of Florida’s Disability Resource Center is issuing a call for artists to create a site-specific artwork that emphasizes accessibility and disability culture, with a project budget of $76,250 and a two-stage application process closing on August 28 and October 2, 2026.
The City of Miami Gardens is inviting qualified venue operators to bid on the programming, management and operations of the new Miami Gardens Performing Arts Center, a regional destination for arts, entertainment and education, with bid submissions due August 25, 2026 at 2:00 p.m.
Young artists in grades Pre-K through 12 across Miami-Dade County are being invited to submit work for the 2027 All Kids Included District-wide Student Visual Art Showcase, themed around celebrating the power of friendship through the arts, with a submission deadline of Monday, February 1, 2027 and recognition planned during the All Kids Included Family Arts Festival on May 1, 2027 at the Dennis C. Moss Cultural Arts Center.
Cultural Jobs and Marketing Support Programs
The Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs is currently recruiting for a full-time Cultural Affairs Construction Projects Manager based in downtown Miami and a part-time Cultural Affairs Guest Services Aid (Driver) position at the Marshall L. Davis, Sr. African Heritage Cultural Arts Center, with application deadlines in late August 2026.
Eligible attractions, museums and experiences that partner with the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau can apply for a co-op advertising program that offers dollar-for-dollar matching funds of $1,000, $2,500 or $4,000 to support digital marketing campaigns aimed at increasing awareness and attendance while limited funds remain.
Leadership and Succession Planning in the Arts
The Department has released a video recap of the Miami Emerging Arts Leaders session “Planning for Succession – From Strategy to Structure to Transition,” which examined how arts organizations can prepare for leadership changes and build sustainable structures for long-term impact.
Moderated by Department Director Ashlee K. Thomas, the discussion featured leaders from Diaspora Vibe Cultural Arts Incubator, Young Musicians Unite and Armour Dance Theatre, who shared practical approaches to organizational development, succession planning and generational continuity in the arts sector.