Visit St. Pete Clearwater staff and local arts partners on Wednesday outlined a proposed $500,000 arts tourism program designed to brand a single ‘‘month of the arts’’ and drive visitation across Pinellas County.

The plan dedicates $100,000 for program administration (Creative Pinellas 75%, Saint Pete Arts Alliance 15%, Clearwater Arts Alliance 10%) and $400,000 for competitively selected arts experiences. Organizers said awards would come in two tiers: up to $25,000 for larger productions and up to $10,000 for smaller projects. Applications must demonstrate a clear tourism tie, be produced in Pinellas County and agree to collect metrics such as attendance, zip-code capture and economic impact, officials said.

Todd Wellman of Creative Pinellas, who outlined eligibility and evaluation procedures, said the panel envisions a seven-member selection committee that would include Visit St. Pete Clearwater representation, hospitality representatives and arts experts to vet proposals and prioritize projects that increase visitation. Brian (Visit St. Pete Clearwater staff) and other presenters said larger events would be paired with destination marketing efforts but that detailed marketing plans will be finalized as awardees are selected.

Local arts leaders and board members urged scheduling flexibility. Beth Daniels of the Clearwater Arts Alliance and other community speakers suggested shifting the focal month to mid-October through mid-November to align with established music and arts festivals and to avoid Thanksgiving-week disruption. Board members also asked staff to ensure smaller events have realistic marketing support and that Visit St. Pete Clearwater’s marketing team can amplify major awardees.

After discussion, the advisory panel made and seconded a motion to move the arts tourism proposal forward; the chair announced the motion passed by voice vote. Staff said the program would be evaluated after year one and could be refined for future cycles.

What’s next: staff will finalize application materials, confirm selection-committee membership and bring implementation details to the board as the program timeline is developed.