Second Annual Orange County ACT Awards Honor 40 Organizations With Millions in Grants

This is the first in a series of stories highlighting local arts and culture organizations awarded Cultural Tourism Grants

Living in an arts-rich community is something to celebrate. Orange County embraced this in full at its second annual ACT Awards held February 5, 2025, marking an all-time record level of funding for the arts community through the Cultural Tourism program.

Local organizations have benefitted from cultural tourism grants (funded by a percentage of the Tourist Development Tax) since 2002, when four recipients received a total of $471,582. That amount soared to an all-time high this year with 40 organizations receiving grant awards of up to $175,000 each, totaling $4.6 million. For the first 21 years of this grant program, the awards were made without significant public celebration, but in 2023 the ACT Awards were established to formally honor these inspiring organizations.

“The ACT Awards bring together all the grant recipients, county leadership and officials to celebrate the impact arts and culture has on the community,” said Vicki Landon, administrator for Orange County Arts & Cultural Affairs. “We are happy to let the broader community know what we are doing, but we are also lifting up the grantees by making a ’big to-do’.”

Dr. Florence Alexander, founder of Orlando International Film Festival, praised the county for their advocacy of arts and culture.

“It’s like the Oscar Awards. It means everything to me,” she said.  “Having this ceremony raises awareness of the tremendous amount of arts and cultural activities going on in the community.”

Throughout the evening the crowd was treated to lively performances celebrating the rich diversity of Orange County’s arts and cultural community. Escuela de Bomba y Plena Tata Cepeda opened with a routine reflecting the heritage of Puerto Rico’s oldest musical genres. Lily Kramer from Central Florida Vocal Arts performed an a cappella rendition of the National Anthem. Students from the Asian Cultural Association of Central Florida closed out the ceremony with a captivating Punjabi Bhangra dance, and members from Central Florida Community Arts performed jazz music at a reception following the ceremony

Representatives from some 40 diverse organizations took to the stage at the UCF Rosen School of Hospitality Management.  A common sentiment was appreciation for the recognition, and for county leaders who champion arts and culture.

“It’s really special to get everyone together and see the impact we make on the community,” said Jill Goddard, Senior Director of Grants and Foundation Relations at Orlando Science Center.

Russell Stephens, grant writer for the Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center of Florida, said the recognition is very gratifying. “While we always celebrate internally, it’s nice to share the moment with our peers and cultural partners.”

A thriving arts community provides immeasurable benefits — from inspiring creativity and expression to stimulating economic growth. This year’s funded projects are predicted to generate an economic impact of more than $131 million with a projected attendance of over 1.9 million, Landon said.

To qualify for a Cultural Tourism grant award, applicants’ projects were evaluated on four criteria: Identity, Quality, Implementation and Tourism. The rigor of the application increases in proportion to the amount requested. Individual grants ranged from $17,000 to $175,000 this year.

Several grantees started with smaller amounts and since have progressed to receive the highest level of funding, Landon said.

While many grantees are long-time recipients, Landon was especially thrilled to honor five newcomers: Child of this Culture Foundation, Descolonizarte Teatro, Escuela de Bomba Y Plena Tata Cepeda, Shalom Orlando and the Winter Park Historical Foundation.

Returning grant recipients include:

Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens, The Art & History Museums, Asian Cultural Association of Central Florida, Association to Preserve the Eatonville Community, Bach Festival Society of Winter Park, Caribbean American Passport Multicultural Initiative, Central Florida Ballet, Central Florida Community, Central Florida Vocal Arts, Crealdé School of Art, Creative City Project, Inc., Downtown Arts District, Enzian, Global Peace 360, Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center of Florida, Friends of Leu Gardens, Maker Effect Foundation, Friends of Mennello Museum of American Art, Open Scene,  Opera Orlando, Orlando Ballet, Orlando Community Arts, Orlando Family Stage, Orlando Fringe, Orlando International Film Festival, Orlando Museum of Art, Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, Orlando Science Center, Orlando Shakes, PAST / The Wells’ Built Museum of African American History & Culture, The Renaissance Theatre Company Inc, Rollins Museum of Art, Timucua Arts Foundation, Winter Garden Heritage Foundation, The Winter Park Playhouse.

For more information, visit  Orange County Arts & Cultural Affairs Office.