COTA Funding
COTA offers the following annual funding programs to support faculty research at various stages. They are organized by application deadline below.
COTA Research Incentive Award (RIA)
Fall/Winter 2026 & Spring/Summer 2027
| RIA Award Title | Deadline | Amount Available | Award Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| COTA Fall/Winter 2026 Research Incentive Award | Monday, Sept. 21, 2026 11:59 PM EST | Up to $1,000 | For expenses between September 1, 2026 and February 28, 2027 |
| COTA Spring/Summer 2027 Research Incentive Award | Monday, Feb. 15, 2027 11:59 PM EST | Up to $2,000 | For expenses between February 1, 2027 and August 31, 2027 |
The College of the Arts Research Incentive Award competition is supported by the College of the Arts (COTA) to provide funding for supplies, equipment and software, travel requests, personnel, and other research-related support during Fall/Winter 2026 and Spring/Summer 2027 semesters. Proposals may seek support for confirmed performances, conference presentations, recordings, exhibitions, manuscripts, materials, reading/writing groups, or other research-related expenditures for confirmed activities. That said, proposals reflecting all stages of research are welcomed, from exploratory initial research through dissemination.
Eligibility
Faculty applicants must be in a 1.0 FTE promotion-eligible line or be a Professor of Practice and have research as part of their assignment. All creative and scholarly research activities are eligible.
Proposal Guidelines:
RESEARCH INCENTIVE AWARD CALL & GUIDELINES 2026-2027
RIA APPLICATION TEMPLATE FALL/WINTER 2026
RIA APPLICATION TEMPLATE SPRING/SUMMER 2027
Submit Application:
APPLY FOR FALL/WINTER 2026 RESEARCH INCENTIVE AWARD (application opens 8/19/26)
APPLY FOR SPRING/SUMMER 2027 RESEARCH INCENTIVE AWARD (application opens 1/13/27)
COTA Scholarship Enhancement Fund (SEF)
2027-2028
The College of the Arts Scholarship Enhancement Fund (SEF) competition is supported by the UF Office of Research to stimulate new or existing creative/research activity in the arts and humanities at the University of Florida. These awards are intended to help COTA faculty grow in their research trajectories and position themselves for extramural funding. Faculty applicants may propose to advance or conclude current projects or develop new projects, but proposals should detail a specific scope of work to be completed within the award period. The total amount of funding to be awarded is $100,000.
Award Amount: Up to $7,500
Award Period: January 2027 through November 2028
Award Deadline: October 5, 2026 11:59 PM EST
Proposal Guidelines:
SEF 27-28 APPLICATION TEMPLATE
APPLY FOR A SCHOLARSHIP ENHANCEMENT AWARD (application opens 9/2/26)
COTA Proposal Development Incentive Award (PDIA)
2026-2027
The Proposal Development Incentive Award supports faculty pursuing competitive external funding opportunities to advance research and creative activity within the College of the Arts. Review the full guidelines & eligibility terms here:
2026-2027 PROPOSAL DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVE AWARD CALL & GUIDELINES
Award Amount:
- $1,000 lump-sum award for single PI proposals.
- $750 lump-sum award to each of two COTA PIs in collaboration.
- $500 lump-sum award to each of three COTA PIs in collaboration.
Up to $7,500 in award funding distributed across Academic Year 2026–2027. Awards are on a first-come, first-served basis to those who meet the requirements. This award is not intended as supplemental salary compensation.
Deadline:
Applications accepted on a rolling basis through February 28. Submit the COTA Funding Interest Form by February 28 to determine eligibility and share project details.
Proposals submitted to sponsors after May 31 may be considered for funding in the next fiscal year.
Creative B Catalyst Grant
2026-2027
(RFP coming late fall 2026)
Overview: Established in 2010 with support from the UF Office of the Provost, Creative B is a summer program for UF students that brings together creative resources and energies across the campus to provide unique opportunities during the Summer B term.
Program Objectives: UF faculty and staff are invited to apply for catalyst grants to support the organization of interdisciplinary arts activities that will occur during Summer B. Proposals are welcome from any field or unit on campus (however, we encourage collaboration with faculty or staff from the College of the Arts). Priority will be given to proposals featuring the following:
- Collaboration: Leveraging collective resources and talents of creative programs at UF.
- Innovation: Supporting projects, research programs, activities, classes, and performances.
- Community Engagement: Attracting students, alumni, and community members to participate through the arts.
- Interdisciplinary Creativity: Building new programmatic structures to encourage strategic partnerships.
Period of performance: Summer B semester
School, Center, and Institute Research Funding Opportunities
COTA schools, centers, and institute offer research and research travel support to their faculty, including the Gatorade Fund made available by the UF Office of Research for tenured and tenure-accruing faculty. Speak with your Director to learn more about in-unit funding and how to apply.