By Jim Carchidi
August 10, 2026
Creative City Project is opening a call for artists this week in support of IMMERSE 2027. An Aug. 12 Artist Launch event at The Abbey will welcome past contributors and new talent interested in participating. The event coincides with a 10-year proposal to fund the yearly arts festival through Orange County Tourist Development Tax (TDT) dollars.
Creative endeavours
Arts groups from around the world contribute to Orlando's yearly IMMERSE festival. Photos by Jim Carchidi
IMMERSE presented its 11th installment during the weekend of Feb. 20, filling downtown Orlando with experiences from more than 100 arts groups. U.K.-based Architects of Air, Blue Man Group, and Orlando Vocal Collective joined an array of creatives including painters, contortionists, puppeteers, and dancers. Creative City Founder and Executive Director Cole NeSmith devotes more than a year to putting the pieces together with his staff.
Cole NeSmith says the Creative City funding proposal is specifically geared toward funding IMMERSE, growing awareness and hosting ability, and expanding its impact as cultural tourism draw.
“It’s an all-the-time process,” he told The Orlando Real as preparations were under way in January. “Just knowing who is emerging and what exciting things are out there that we could bring to the festival.”
This week’s event at The Abbey, 100 S. Eola Dr., is the first step in curating talent to fill three days of experiences spanning 10 city blocks. About 70 arts groups participated for the first time this year, and it’s that level of interest that keeps NeSmith plugged into the worldwide arts community. He summed up the effort in a statement supporting the funding proposal.
“Around the world, cities are known for cultural events like Carnival in Rio, Mardi Gras in New Orleans, and Día de Muertos in Mexico. IMMERSE has the opportunity to become Orlando’s signature cultural experience - bringing artists into the streets, strengthening our community, and attracting visitors from around the globe.”
Funding the effort
The Creative City proposal is one of several TDT funding requests aimed at boosting cultural tourism, including an expansion of Dr. Phillips Center facilities and funding for Orlando Philharmonic.
A Citizen Task Force has reviewed $3 billion in requests for TDT funds, which come from a 6% levy on hospitality lodging that state law requires be reinvested into county tourism. The $22.5 million request from Creative City would fund the next 10 years of IMMERSE, supporting its growth as a draw for cultural tourism.
The request represents less than one percent of the funding under consideration by the TDT Task Force. According to the Downtown Orlando Partnership, IMMERSE draws more than 60,000 attendees and generates more than $1.5 million in local economic impact. The proposal also states that IMMERSE directly advances a county plan directive to “host large-scale, blockbuster events" rooted in the arts.
For NeSmith, the spotlight on the creative contributors and the fact they are all paid for their participation is paramount.
“It’s an opportunity to present something unique with every event and to give the talent the recognition they deserve.”
Attending the Aug. 12 Artist Launch is not a requirement to submit an artist proposal. The event begins at 7 p.m. Click here for more information, artist submission links, and to RSVP.
Sponsor: The Orlando Real is sponsored by the Pozek Group — the #1 real estate team in Orlando and the Official Real Estate Team of the Orlando Magic.
About the Author
Jim Carchidi is an Orlando journalist and photographer with previous work at the Orlando Sentinel and Orlando Business Journal. He covers development, arts, culture, and local stories for The Orlando Real.
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