ORLANDO, Fla. – After a $32 million cut in state funding for the arts, Central Florida is now trying to keep its art scene alive with new budget plans for the upcoming year.
In June, Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed all $32 million in arts funding for the 2024-2025 fiscal year.
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Without funding from the state, it is up to the individual counties to make space in their budget for the arts.
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In a press conference following the veto, DeSantis blamed the cut on what he called inappropriate uses of funding, mentioning popular fringe festivals like Orlando Fringe.
“You have your tax dollars being given in grants in things like the Fringe Festival, which is like a sexual festival where they’re doing all this stuff, and it’s like, how many of you think your tax dollars should go to fund that?” DeSantis said during a press conference in June.
This week, Orange County announced it would award $75 million in Tourist Development Taxes to help fund local arts and cultural programs, like the Orlando Science Center, Orlando Family Stage and the Wells’Built Museum Complex.
News 6 reached out to other local governments to see whether they offer funding for arts and cultural programs as well.
The Marion County Board of County Commissioners said they are supporting local artists by granting $5,000 to the Marion Cultural Alliance (MCA), a nonprofit that donates to art-based organizations throughout Ocala and Marion County.
Over the years, MCA has contributed $1.5 million to the arts and other charitable organizations, its website states. The Alliance grants an annual award that has given a total of $450,000 to support the arts.
Volusia County’s Community Cultural Grant program was allotted $611,758 for the 2024-25 fiscal year. The grant program is a nonprofit that funds art organizations that have been in operation for at least two years, according to Volusia County’s website. The county’s funds match the amount the amount of money the grant program awarded in the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 fiscal years.
Brevard County said there is a $202,000 grant for the Brevard Cultural Alliance, which has a public arts program.
Flagler County does not have direct arts funding, but the tourism development office has a few initiatives and programs that directly help fund arts, culture, and history programs and events for about $70,000.
In Seminole County, the Board of County Commissioners approved nearly $150,000 in the 2024-25 fiscal year budget to dedicate to the arts. “We fund Wayne Densch Performing Arts Center, Seminole County Arts Council, and host a grant program to smaller art orgs,” the county said in a statement.
Lake County said it receives “roughly $10,000 in Florida Arts License Play Revenue.” And its Promotional Activities and Arts Alliance Grant totals an estimated $45,000.
Community groups, meanwhile are stepping up funding.
In Orange County, United Arts of Central Florida, Inc. took matters into its own hands by opening a fundraiser on its website to make up for the loss.
Chris Brown, executive director of Orlando Family Stage, told News 6 in July that they too will raise money to fill the gap.
“It costs a lot of money to do what we do and provide the kind of value we provide in the community,” Brown said.
Sumter County officials reported there is no funding for the arts in its budget.
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