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The Polk Arts & Cultural Alliance (PACA) is now accepting applications for its 2026 Arts & Cultural Impact (ACI) Grants, providing direct funding opportunities to Polk County artists and nonprofit organizations seeking to create, expand, and enhance arts and cultural experiences throughout the community. Formerly known as the PACA Grant Program, the Arts & Cultural Impact Grants are designed to support innovative projects, programs, and events that strengthen Polk County’s arts and cultural landscape. Applications are due July 15, 2026, by 11:59 p.m. EST. PACA will award five grants of up to $5,000 each, for a total investment of up to $25,000 in Polk County’s creative community. "The Arts & Cultural Impact Grants are intended to help artists and organizations bring new ideas to life while increasing access to meaningful arts and cultural experiences across Polk County," said PACA leadership. "Projects that introduce new opportunities for residents or significantly expand existing programs are strongly encouraged." Grant Categories Applicants may apply in one of three categories: • Nonprofit Organizations (annual budgets under $200,000) • Nonprofit Organizations (annual budgets between $200,000 and $250,000) • Professional Artists Eligible applicants may request funding of up to $5,000. Priority on Innovation and Community Impact A primary goal of the ACI Grant Program is to provide Polk County residents with new arts and cultural opportunities or meaningfully broaden existing offerings. As a result, the grant review process prioritizes applications that: • Launch new events, programs, or projects • Expand existing arts and cultural initiatives • Reach new or larger audiences • Enhance Polk County’s reputation as a destination for arts and culture Bonus Point Categories Applications may receive additional scoring consideration if they focus on: • Children and youth • Senior adults • Arts in medicine and personal well-being • Art in Public Spaces, bringing arts experiences into non-traditional community settings Eligibility Requirements To be eligible, applicants must: • Be a resident artist or nonprofit organization located in Polk County • Execute the funded project, program, or event within Polk County • Propose a project that did not receive PACA grant funding in 2025 • Meet the revenue thresholds established for each nonprofit category Organizations and artists whose project budgets exceed the requested grant amount must demonstrate how remaining project funding will be secured. Eligible Uses of Funding For nonprofit organizations, grants may support specific arts and cultural programs, events, or improvements to organizational infrastructure that ultimately expand, enhance, or innovate arts and cultural experiences in Polk County. Professional artists may use grant funding for projects, events, programs, equipment, supplies, and professional development opportunities that clearly broaden arts and cultural engagement within the community. Required Application Materials Depending on the applicant category, submissions must include: Nonprofit Organizations • IRS documentation letter • First three pages of the most recent IRS Form 990 • Timeline for the proposed project, program, or event Professional Artists • Resume or CV • Timeline for the proposed project, program, or event Additional Resources Applicants are encouraged to review PACA’s informational grant video, presented by former Executive Director Dr. Daryl Ward, which serves as the program’s grant webinar. Questions not addressed in the video may be directed to admin@polkarts.org. Additional resources available to applicants include: • Grant application forms • Grant scoring matrix • Application preparation PDF • Frequently Asked Questions page All grant recipients will be required to acknowledge the Polk Arts & Cultural Alliance as the funding source in project-related marketing, communications, and promotional materials. For additional information or questions regarding the 2026 Arts & Cultural Impact Grants, contact director@polkarts.org. About Polk Arts & Cultural Alliance The Polk Arts & Cultural Alliance serves as the official local arts agency for Polk County, supporting artists, arts organizations, and cultural initiatives that enrich the community and strengthen Polk County’s creative economy. Media Contact: Polk Arts & Cultural Alliance Email: director@polkarts.org Website: www.polkarts.org
The Polk Arts & Cultural Alliance (PACA) is now accepting applications for its 2026 Arts & Cultural Impact (ACI) Grants, providing direct funding opportunities to Polk County artists and nonprofit organizations seeking to create, expand, and enhance arts and cultural experiences throughout the community.
Formerly known as the PACA Grant Program, the Arts & Cultural Impact Grants are designed to support innovative projects, programs, and events that strengthen Polk County’s arts and cultural landscape. Applications are due July 15, 2026, by 11:59 p.m. EST.
PACA will award five grants of up to $5,000 each, for a total investment of up to $25,000 in Polk County’s creative community.
"The Arts & Cultural Impact Grants are intended to help artists and organizations bring new ideas to life while increasing access to meaningful arts and cultural experiences across Polk County," said PACA leadership. "Projects that introduce new opportunities for residents or significantly expand existing programs are strongly encouraged."
Grant Categories Applicants may apply in one of three categories: • Nonprofit Organizations (annual budgets under $200,000) • Nonprofit Organizations (annual budgets between $200,000 and $250,000) • Professional Artists
Eligible applicants may request funding of up to $5,000.
Priority on Innovation and Community Impact A primary goal of the ACI Grant Program is to provide Polk County residents with new arts and cultural opportunities or meaningfully broaden existing offerings. As a result, the grant review process prioritizes applications that: • Launch new events, programs, or projects • Expand existing arts and cultural initiatives • Reach new or larger audiences • Enhance Polk County’s reputation as a destination for arts and culture
Bonus Point Categories Applications may receive additional scoring consideration if they focus on: • Children and youth • Senior adults • Arts in medicine and personal well-being • Art in Public Spaces, bringing arts experiences into non-traditional community settings
Eligibility Requirements To be eligible, applicants must: • Be a resident artist or nonprofit organization located in Polk County • Execute the funded project, program, or event within Polk County • Propose a project that did not receive PACA grant funding in 2025 • Meet the revenue thresholds established for each nonprofit category
Organizations and artists whose project budgets exceed the requested grant amount must demonstrate how remaining project funding will be secured.
Eligible Uses of Funding For nonprofit organizations, grants may support specific arts and cultural programs, events, or improvements to organizational infrastructure that ultimately expand, enhance, or innovate arts and cultural experiences in Polk County.
Professional artists may use grant funding for projects, events, programs, equipment, supplies, and professional development opportunities that clearly broaden arts and cultural engagement within the community.
Required Application Materials Depending on the applicant category, submissions must include:
Nonprofit Organizations • IRS documentation letter • First three pages of the most recent IRS Form 990 • Timeline for the proposed project, program, or event
Professional Artists • Resume or CV • Timeline for the proposed project, program, or event
Additional Resources Applicants are encouraged to review PACA’s informational grant video, presented by former Executive Director Dr. Daryl Ward, which serves as the program’s grant webinar. Questions not addressed in the video may be directed to admin@polkarts.org.
Additional resources available to applicants include: • Grant application forms • Grant scoring matrix • Application preparation PDF • Frequently Asked Questions page
All grant recipients will be required to acknowledge the Polk Arts & Cultural Alliance as the funding source in project-related marketing, communications, and promotional materials.
For additional information or questions regarding the 2026 Arts & Cultural Impact Grants, contact director@polkarts.org.
About Polk Arts & Cultural Alliance The Polk Arts & Cultural Alliance serves as the official local arts agency for Polk County, supporting artists, arts organizations, and cultural initiatives that enrich the community and strengthen Polk County’s creative economy.
Media Contact: Polk Arts & Cultural Alliance Email: director@polkarts.org Website: www.polkarts.org