The Seminole Cultural Arts Council (SCAC) is proud to announce the recipients of the 2025 Seminole Cultural Arts Grants Program. Ten innovative projects sponsored by eleven nonprofit organizations were selected to receive nearly $28,000 in grant funding, recognizing their outstanding contributions to arts, culture, and community engagement in Seminole County. Awards were recently presented at the 2025 SCAC Annual Meeting.
The 2025 - 2026 grant cycle marks the debut of a newly redesigned grant process aimed at improving accessibility and streamlining applications for local artists, educators and nonprofits. Nearly fifty organizations participated in the preliminary workshops and this year’s recipients represent a diverse range of creative programs and cultural outreach efforts. More than half of this year’s grant recipients are first time applicants.
SCAC is proud to announce the 2025 Seminole Cultural Arts Grant Recipients as:
The Foundation for Seminole County Public Schools - "Supplying Art Enrichment for Underserved Students"; Johnson Hill-Washington Heights Community Outreach - "Black History & Cultural Arts Program"; Lake Howell High School PTSA - "Lake Howell Winter Showcase of the Arts"; Love Your Shorts Film Festival - "Love Your Shorts Film Festival Education Night 2026"; Orange Blossom Blues Society - "Blues in the Schools Initiative"; Wayne Densch Performing Arts Center at The Ritz Theater - "Children’s Movie Series"; Seminole County Council PTA - "Reflections Award Celebration"; St. Johns River Festival of the Arts - "Art for Kids Scholarship Program: Free Creative Learning for Underserved Youth"; Sterling Park Elementary PTA - "Sterling Park 50 Year Anniversary Mural"; and Streets to Stages/ Sanford Main Street - "Streets to Stages: Sanford Main Street Busker Pilot."
Each project embodies the mission of the Seminole Cultural Arts Grants Program—to promote and advance arts and cultural initiatives that inspire creativity, preserve local heritage, and make the arts accessible to all residents. Grant categories include Artistic or Cultural Events/Programming, Educational Active Learning Activities, Community Outreach for Underserved Populations, and Individual Art Projects.
“Every one of these projects reflects the vitality and diversity of Seminole County’s arts community, and we’re so proud to be able to found this outstanding collection of proposals,” said SCAC Executive Director Dr. Deborah Bauer. “By supporting local organizations and their very individualized projects, we’re ensuring that art remains a cornerstone of education, community identity, and economic growth across our region.”
The Seminole Cultural Arts Grants Program was established by SCAC to support qualified artists, nonprofit organizations, schools, and cultural institutions that bring meaningful art and cultural experiences to Seminole County residents. These grants help fund programs that foster creativity, preserve cultural heritage, and promote lifelong learning through the arts. Since its founding in 1994, the Seminole Cultural Arts Council has awarded almost $500,000 dollars in grants to local nonprofit organizations. As the official recipient of the Florida ARTS license plate funds since 1996, SCAC receives $20 from every “State of the Arts” specialty tag purchased by Seminole County residents, directly reinvesting those funds back into the community.
