Jesse Scheckner
Gov. Ron DeSantis has appointed four new members and reappointed three others to the Florida Council on Arts and Culture.
Each will serve a four-year term and advise Secretary of State Cord Byrd on grant funding for — you guessed it — arts and culture.
One of the newcomers gave a five-figure donation to a super PAC backing the Governor’s short-lived presidential bid last year.
Atop the list of appointees DeSantis’ office announced Friday was Ashley Gibson Barnett, the owner of Barnett Creative LLC. Among other things, she is a Board member of Florida Southern College, the Polk Museum of Art, Florida Chamber Foundation and Friends of Bonnet Springs Park Advisory Board.
She holds a Juris Doctor and master’s degree in law from Emory University, as well as a bachelor’s degree in economics from Florida Southern.
In June 2023, Barnett gave $20,000 to Never Back Down Inc., a super PAC that supported DeSantis’ run for President.
He also appointed Lauren Sarah Carpenter, the co-founder and Executive Director of Salome Chamber Orchestra Inc. Carpenter also co-founded and works as the Chief Operating Officer of Carpenter Fine Violins and Collectables.
Carpenter received the Manhattan School of Music’s Mary Lemon Award and was selected as a soloist and medal winner in the Washington Chamber Symphony’s Viva Vivaldi Competition.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in politics from Princeton University.
New member Sofia Diaz is a client services analyst at Bank of New York Mellon. She previously worked as a market research analyst and social media manager for ONE Sotheby’s International Realty.
She earned her bachelor’s degree in politics from Princeton University.
Beverly Frank, the principal and an architect at BFRANK Studios LLC, rounds out the list of new members. She is the former President and serves as a current member of the Florida American Institute of Architects and was a member of the University of South Florida School of Architecture and Community Design Dean of Libraries Advisory Board.
Frank earned her bachelor’s degree in art education and a master’s degree in architecture from the University of South Florida.
DeSantis also reappointed:
— Lisa Burgess, the founder of Burgess Modern + Contemporary and President of New River Fine Art Inc.
— Caroll Hanley Goggin, CEO and COO of DRG Promotions, and Chair of the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce.
— Frank Gromling, owner and Director of Ocean Art Gallery. He is also a U.S. Air Force veteran and former Commissioner of Flagler Beach.
The Governor is responsible for appointing seven of the Florida Council on Arts and Culture’s 15 members. The Senate President and House Speaker each appoint four members, all of whom serve two-year terms.
According to the Council website, the appointments are based on geographic representation and “demonstrated history of community service in the arts and culture.”
8 comments
Michael K
June 7, 2024 at 8:14 pm
The largest of the four categories of grants overseen by the state’s In 2024, Division of Cultural Affairs, Cultural and Museum grants, received $26 million to be shared by 625 organizations, which will get less than half of what they qualify for under the state’s long-established vetting and evaluation system.
More than $56 million goes to unvetted pet projects advanced by lobbyists and – surprise – Republican legislators.
No offense to the appointees, but this governor is not supportive of arts and culture and the highly respected independent peer review vetting process that is standard practice everywhere else in the nation.
It’s a disgrace. Florida is in the race to the bottom with arts funding.
Anormous
June 8, 2024 at 1:42 am
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rick whitaker
June 7, 2024 at 9:41 pm
desantis is not qualified to make such appointments, and i doubt he would seek council. once again, desantis is driving florida into a ditch at high speed.
Elvis Pitts "The Big Voice On The Right" American
June 8, 2024 at 4:03 am
Thank goodness we have these Sage Conservstive Patriots appointed to oversee Arts and Culture in The Gteat State of Florida.
Many Dook 4 Brains Leftys just got schooled in the respect that they thought Arts and Culture should belong to their “WOKE ILK”.
Y’all Dooks are highly Whizzed that The Sage Ronald took away your Last Bastian of Wokness.
“IN YOUR FACE DOOKS”.
I guess some of y’all Dooks forgot; Florida is where “Woke Goes To Die”.
Everybody is now free to Relax their Sphincters,
Elvis [FKA EARL] Pitts “Art and Culture Professor Emeritis” American
rick whitaker
June 8, 2024 at 6:58 pm
EARL PITTS / BILLY PURSER, having a plastic flamingo in your front yard is not a sign you are cultured and artistically gifted. sphincter man, go back to bed.
Speedy y SloPoke
June 8, 2024 at 4:10 am
Thanks Professor Pitts American for making clear to those Dooks Florida is not their place on the planet.
Goodbye Dooks Speedy y SloPoke Gonzalez
Elvis Pitts "The Big Voice On The Right" American
June 8, 2024 at 8:55 am
Thank you Speedy and SloPoke,
And a special “Shout-Out” to your “Hispanic Posse” for bringing in The Hispanic Trump Vote Nation-Wide
What the Dooks missed when they opened the borders was this Sage Fact:
All the “Immigrants” just left a “Corrept Banna Republic” just like the Un-Sage 08IDEN Sad-Ministration has made of The USA.
IN FACT:
Many of the Border Crossers came here with the intent of “Saving The USS from The Dooks” much like the USA saved Europe from The Nazis back in “WWII THE BIG ONE”.
Thank you Sage Patriot Border Crossers. And curses on all you White Dook 4 Brains Leftys who support the Idiot 08IDEN Sad-Ministration,
Elvis Pitts American
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June 12, 2024 at 12:10 am
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