Associated Press
The Coral Gables Art Cinema will be short more than $100,000 this year. About $150,000 has suddenly disappeared from the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra’s budget. The Miami New Drama also has an unexpected $150,000 budget hole.
Across Florida, arts groups are scrambling after Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis unexpectedly vetoed $32 million in arts funding on June 12, eliminating all state grants for those organizations in a move that advocates say will devastate arts and culture in the Sunshine State.
“What baffles me is that Florida has been trying to attract business from New York, Chicago and Los Angeles, and what message are we sending if we cut funding to our cultural organizations?” said Michel Hausmann, artistic director and co-founder of the Miami New Drama in Miami Beach. “Are you going to attract people to a state where arts and culture aren’t valued? They are the lifeline of a city.”
Arts leaders across the state say it’s the first time they recall a Florida governor eliminating all grant funding for arts and culture, and it comes as arts organizations that survived COVID-19 pandemic closures are still recovering with smaller attendance and revenues.
For the more than 600 arts groups and facilities that were up for state grants, DeSantis’ veto was a surprise because the Legislature had approved arts funding, though what lawmakers approved was less than half of what was initially recommended by the state Division of Arts and Culture. Florida arts organizations had planned their budgets accordingly.
When asked at a news conference on Thursday why he vetoed arts funding in the state’s $116.5 billion budget, DeSantis said some of the money was slotted for programming that many taxpayers would find objectionable because of its sexual nature or for other reasons.
“When I see money being spent that way, I have to be the one to stand up for taxpayers and say, ‘You know what, that is an inappropriate use of taxpayer dollars,’” DeSantis said. “I think the Legislature needs to reevaluate how that’s being done.”
Most arts groups are still assessing the impact, but some may have to cut programming or staff.
“We are appealing to the community to help cover part of the budget deficit and we are exploring other funding opportunities in the private sector,” said Brenda Moe, executive director of Coral Gables Art Cinema. “We must get creative to plug this hole.”
The Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra will trim expenses, look for a way to increase revenue and hope county and city officials fill some of the gap, said Karina Bharne, the symphony’s executive director.
State grants made up 10% of the Coral Gables Art Cinema’s budget, more than 3% of the Miami New Drama’s budget and around 2% of the Orlando Philharmonic’s budget.
PEN America, the free-speech nonprofit, likened the arts funding cuts to legislative priorities pushed by the DeSantis administration, such as laws limiting what can be said in classrooms about sexual orientation and gender identity and prohibiting the teaching of an academic framework outlining the ways systemic racism is part of American society.
”DeSantis is taking his war on culture to a new level,” said Katie Blankenship, director of PEN America’s Florida office. “This decision will not only devastate the arts but add to his legacy of censorship and disregard for art, literature, and knowledge.”
State grants are important to Florida arts groups not only because of their monetary size but because they can be used for salaries, rent, insurance and utilities. Often, private donors make gifts with strings attached for certain programs or performances. Ticket sales cover as little as a third of some arts groups’ budgets.
“It hurts us dramatically in our ability to pay rent and pay salaries,” said Robert Kesten, executive director of the Stonewall National Museum Archives & Library in Fort Lauderdale, which had been expecting $42,300 from the state this year.
To overcome shortfalls, arts groups may have to explore alternative fundraising strategies, such as tapping new Florida residents who haven’t donated before, or collaborate with each other by sharing staff, spaces, costumes or sets, said Jennifer Evins, president and CEO of United Arts of Central Florida in Orlando.
Florida’s arts and cultural industry generates $5.7 billion in economic activity a year, including $2.9 billion by nonprofit arts and culture organizations, and supports more than 91,000 full-time jobs, according to a study from Americans for the Arts in collaboration with the state Division of Arts and Culture and Citizens for Florida Arts Inc.
“We make a huge impact on the quality of life. We make the state more appealing, and we don’t cost money,” Hausmann said. “There’s no justification for this cut unless it’s trying to make a political statement. It’s not an economic one.”
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Republished with permission of the Associated Press.
20 comments
Jojo
June 30, 2024 at 7:37 am
Does our philistine of a governor think democrats are the only people passionate about the arts?
My guess is that there are going to be a whole lot of pissed off republicans- but what does DeSantes care? He’s a lame duck governor.
Maybe next time we can vote in a democrat to undo all the damage
Jerry Glenn
June 30, 2024 at 8:23 am
How about “tax payers gain” instead of “arts groups lose”?
Michael K
June 30, 2024 at 1:10 pm
More like “Everyone loses.” Taxpayers gain nothing from the decline of an important sector of the economy.
Michael K
June 30, 2024 at 8:30 am
This governor is obsessed with sex and control. He’d be much happier running the morality police in Iran or for the Taliban. .
He wants to control what you can learn, how you think, what to think, what you can read, who you can love, and take total control of women’s bodies.
Now he’s insulted and demeaned millions of Florida taxpayers who are arts workers, volunteers, board members, ticket buyers, children, businesses and donors to arts and culture.
Taking a wrecking ball to a sector that does so much to make our communities great places to live, work and visit is political malpractice. And he destroys things under the banner of “freedom.”
Enough. This pathetic sad man cannot bear to see happy, authentic, curious and tolerant people enjoy life. He wants us all to be as petty, angry, bitter and vindictive as he is. The man has no sense of beauty joy and freedom. No sense of honor, no compassion or understanding of others, and no dignity or respect. Just power and control.. He should seek help.
Tom
June 30, 2024 at 12:43 pm
I was in Alaska recently and got chatting to an ex-Floridian who had moved up there so I asked why he’d left. His answer was that people in Florida were just too damned angry all the time. Doesn’t seem to matter if it’s the government or just driving down the road, it’s everywhere – angry people. Tolerance, apparently, is a thing of the past in Florida.
Ocean Joe
June 30, 2024 at 12:58 pm
Give some credit to the sun. I know it’s a hoax, etc., but having been here a long time, we didnt have or need air conditioned schools, or buses. It really wasn’t that hot.
Give some credit to the developers. All the concrete and the loss of woodlands/wetlands, gives us that radiant warmth long after the sun goes down.
Give some credit to gun ownership. Daily multiple shootings are now the norm. Thanks NRA!
Give some credit to our changing population. The mob of red transplants who want to make Florida something else who elected a governor who wants to make it Mississippi.
My Take
June 30, 2024 at 4:42 pm
Even years ago, law enforcement told drivers on the interstates in Miami not to make eye contact with other drivers, to avoid triggering rage and violence.
Elvis Pitts "THE BIG VOICE ON THE RIGHT" American
June 30, 2024 at 10:00 am
Good Morn ‘Ting Dook 4 Brains Leftys.
As I have previously explained:
Florida cant have nice things in The Arts because thr arts is the vehicle you Dooks used to Groom our precious childern in sexual dievancy.
Y’all did this to yourselves now quit your whining.
EPA
rbruce
June 30, 2024 at 10:36 am
Those who support specific art/music/theatre feel free to donate. Why should taxpayers who will never go to the Coral Cables Cinema, the Orlando Philharmonic or the Miami New Drama be force to pay for it? If these groups are so vital to their community, then their community needs to pay for it.
Michael K
June 30, 2024 at 11:51 am
I agree with you.
The community supports culture at all levels: neighborhood, city, county, state, and federal – and by individuals, visitor bureaus, businesses, corporations, foundations, and of course, admission revenue. All of these sources are interconnected. Take one away and the foundation begins to crumble. These organizations operate on razor-thin margins for the public benefit, not shareholder profit.
Whether or not you choose to attend, you still benefit. The cultural organizations you list are engines of social, economic and educational activity that contribute to the quality of life for everyone in the community. Even for you!
Elvis Pitts "THE BIG VOICE ON THE RIGHT" American
June 30, 2024 at 2:00 pm
I’m sorry Dooks,
But all of you (except R.Bruce) are wrong and you all know it.
You all, except for the Sage R. Bruce, are hereby placed under the Great Pain of an Elvis Pitts American 3 day Chastizement. Worst of all, as you all know, an Elvis Pitts American Chastizement puts you all, except R. Bruce, under a 3 day masturbation ban. So that means no wanking off for you men and no rubbing off for you increadably hot and juicy ladies.
FEEL THE BURN OF CHASTIZEMENT!!!!!
Your masturbation rights will be restored on Wednesday, July 3rd in the Year of Our Lord 2024 at 2:30 pm.
Any and all violations will be delt with personally by me, Elvis Pitts American.
PeterH
June 30, 2024 at 12:09 pm
Rbruce …… your tax dollars support many infrastructure projects and programs some individuals may never use. You may never have children yet your tax dollars build schools and pay for educational instruction. You may never travel on a jet but your tax dollars build airports. You may not own an automobile but your tax dollars build and maintain roads. You may never own a boat but your tax dollars pay the salary of the Coast Guard. It’s called social responsibility to be attentive of everyone’s interest.
Bill Pollard
June 30, 2024 at 2:22 pm
Well said! I don’t have children in public schools anymore, but I won’t complain about paying taxes for the upkeep of these schools. Children need to be educated. So it goes with where so many taxes go.
Elvis Pitts "THE BIG VOICE ON THE RIGHT" American
June 30, 2024 at 2:47 pm
Thank you Bill for your support and love of Me, Elvis Pitts American.
Thanks again Bill,
Elvis [FKA EARL] Pitts American
Linwood Wright
July 1, 2024 at 8:52 pm
Dumbest thing i’ve read in a while.
tom palmer
June 30, 2024 at 4:13 pm
One of the items Gov. DeSantis did not veto was thousands of dollars for the relocation of a ballfield in Polk County that has to be moved because a developer worked out a deal with the County Commission to extend a road–at taxpayer expense–to allow the developer to build a new subdivision on what was landlocked property. The developer had offered to pay to relocate the ballfield, but now the taxpayers will do it.
Elvis Pitts "THE BIG VOICE ON THE RIGHT" American
July 1, 2024 at 8:23 pm
Good evening America,
All of the Dook Commenters above are in violation of their masturbation 3 day ban due to having been placed under my Chastizement.
So many of you just thumbed your noses at the Sage Elvis that I really can not properly disipline all of you.
SO:
At this time you have all been forgiven and are no longer under an Elvis Pitts American Chastizement.
You are all free to Relax your Sphincters and wank to your Heart’s Content without the sexual guilt of “What Would Elvis Think”?
Nobody can say that Elvis does not care about y’all.
In exchange for the lifting of the Sage masturbation ban all I ask from you is your Trump vote for POTUS.
This is a Done Deal and I thank you all. You are now free to “Get Your Wank On” without the guilty feeling of “What Would Elvis Think”.
Enjoy yourselves and Who’s Your Daddy?
Thats right its Elvis Pitts American
Dr. Franklin Waters
July 1, 2024 at 8:50 pm
Nah, that’s a really stupid take.
Your personal cut was $45.
$45 dollar per Floridian to help support every museum, theater, zoo, and arts and music program in the state. That $45 is an investment in our state, and we all suffer from it. This will cost the state economy billions in losses from the fallout.
But Ron DeSantis is an incredibly stupid man, so it’s no surprise he doesn’t understand this.
SuzyQ
July 2, 2024 at 12:08 am
Governor Ron DeSantis is not only America’s Governor but is the most principled conservative leader in a generation and the most effective Florida governor ever. It helps explain why we Floridians re-elected him to a 2nd term in the greatest landslide in the history of modern Florida politics.
Biscuit
July 2, 2024 at 2:43 pm
Take it easy with the LSD, Suzy.
Arf.
Comments are closed.