Community Arts Grants

Program guidelines, eligibility information & success stories

Supporting the Arts

Applications are now open for projects taking place in 2026! Apply here.

The Community Arts Grants program offers grants of up to $1,000 to civic or cultural organizations recognized as non-profits or charitable groups that support art and encourage art appreciation in Hernando County.

The Community Arts Grants Program is designed to involve county residents in creating, appreciating, supporting, participating in, or learning about the creative arts in Hernando County.

For questions, contact Cheryl Hill, Community Arts Grants Program Coordinator at cheryl.h@hernandoarts.org or 352-587-8062.

Community Arts Grant Success Stories

Get inspired! Check out past projects to learn more about how local organizations have used grant funds!

Important Dates

  • September 24, 2025 at 5:30 PM — Pre-application workshop at the Hernando County Fine Arts Council office (300 S Main Street in Brooksville). This is a voluntary workshop for applicants to ask questions and receive feedback on applications prior to submittal.

  • October 6, 2025 — Application deadline 

  • October 23, 2025 at 5:30 PM — Grant review workshop (location TBD). This is a voluntary workshop for applicants to respond to questions by project review team pertaining to applications.

  • November 13, 2025 — Grants and award amounts selected at HCFAC meeting

  • December 1, 2025 — Awardees notified via email

  • January 1, 2026 - Dec. 31, 2026 — Project period 

  • January 20, 2027 — Invoicing deadline for 2026 projects + final report due

Guidelines

Who can apply?

Any Hernando County education, art, civic or cultural organization recognized as a non-profit or charitable group. Governmental entities, including schools, are not eligible for funding. Schools can seek funding through the Arts in Education Grant program.

What types of projects are eligible for funding?

  • Public art installations (murals, sculptures, etc.)

  • Art-focused events or performances

  • Art instruction

Evaluation Criteria

The evaluation rubric considers the following: HCFAC mission consistency, project description, budget, outcomes, impact, innovation, number of people benefitting from the project, cost-benefit, and visibility to Hernando County Arts and HCFAC.

What is the Pre-application Workshop?

The Pre-application Workshop is a voluntary workshop to provide potential grant applicants an opportunity to ask questions and receive feedback from the committee on their project and/or application prior to submitting their grant application. The Pre-application Workshop takes place on September 24, 2025 at 5:30 PM at the Hernando County Fine Arts Council office (300 S Main Street in Brooksville).

What is the Grant Review Workshop?

The Grant Review Workshop is a voluntary workshop where the CAG committee has an opportunity to ask questions of the grant applicants and the grant applicants can ask questions of the committee. All decisions will be final and based completely upon the application submitted and responses received at the Grant Review Workshop. The Grant Review Workshop will be held on October 23, 2025 at 5:30 PM (location TBD).

To apply for a 2026 project, click here.

To view a complete description of program guidelines, click here.

To submit your 2025 Final Report, click here.

Frequently asked questions

  • Nonprofits may apply for up to $1,000. Projects totaling more than $1,000 will have to find additional funding sources, whether it be through fundraisers or additional sponsors.

  • Please apply by following the instructions at this link.

  • The applications are reviewed using a scoring rubric by the members of the CAG committee.

    The rubric considers the following: HCFAC mission consistency, project description, budget, outcomes, impact, innovation, number of people benefitting from the project, cost-benefit, and visibility to Hernando County Arts and HCFAC.

  • The CAG grant program is reimbursement-based, meaning you must be able to pay for your project’s expenses and receive reimbursement after submitting a final report and paid receipts.

  • No, there is not a match required.

  • Click here to see a sample grant application.