Pictured: Students from Sarasota and Manatee counties explore Embracing Our Differences' annual outdoor art exhibition at Bayfront Park in Sarasota. The 2025 show featured 50 billboard-sized works of art and quotes promoting kindness, respect, and inc

Embracing Our Differences has received a $145,675 grant from the Florida Division of Cultural Affairs to support its celebrated outdoor exhibitions and year-round arts education initiatives. The organization’s application earned a perfect score of 100 out of 100—tying for first place among hundreds of applicants statewide.The award comes in a year when funding for the arts was sharply curtailed across Florida. Of more than 600 organizations that previously qualified for Cultural and Museum Grants, only 184 received funding—and only those with scores of 95 or higher were awarded their full request. Embracing Our Differences is one of just 11 organizations in Sarasota and Manatee counties to receive support in this cycle.

Pictured: Students from Sarasota and Manatee counties explore Embracing Our Differences' annual outdoor art exhibition at Bayfront Park in Sarasota. The 2025 show featured 50 billboard-sized works of art and quotes promoting kindness, respect, and inc