The professional artist grant aims to support and build meaningful relationships among the outstanding creative artists in Pinellas County, provide a solid foundation to nurture the creative community, and elevate Pinellas County as an arts and cultural destination.
With this purpose in mind, Creative Pinellas provides up to ten grants for artists who have excelled in their artistic practice. The grant is unrestricted, and Grantees are encouraged to decide for themselves how to use the award for
their benefit and growth as an artist.
Grants of $5,000 each are open to visual, literary, multimedia and performing artists doing original work in the areas of:
• Dance (of all kinds)
• Choreography
• Interdisciplinary (a combination of more than one type of genre of art, often technology/digital arts are involved)
• Literature including poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction (does not include journalism, self-help, children’s books,
and books with a structured commercial purpose.)
• Media Arts such as film, photography, computer/digital arts, audio, interactive media, etc.
• Musical Performance
• Music Composition
• Acting
• Theater Creation, including playwriting, directing, musical direction, stage design, stage lighting, etc.
• Visual Arts including 2D and 3D visual arts of all kinds.
An additional $5,000 Artist Laureate Grant may be presented to one of the grantees who Creative Pinellas recognize as being able to be a model partner and collaborator, sharing their skills and expertise and supporting the organization’s
mission over the grant period. Artists must indicate on their application that they would like to be considered for the Artist Laureate award.
We advise the applicants to read the Grant Guidelines to ensure that their application meets all the requirements before submission. It is your choice as an applicant what area of work you choose; however, applications will be disqualified if they do not meet the minimum guidelines for submission. Read the guidelines. If you have further questions, contact Charlene Harrison, Grants Manager, at grants@creativepinellas.org
NO. Please determine your strongest work or area of focus as an artist and submit your application accordingly. If your work spans multiple areas of work, please consider applying in the Interdisciplinary category.
YES. We accept applications for musicians performing work created by other artists.
YES. We accept applications for actors performing work created by other artists.
YES. You may be eligible to apply if you are enrolled in a non-arts related/creative class(es) or a non-degree-seeking program.
NO. If you are or will be enrolled in an arts related/creative, degree-seeking program for any portion of the grant period, you are not eligible to apply for this grant.
YES. Artist partnerships and leaders of collaborative teams may apply for this grant. We consider a partnership to be a relationship in which all artists contribute equally to the creation of an artwork. We consider collaboration to be a situation where the primary artist receives support from other artists or supporters who do not contribute equally to the creation of the work. Ensure all artists are listed in the application name fields and that both artists’ resumes/CVs and work samples are uploaded.
Your resume or curriculum vitae (CV) is very important to the review and scoring process. This document gives panelists a full picture of your accomplishments and the context of your work. Be sure to include: education (formal and non-degree seeking); exhibitions; collaborations; publications and reviews; awards and honors; grants and sponsorships; and any other relevant information that you feel will aid the panel in their review. Do not submit a narrative biography in place of your resume/CV. Up to twenty-five percent (25%) of your panel review score will come from a review of your resume/CV.
Work samples you submit for review must be original material and complete, not a work in progress. The applicant must be the primary artist behind the work unless you apply as a partnership or collaboration team.
Eligible work samples include recent works, up to five (5) years prior that support the applicant’s area of work and/or subdiscipline.* Work samples older than fifteen (15) years prior to the date of the application will only be accepted
if they are relevant or referent to the applicant’s recent/current work.
* For example, an applicant applying in the area of work of choreography would submit work samples of their original choreography rather than a mix of choreography and performances of other choreographers’ work unless that work is part of a partnership or collaboration. Additionally, when selecting work samples, it is recommended that they represent the strongest or most technical portions of the work.
RULES OR RESTRICTIONS ON HOW I CAN USE GRANT FUNDS?
NO. The Professional Artist Grant provides an unrestricted, non-matching financial award that allows recipients the freedom to use their funding in ways that best advance their work and career.
NO. You will not need to complete your application all at once. YES. You can return to your work and save your work for later.
The online application is in sections and stages, and you can complete it over time. You can save your progress, exit, and return to your application anytime during your completion. To review and edit your application, sign into your profile at https://creativepinellas.smapply.io.
NO. In the interest of fairness and transparency, Creative Pinellas will not review or proof your application prior to submission. Successful applicants have found that it is most helpful to have a friend, colleague, or mentor review their application before it is submitted.
YES. Creative Pinellas can help you with technical and logistical questions, but before you contact us, click the white circle with an “i” inside to bring up the application help menu. You can read the application FAQs, contact the site administrator, and submit a technical support request form. If you’re still having difficulty, contact Charlene Harrison, Grants Manager, at grants@creativepinellas.org.
YES. you will be able to review and edit your responses until you finalize your application by completing the
“Certification” task and click “Mark as Complete.”
YES. Once you finalize your application by completing the “Certification” task and clicking “Mark as Complete,” you can make additions, corrections, or edits up until the application closes. Creative Pinellas will not accept any form of resubmittal. Creative Pinellas staff highly recommends that you find a friend or colleague to review your grant application before you complete the submittal process.
NO. All applications must be submitted via our online application at https://creativepinellas.smapply.io.
YES. A copy of your application is made available to you to view at any time by signing in to your profile at https://creativepinellas.smapply.io.
WHEN SHOULD I CONTACT CREATIVE PINELLAS?
Once you submit your application, you should receive an automatic email from our online program. You can also view the status of your application by logging in to your profile at https://creativepinellas.smapply.io. If you have not received any notifications or emails, contact Charlene Harrison, Grants Manager, at grants@creativepinellas.org.
NO. Attendance is not required, but all applicants are strongly encouraged to attend.
Awarded grantees will receive notification of the final decision after the Public Panel Review. Creative Pinellas will publish all grantees’ names and area of work online at creativepinellas.org.
Once you receive the notification of the grant, you will need to sign a contract, provide a bio, headshot and a W9.
During the grant period, you will request payment as agreed.
As the purpose of the Professional Artist Grant is to support and sustain Pinellas County’s professional artists and to enhance and build awareness of the County as a cultural destination, Creative Pinellas has developed a variety of required and optional opportunities for grantees to develop and expand their audience.
Blogging: Each grant recipient will actively blog on creativepinellas.org webpage on a bi-weekly schedule. These blog posts may be a combination of the written word and photographs, videos, recordings, or a combination of the above.
This exercise has proven to be effective in building the awareness and reputation of participating artists regionally, nationally, and internationally.
Public Presentations and Engagement: Participation in at least one “Artist Conversation” panel discussion (schedule to be determined) and possibly participation in other video series or presentations. Possible involvement in one to two (1-2) open studio, shared space, or performance space visits by Creative Pinellas staff and participation in organization-sponsored artist showcases and/or other special event opportunities.
The opportunity to be a featured participant in the CreativePinellas Arts Annual 2024 and, thereafter, an exhibit and performance event that draws regionally and nationally and showcases Pinellas County artists. Inclusion in Creative Pinellas’ online portal and possible online/virtual gallery art exhibitions.
Other Media: Possible participation as an interviewee in the Creative Pinellas blog and podcast, ‘Arts In’ and a featured appearance in organization and partner publications, both online and in print, such as arts maps, articles, brochures, web and mobile apps, and other opportunities as they arise.
Social Media: Grant recipients will also provide Creative Pinellas with links to their own websites and Facebook, and other applicable social media platform pages, to actively promote their relationship and connection to Creative Pinellas.
Reporting/Invoicing: Grant recipients will be required to complete a Post-Grant Report, which provides an accounting of expenditures, and details the activities conducted over the course of the grant funding period. Grantees must also provide Creative Pinellas with both an interim and final invoice for the payment of grant funds.
Please email grants@creativepinellas.org.
