St. Johns Cultural Council applications for 2022 State of the Arts (SOTA) Grants, Sept. 1

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. - Aug. 26, 2022 - PRLog -- The St. Johns Cultural Council will open its applications for the 2022 State of the Arts Grants on Thursday, September 1. The annual State of the Arts (SOTA) grant program will award up to five $1,000 grants and one $5,000 grant award.

Applications must be submitted on or before 5 pm on Friday, September 30 through the online grant portal. For more information, visit the website at https://www.stjohnsculture.com/grants-awards/state-of-the-arts-grant or email grants@historiccoastculture.com.

According to Christina Parrish Stone, the Cultural Council's Executive Director, the grant process is competitive and not every application will receive funding. There is no matching requirement, and the application and reporting requirements are designed to minimize time of completion.

"The St. Johns Cultural Council is pleased to announce this year's SOTA grants available through funds raised by the sale of 'State of the Arts' specialty license plates in Florida which have provided more than $130,000 of support to arts organizations and individual artists in St. Johns County," Parrish Stone said. "The Cultural Council congratulates all past grantees and is thankful for the diligent SOTA grant panel, and for every individual who purchases a State of the Arts license plate to support this important initiative," she said.

The formal awards presentations in November will include an event to acknowledge the final grants along with honored guests and recipient presentations.

Nonprofit organizations, individual artists, and public schools may apply for funds to support diverse, new or expanded programs in disciplines including arts in education, music, dance, folk arts, humanities, literature, film, theatre and musical theatre, visual arts, historic preservation, or the collection or exhibition of cultural or artistic works.

Individual artists may also apply for grants to fund professional development. Proposals are evaluated for quality, impact and originality.

Applicants must be St. Johns County residents or organizations based in St. Johns County. All grant activities, other than artist professional development, must take place within St. Johns County, Florida.  Proposals for activities that reach underserved audiences, provide arts education, and create art in public places will receive priority.

The mission of the Cultural Council is to support local artists and arts organizations and to promote St. Johns County as a premiere destination for cultural travelers, ensuring that the lives of both residents and visitors are enriched through art, culture, history, and heritage. For more information, contact Christina Parrish Stone at 904.434.0959 or email christina@historiccoastculture.com. Visit the website at https://stjohnsculture.com.