Apply through July 25 for up to $2,000 for equipment or education in 2026
The economic benefits of the arts industry in Hillsborough County are well-documented, topping $387 million in 2022, when the most recent Arts & Economic Prosperity study was conducted.
Local artists help nurture this vibrant, creative community, and the Arts Council of Hillsborough County's Professional Development for Artists (PDA) Grant Program seeks to support these emerging or established artists by providing reimbursement grants.
The awards of up to $2,000 can be used for attendance at a professional development experience or to purchase equipment that is pivotal to the advancement of the artist's career.
Grant funding case study: Marc Brechwald
Mark Brechwald, 2024 grantee, used his PDA grant funding to purchase a high-quality digital camera that was critical for furthering his career as an artist.
Brechwald creates photo-realistic pencil drawings and was in need of equipment to help photograph his original pieces. Those photographs could then be reproduced on print or canvas, allowing him to continue profiting on his art once the original is sold.
"All I had was my iPhone and a point-and-shoot camera from 15 years ago, which wasn't going to get the job done," Brechwald explained. "That's the reason I reached out to the [Arts Council of Hillsborough County], because I wanted to have a little bit more control over that process."
Brechwald is a self-taught artist who was born and raised in Iowa but has called Tampa home for more than 25 years. He has participated in numerous exhibitions across Florida and won the Emerging Artists award at Gasparilla Festival of the Arts in 2021. To learn more about Brechwald and how the PDA grant assisted him, watch Art813: Marc Brechwald.
The details
Applications for the 2026 funding period are now being accepted until 5 p.m. Friday, July 25, 2025.
Funded projects must take place between Jan. 1, 2026, and Aug. 15, 2026. All eligible applications will be reviewed and scored by the Arts Council Advisory Board members, with grants awarded beginning with the highest scoring application until annual program funding runs out.
Full grant program details, application instructions, and deadlines can be found at HillsboroughArts.org/Artist-Grants.
The Arts Council of Hillsborough County provides a unified voice for all cultural organizations and activities in the Tampa Bay area and promotes news about the cultural vitality of the community while providing grants, unified marketing efforts, research, and advocacy to help the cultural community thrive.