The Miami Downtown Development Authority (Miami DDA) is now accepting applications for the 2026-27 Downtown Creative Collaborators Grant (DCCG) program, inviting artists, innovators and community builders to bring their creative activations to Downtown Miami.
The program will award up to $475,000 in grants to fund events and initiatives happening between October 2026 and September 2027.
The DCCG program offers grants ranging from $5,000 to $50,000, through a three-tier funding structure designed to match proposals with the appropriate level of event scale, community reach and city coordination. This is a reimbursable grant, and Miami DDA funding cannot serve as the sole source of financial support.
“Downtown Miami is already one of the most culturally dynamic districts in the country, and the DCCG program is how we invest in the creatives and organizations that keep it that way,” said Arva Suzanne Graham Gibson, chair of the Miami DDA’s Arts, Culture and Entertainment Committee. “We are looking for bold proposals that turn our public spaces, from our rooftops and plazas to our parks and other hidden gems, into experiences that residents and visitors will carry with them long after the event ends.”
As part of the 2026-27 program cycle, the Miami DDA’s three-tier structure includes:
Tier 1 ($5K-$7.5K): Small, hyperlocal activations for up to 499 people;
Tier 2 ($10K-$15K): Medium-sized events between 500 and 999 people, and
Tier 3 ($20K-$50K): Large-scale cultural festivals and installations with an expected attendance of more than 1,000 people.
A 10 percent marketing allocation is required of all grantees to ensure strong community visibility and engagement. All applications must be submitted through the Miami DDA’s Submittable portal at https://miamidda.submittable.com.
Past recipients have included Open House Miami, LADD Foundation, and the Miami Children’s Museum, whose projects created immersive learning experiences that engaged residents of all ages across Downtown Miami.
Important dates:
Deadline to Apply: Monday, Aug. 17, at 11:59 p.m.
Selection Committee Review: Week of Sept. 14
Board approval and recipients announced: Friday, Oct. 16
Grant Award Reception (tentative): ACE Meeting, Oct. 23.
For information on guidelines, eligibility requirements and key dates, visit https://miamidda.submittable.com.
About the Miami Downtown Development Authority (Miami DDA)
The Miami DDA is an agency of the City of Miami funded by a special tax levy on properties within its district boundaries. It is governed by a 17-member Board comprised of three public sector appointees and 14 downtown property owners, residents, and/or workers who are tasked with overseeing the direction of the agency and setting policy.
The agency is committed to grow, strengthen, and promote the economic health and vitality of downtown Miami. As an agency of the City of Miami, the Miami DDA advocates, facilitates, plans, and executes business development, quality of life, planning and capital improvements, and marketing and communication strategies.
Visit MiamiDDA.com for more information.
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