The Arts Access Miami Catalyst Grant Program is designed to support grassroots and emerging arts organizations delivering arts education programming for youth on school campuses in North Dade and South Dade.
Donor Name: Arts Access Miami
State: Florida
County: Miami-Dade County (FL)
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 04/06/2026
Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000
Grant Duration: 2 Years
Details:
A total of 15 organizations will be selected to participate in the Catalyst cohort. Catalyst grants support arts education programming delivered on school campuses, primarily through after school programs and school connected activities, and when possible through in school instruction. Eligible disciplines include visual arts, dance, theatre, ballet, and multidisciplinary practices. Grant funds are intended to support real program delivery with students at school sites.
The Catalyst Grant Program aims to:
- Strengthen grassroots arts education organizations serving youth in North and South Dade
- Expand access to non-music arts disciplines, including visual arts, dance, theatre, and multidisciplinary practice
- Support organizations in developing sustainable programs, systems, and partnership
- Prepare organizations for future eligibility for Arts Access Miami Alliance funding
- Foster a collaborative learning cohort grounded in shared growth, accountability, and required participation in cohort meeting
- Demonstrate a clear artistic vision and youth-centered approach
Funding Information
Each organization will receive $10,000 per year for 2 years, for a total grant award of $20,000 per organization.
Uses of fund
Grant funds may be used to support:
- Program planning or refinement
- Teaching artist or program staff support
- Community or school partnership development
- Organizational systems and infrastructure
Who should apply?
This opportunity is intended for small, grassroots, and emerging arts organizations that:
- Center arts education (visual arts, dance, theater, or multidisciplinary arts) as a core part of their mission
- Serve or will serve youth in the Carol City, Norland, South Dade, Homestead, and/or Southridge Feeder Patterns.
- Interested in strengthening your organizational capacity, systems, and partnership
- May not yet meet the eligibility requirements for Arts Access Miami Alliance funding
- Organizations do not need to be currently implementing programming within Miami-Dade County Public Schools to apply, but should demonstrate an interest in and path to work with MDCPS schools by the time the grant starts.
Eligibility Criteria
Organizations applying for the Catalyst Grant Program must meet the following criteria:
- Be a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization or operate under a formal fiscal sponsorship agreement with a registered 501(c)(3).
- Have a core mission focused on arts education with direct student impact, specifically providing free arts education to Miami-Dade County Public Schools students.
- Be based in, or actively serving, or planning to serve communities in North Dade and/or South Dade.
- Provide arts education or arts-based youth programming for students in grades K-12, with a clearly defined age range and program focus.
- Demonstrate a grassroots or early-stage organizational profile.
- Deliver on-site programming at participating schools at least two times per week, serving a minimum of twenty students per class.
- Demonstrate readiness and capacity to participate in cohort-based learning, collaboration, and required capacity-building activities.
- Have an annual organizational operating budget of no more than $500,000.
- There are no minimum staffing thresholds or matching fund requirements for this grant.
For more information, visit Arts Access Miami.
