Location: Alachua County is located in North Central Florida. The County government seat is situated in Gainesville. Gainesville is located 70 miles southwest of Jacksonville, 129 miles southeast of Tallahassee, 140 miles northeast of Tampa - St. Petersburg and 109 miles northwest of Orlando. Alachua County has a population of over 250,000 and a regional airport. The County itself consists of a total area of 969 square miles.

Form of Government: Alachua County is governed by a Board of five (5) elected County Commissioners and operates under the established County Manager Charter form of government. In addition to the five County Commissioners, there are five elected Constitutional Officers: Supervisor of Elections, Sheriff, Clerk of the Court, Tax Collector, and the Property Appraiser. The Alachua County Attorney also reports to the Board.

Alachua County Arts Council: The Arts Council of Alachua County (ACAC) serves as a resource for local artists and arts agencies, including all municipalities, throughout Alachua County. The Arts Council prepares applications for state and federal grants and re-grants eligible grants to local artists and local arts agencies. It prepares applications for eligible state and federal grants to provide enhanced resources for local artists and local arts agencies, and educates and advocates at the state and federal level on issues affecting the arts. 

The mission of The Arts Council of Alachua County is “enhance the quality of the visual environment in Alachua County, thereby adding to the quality of life and the level of citizen awareness of the importance of aesthetic experience in their everyday lives."