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Opportunity Grant Overview
Opportunity Grants are designed to support smaller, local arts organizations and emerging arts initiatives in Sarasota County.
The program is funded through proceeds from each “State of the Arts” specialty license plate purchased locally.
As the designated local arts agency for Sarasota County, the Arts and Cultural Alliance administers the program by establishing guidelines, managing the application and evaluation process, and ensuring funds are used to strengthen and support arts and cultural activity in our community.
2026-27 Opportunity Grant Information
Please begin by reading through the Opportunity Grant Guidelines.
Schedule
- Application Opens – August 1, 2026
- Application Closes – August 31, 2026
- Grants Announced – September 30, 2026
Amount
- Organizations are eligible to apply for up to $5,000
- Requests might be partially funded based on the applications received and availability of resources
Eligibility:
- Applicant must be a 501©3 nonprofit organization with arts & culture as a core part of its mission
- Applicant must provide arts programing in Sarasota County, and funds must be used to support work in Sarasota County
- Organization must not have received a grant through the TDC/A grant program
- Organization’s most recently completed 990 must show expenses under $500,000
Other considerations:
- Funds must be spent by September 30, 2027
- Notify our team when your expenditures are complete, and we will schedule a time for a verbal grant report
- Questions? Reach out to Angelica at angelica@sarasotaarts.org
Buy a State of the Arts License Plate
The Florida Arts License Plate Program was created by the Legislature in 1994. Funds collected through the sale of these specialty plates are distributed to the counties where the plates are sold and are used to support arts organizations, programs, and activities within that county.
Funds from “State of the Arts” license plates purchased in Sarasota County directly support the Opportunity Grant program.
Want to purchase a Florida Arts License Plate?
You can find your local tag agency using this list of Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Office Locations by county.
