Funding Arts Broward Continues to Champion the Arts 2026 Grant Cycle Breaks Record, Awards $405,000 to
56 Local Programs.
We are thrilled to share the inspiring highlights from our 2026 Grant Cycle—a true testament to our collective dedication to supporting the arts. This year, we received an impressive $625,750 in grant requests, reflecting the vibrant creativity of our community. Thanks to the commitment of FAB members and Spark campaign supporters, we raised FAB’s highest grant pool to date, allocating $405,000 for programs in 2026. This represents approximately 65% of the total funding requested, showcasing our strong impact on the arts community.
Together, we make an impact and ensure a vibrant future for the arts.
Visit FAB’s Events Page for information on current and upcoming grantee programs.
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“Polovtsian Dances” by Maestro Vladimir Issaev is a celebrated Russian Opera Ballet repertoire masterpiece. The choreography brings to life the vibrant dances from Alexander Borodin’s opera Prince Igor. Set in the camp of the Polovtsians—a nomadic Turkish people of the 11th to 13th centuries—the dances feature a chorus of Polovtsian slaves performing for the captive Prince Igor and his son. The dynamic blend of singing and movement creates a powerful and visually stunning production.
MOMIX will present their latest exciting creation, “ALICE” at The Parker. MOMIX’s internationally acclaimed dancer-illusionists conjure the magical world of the White Rabbit, Mad Hatter, and Queen of Hearts in this stunning reimagining of Lewis Carroll’s novel. The presentation will feature two dynamic evening performances for the public and two school-day performances offered at no charge for students from Broward County Public Schools.
“Terra Mia – My Land,” an original choreographic work by Dance NOW! Miami Artistic Director Diego Salterini is a celebration of the choreographer’s Italian roots and an invitation for diverse audiences in South Florida to experience the beauty, passion, and resilience of the Italian culture through the medium of dance. Traditional and contemporary Italian music reimagined by Miami based Italian composer Federico Bonacossa, as well as set design by Bruce F. Brown and costumes by Haydee and Maria Morales, will further enhance the immersive experience, creating a vibrant and authentic atmosphere.
As part of annual art exhibits curated and installed, “Interactive Land + Water Exhibit” (working title) will expand the Street Art Regatta to include more artists interpreting three themes: beauty of nature and diversity, dancing on water, and reimagining our coasts for the 21 century. People will gather on both sides of the Intracoastal waters filled with fantastical images day and night while choreographed dance and poetry performances will create a fully immersive memorable experience.
FOR PERFORMANCE INFORMATION, VISIT OUR EVENTS CALENDAR
“Quiet Bossa – Jazz 4 All”, two one-hour sensory-inclusive musical performances especially designed for the differently abled (and also open to the general public), will take place at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. “Jazz Across Cultures” is a one 60-minute musical performance highlighting the interwoven history of Brazilian and American Jazz in a modern format, both entertaining and informative, at Daniel Cantor Senior Center, a facility that provides a safe environment for physically and mentally challenged seniors through recreational and educational activities.
“Spring Concert” and “Holiday Concert” will feature the 40 members of the chorus singing a special program of music appropriate to the seasons in three- and four-part harmony, as well as one or two solos by a professional vocalist, accompanied by pianist and percussionist.
“Wanting Memories: 20th Anniversary Celebration; I am sitting here, wanting memories to teach me to see the beauty in the world through my own eyes.” Composed by Ysaye Barnwell of Sweet Honey in the Rock, the title piece of this concert calls on us to reflect on the past, learn from our history, and bravely forge ahead into the future. The concert will highlight the favorite songs of choristers and alumnae, as well as a newly commissioned piece written specifically to commemorate this 20th-anniversary season.
“Groovin’ on a Sunday Afternoon” is a performance opportunity for youth engaged in JECC’s mentorship/Jazz Bootcamp. The JECC will perform along with several other youth and community-based groups at the Pompano Beach Cultural Center. These young performers are clear examples of what is possible with mentorship from community members, and the importance of such opportunities given the combination of diminishing arts programs and our current social conditions.
“Enlightenment Festival V” will feature two programs highlighting lesser-known composers from the Classical and Romantic eras. Composers including Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel, Clara Schumann, Marianne Martines, and Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, are programmed side-by-side with well-known composers of the eras such as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Felix Mendelssohn, and Robert Schumann. Prior to each performance, a Pre-Concert Conversation exploring the contexts of the works performed will be offered.
“Heroes and Villains” features musical themes of popular (and some unpopular) heroes and villains from television, film, musical theater, and history. Guest performers will include vocal soloists Alexander Zenoz and Kareema Khouri, and violin soloist Dina Kostic. Video productions, special effects, and costumed visual arts performers will accompany several of the musical selections.
FOR PERFORMANCE INFORMATION, VISIT OUR EVENTS CALENDAR
FOR PERFORMANCE INFORMATION, VISIT OUR EVENTS CALENDAR
“Calliope” is a season of original theatrical work. It includes three separate theatrical experiences that offer an opportunity for community members to engage in thought-provoking work. In the spring, there are readings
of original short plays written by local playwrights. The summer will feature a production of the music, The Show Must Go On. The fall/winter show will be our annual multidisciplinary production, The Happening: A Theatrical Mixtape. Art Prevails Project seeks to cultivate and elevate the talent that exists in our local community.
“The Art of Language: Celebrating the Aesthetic and Intellectual Beauty of Words” is an homage to words, showcasing of all aspects of language as artform, from bookbinding to graphic design, typography to calligraphy, interpretative dance to American Sign Language. Multidisciplinary artwork by local artists will highlight how language is essential and inspirational to their work. First-edition books and antique typewriters, a printing press and vintage calligraphy set will be displayed. A sign language interpreter will be at the opening reception.
A series of exhibitions will feature different artists using a variety of mediums. Exhibitions include a curated selection of paintings that embody Art Povera (using humble, everyday materials); works that bridge the gap between handmade weaving and digital media; and a series of ancestral explorations of performance, video, and installation. A Picasso prints exhibition will be featured. The diverse artists will promote equity and engage visitors in community conversations around accessible art.
Savor Cinema will be the host venue for a series of nine films anchored by a collaborative performance that will showcase the vibrancy of the arts in Broward. By pooling resources, we can collectively broaden our audience bases and amplify creative capacity. Examples include Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida mini concert – screening of Auntie Mame and Dance NOW! Miami performance – screening of Billy Elliot.
The groundbreaking exhibition “Black Bodies, Blue Spaces” explores
the intersections of Black identity, belonging, and water ecologies,
highlighting the cultural, historical, and environmental significance
of aquatic spaces in Black experiences across the diaspora and local
communities of South Florida. Through dynamic artworks, cross
disciplinary performances and community engagement initiatives,
the exhibition, curated by Rachel Panton, PhD, will provide a platform
to examine themes of spirituality, memory, aquatic leisure, and
environmental justice. The exhibition aims to foster meaningful dialogue
around these critical issues while celebrating the contributions of Black
artists and scholars.
FOR EXHIBITION INFORMATION, VISIT OUR EVENTS CALENDAR
“Summer Arts Outreach” will provide youth and field-trip groups with an interactive arts-education experience during the exhibition, Florida Printmakers. This show organized by the Center Curator will feature prints
by Brian Reedy, Joseph Valesquez, Jennifer Harper, Tom Virgin, Ingrid Schindall and other Florida artists, along with art-making activities and guided tours for families and school-age visitors. Printmaking dates to
the Sixth Century in China, but in the hands of these Florida artists, the medium becomes a modern tool of communication and inspiration for our youngest visitors.
The “Advanced Musical Theater Program” will engage Broward County students to develop, implement and star in a pilot production of a musical, with the show to later be made available nationally as part of Music Theatre International’s (MTI) Broadway Junior offerings. Students will participate in weekly workshops that provide top-tier professional instruction in musical theater skills and insight into the process of show development. The project will culminate in a minimum of two ticketed performances in the Amaturo Theater, giving students the unique opportunity to perform on a world-class stage with professional crew.
“ArtVentures” will provide engaging arts classes for children ages 5-12, along with an interactive family fun day once a month. Professional artists teach children’s classes with arts appreciation and fundamental techniques in subjects like drawing, ceramics, comic illustration and painting. The skills learned translate into the traditional classroom, personal interactions and eventually careers. The whole family will participate once a month in a day that includes art making, other activities and a tour of the current exhibits in the gallery.
“Broward Arts Evolve” is a dual-track arts education initiative focusing on Musical Theater and Symphonic Band. This program, held at the African American Research Library and Cultural Center, will serve 25 economically
challenged youth participants, ages 6-18 and includes eight tuition-free workshops (two per month). “Broward Arts Evolve” culminates in one free Community Showcase
fostering pride in cultural identity and heritage.
“Bringing Books to Children” is a theatre/language-arts program that directly supports elementary school pre-kindergarten-second grade reading curricula, introducing young children to the joys of reading. The program creates positive in-school experiences linked to theatre and literacy/books. The project reaches 4,500+ underserved students in 20 Title I (low-income) elementary schools in Broward. The project begins with a performance of the literacy-incentive play, “The Misadventures
of Pinocchio” After the show every child participates in a post-show educational workshop, and they receive a free program-related book. Teachers receive comprehensive study-guides.
Through a variety of workshops, firsthand artistic and technical training, and community partnerships, participants learn the skills needed to enter the creative industry’s work force and gain acceptance into top collegiate level training programs. Activities cover all aspects of the filmmaking process including writing copy, light design, sound mixing, producing, directing, and editing. Leading professionals provide focused mentorship and there is experiential learning on high end, industry standard equipment within the structure of a weekly after school program model; students work directly with industry professionals serving as mentors.
“The HOPE (Having an Opera Performance Experience) Program” provides free tickets and busing to FGO’s Opening Night performances
of its Mainstage Operas at the Broward Center for thousands of Broward County students. As a part of this program, FGO Teaching Artists visit schools prior to the performances to educate students on opera history
and the context of the show they are specifically viewing to ensure that their experience in the theater is a meaningful one.
“Core Ensemble”: 300+ talented musicians, ages 6-19, hone their skills through weekly rehearsals (40 weeks/year) and public performances, fostering artistic growth and performance confidence (eight ensembles: Symphony Orchestra, Principal Orchestra, Repertory Strings, Chamber Strings, Silver Strings, Alpha Strings, Flute Choir, & iPlay). “Music STEPS”: 530 children, ages 2-13, from underserved communities discover the joy of music through our afterschool program at Title 1 schools and social service agencies, sparking creativity and enriching their lives. “No Limits”: provides one-on-one violin lessons for ten students with Down Syndrome / Autism Spectrum disorder.
The “FSS Choral Music Education Program” serves Broward youth in grades 2-12 with four choirs, delineated by the maturity of choristers’ voices. Choristers learn vocal production, sight-singing, music history/theory, performance, and stage presence. These skills are learned in rehearsals, theory classes, vocal/theory camps, and public performances as a stand alone choir and collaboration with other choirs. Funding will be used for scholarships for choristers whose families request financial assistance, because everyone should be
able to participate in the arts regardless of income.
This “Choral Education Program” equips girls ages 6-18 with vocal technique, music literacy, and collaborative skills through weekly rehearsals and workshops from August to May. Participants grow as musicians and individuals while preparing for self-produced concerts and community performances. Focused on skill mastery and personal growth, the program fosters confidence, teamwork, and a lifelong love of the arts. Scholarships ensure financial accessibility, enabling students from all backgrounds to experience the transformative power of choral
music education.
As an interdisciplinary program, we offer young artists the chance to develop diverse skills through the collaborative creation of an original musical. Our flagship programs are immersive three-week summer workshops. Guided by a team of professional artists, students experience the entire creative journey: from brainstorming ideas to writing, composing, choreographing, and performing a fully realized production of their own original musical, taking it from the first word to the final bow.
Prokofiev’s “Peter and the Wolf “for children and their families is part of its popular free interactive educational Family Concert series. Prokofiev’s symphonic tale uses specific instruments to represent characters in the story. Children will enjoy recognizing the instruments and melodies and viewing the instruments up close after the performance. This is a fun, kid-friendly guide to classical music and how to understand it. It is also a fabulous way to introduce children to the joys of classical music.
“Ballet for Young People” (BFYP) enhances access to classical ballet by offering free, professionally produced performances for students. In collaboration with the Broward Center for the Arts and the Students Enrichment through the Arts (SEAS) program, BFYP extends its reach to students during school hours. This initiative
directly addresses significant barriers to arts access, such as financial costs and geographic limitations, ensuring that young people can experience the joy of live performances without obstacles.
The free quarterly “Sensory Saturdays” provides children with diverse, neurodivergent needs and their families with access to the Museum 9:30am 10:30am, prior to public hours, to create art in designated workspaces with sensory-friendly art supplies and explore the Museum in a serene and supportive atmosphere (dimmed lighting,
reduced noise). The program is KultureCity Certified® and recognized as a community partner with UM-NSU Center for Autism and Related Disabilities. KultureCity Sensory Bags® (noise cancelling headphones, weighted lap pads, soft seating) are distributed during public hours to provide sensory-friendly experiences anytime).
“Seraphic Fire Youth Initiative” (SFYI) consists of assembly-style in-school workshops and educational concerts. As part of a three-year partnership,
Seraphic presents workshops at two partner elementary schools, themed around different topics relating to American music, world music, and popular music, and highlights elements of music theory, music history, and singing techniques. Educational concerts welcome students from throughout the district to experience and explore vocal music from many traditions in an engaging and approachable way.
The” Pride Youth Band” is an annual honor band style program that brings LGBTQ and allied students from South Florida together. Students will develop their musical skills during rehearsals and workshops with adult coaches and performers from the SFPB. and guest conductor/clinician Dr. Erika Svanoe. Music selections will include several of Dr. Svanoe’s arrangements and transcriptions for concert bands. The program concludes with a concert at the Parker. Students will perform the first act, with the SFPB adult band joining them for act two.
The “Side by Side” program engages K-12 students from Broward County’s public and private schools, offering a transformative musical experience under the leadership of Music Director Pablo Mielgo and Concertmaster Scott Flavin. Approximately 100 students rehearse and perform alongside professional Symphony musicians, receive scholarships, instrument loans and expert instruction. The program nurtures musical talent fosters inclusivity and strengthens community bonds, enriching Broward County’s cultural fabric and inspiring the next generation of musicians.
“Link Up”, dedicated to bringing high-quality music education to South Florida schools, has successfully nurtured talent, built confidence, and inspired a passion for music in over 1,800 students in its inaugural year. In collaboration with Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute, Volta harnesses “Link Up’s” acclaimed curriculum, resources, and training, elevating standard school music programs into dynamic learning experiences.
Photos provided courtesy of New City Players, Arts Ballet Theatre, South Florida Pride Band, Thou Art Woman, NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale, and the Broward Center for the Performing Arts
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