Miami-Dade Launches Summer 2026 Arts Funding, Workshops and Cultural Opportunities

Miami-Dade County and regional partners are rolling out a series of arts funding programs, informational workshops and civic engagement opportunities through 2027, aimed at cultural organizations, individual artists and community groups across South Florida.

Mayor Hosts Budget Town Halls in Early July

Mayor Daniella Levine Cava is inviting residents to participate in in-person and virtual town hall meetings in July to discuss the proposed Miami-Dade County 2026–2027 budget and local service priorities.

An in-person session is scheduled at the Dennis Moss Cultural Arts Center in Cutler Bay on Monday, July 6 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. A second in-person town hall will take place at the North Dade Regional Library in Miami Gardens on Wednesday, July 8 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., followed by a virtual Zoom town hall on the same date and time.

Residents can register online to attend the in-person or virtual sessions.

County Grants Workshop Set for July 28, 2026

The Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs will host an online “Introduction to Miami-Dade County Arts Grants” workshop on Tuesday, July 28, 2026 at 11:00 a.m., providing an overview of the County’s arts grant portfolio for cultural organizations, nonprofits, individual artists and artist collectives.

The Zoom session will outline available funding programs, help participants identify appropriate grant opportunities for their projects and include a multilingual Q & A. ADA accommodations are available for attendees.

Prospective applicants can RSVP online to receive workshop access details.

Quarterly Grants Available for Cultural Organizations

The County’s Community Grants Program is accepting applications from nonprofit groups for small to medium-scale cultural projects such as fairs, festivals and community events in fiscal year 2026–2027.

A workshop for second-quarter applicants is scheduled for August 6, 2026 at 10:00 a.m., with a courtesy review deadline on August 27 and a final application deadline on September 3. Program details are available through the Community Grants page of the Department of Cultural Affairs.

The Tourist Development Council Grants Program is also open to applications for major cultural and special events that draw visitors to Miami-Dade County. For the first quarter, the courtesy review deadline is July 6, 2026 and the application deadline is July 13. A workshop for second-quarter applicants will take place on September 9, 2026 at 11:00 a.m., followed by an October 5 courtesy review deadline and an October 13 application deadline.

Additional information is available on the Tourist Development Council Grants page of the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs.

Grants and Residencies for Individual Artists

The South Florida Cultural Consortium’s Visual and Media Artists Grant Program is now accepting applications from artists in Broward, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe and Palm Beach counties for awards of $7,500 and $15,000.

Applicants must attend at least one online workshop, with summer sessions scheduled for Wednesday, July 22 at 1:00 p.m., Tuesday, August 4 at 5:30 p.m. and Saturday, August 22 at 12:00 p.m. The application deadline is Monday, September 14, 2026 at 11:59 p.m.

Artists can submit materials through the County’s online grants portal for consideration.

Separately, Oolite Arts has opened applications for its 2027 programs, including The Ellies Awards and several residency opportunities for artists and filmmakers. The deadline to apply is Friday, July 31, 2026.

More information on eligibility and program details is available on the Oolite Arts website.

Opportunities for Venue Operators and Downtown Creatives

The City of Miami Gardens has issued a bid for the programming, management and operations of the new Miami Gardens Performing Arts Center, envisioned as a regional hub for arts, entertainment, education and community engagement.

Qualified operators and partners must submit proposals by August 25, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. through the DemandStar procurement platform.

In Downtown Miami, the Miami Downtown Development Authority is accepting applications for its Downtown Creative Collaborators Grant, supporting projects that activate public spaces and encourage cultural engagement.

Grant awards range from $5,000 to $50,000 for projects taking place between October 1, 2026 and September 30, 2027. Applications are due Monday, August 17, 2026 at 11:59 p.m.

Program guidelines and application details are available on the Miami DDA website.

Literary Innovation Grants and AI Training for Artists

The Literary Arts Fund has opened its Innovation Project Grant program, offering between $25,000 and $100,000 to support initiatives that strengthen literary arts organizations and their capacity to serve writers.

Applications are due Monday, August 17, 2026, with full criteria and submission instructions available on the fund’s website.

In addition, a one-hour “AI for Artists” virtual workshop will be held on Wednesday, July 22, 2026 at 12:00 p.m., introducing nonprofit professionals and artists to core AI concepts, tools and ethical considerations that are shaping creative practice.

Summer Arts at Play Series Continues Ahead of World Cup

The Arts at Play series, presented by the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs with support from the National Endowment for the Arts, is continuing this summer with performances, exhibitions and community events that highlight the connection between arts, sport and civic life as Miami-Dade prepares to host FIFA World Cup 2026 matches.

The series will conclude with Freedom Family Day at the Freedom Tower on Sunday, July 12, offering free public programming that underscores the role of culture in community engagement.

Details about the full schedule are available on the Arts at Play page of the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs.

By ML. Photo(s)/Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs