More than $5.5 million will be directed towards six cultural organisations’ major projects after Orange County commissioners unanimously approved the annual Cultural Facilities grant.
The grant comes as a relief to unstable arts groups working to increase uncertainty around public funding. This year’s state budget eliminated four major cultural grant programs in 2024 via veto from Gov. Ron Desantis, but it is still under discussion. And the tourism development tax, which currently funds multiple local art cultivation programs, including approved programs, is currently under the microscope, to discuss changes in its objectives.
Tourism development tax, hotel 6% taxation, and other income from overnight stays are currently directed by law to tourism market efforts, convention centres, sports and cultural use. While state lawmakers have intensified recently about allowing them to fund other needs, such as transportation and affordable housing, the idea that state lawmakers would use money to offset property tax cuts.
The discussion has made arts leaders worried that cultural organizations will be ruled out in the cold.
“The TDT debate can be a crisis for the arts,” Central Florida President of United Arts Jennifer Evins told the Sentinel last month. “We’re all very nervous about that.”
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The six organizations receiving funding for the facility project this week are the Orlando Museum, Orlando Science Centre, Orlando Family Stage, Alvin Pollersek Museum & Sculpture Gardens, Blue Boove Centre for the Arts and the Orlando Philharmonic Plaza Foundation.
At a county commission meeting, Mayor Jerry Demings highlighted the importance of grants funded by TDT.
“This is the benefit of the community that will pay returns for years to come,” Demings said, noting that none of the projects would be possible without funding.
Kathryn Mattson, executive director of the Orlando Museum of Art, said he “completely agreed” to the mayor’s remarks.
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“There’s no way we can raise millions of dollars very quickly without strong support from the county through TDT funding,” she said. “Small and medium-sized arts and cultural organizations don’t have the reserves large enough to adopt large capital expenditures in a timely manner. And in our case, time is extremely important given the scope of capital improvements required to protect the broad, valuable and inexpensive art collections that OMA holds in public trust.”
The museum in Rock Haven Park is in the middle of a multi-million dollar project to replace leaking roofs and aging air handling systems. This latest facility grant, for $970,000, will link with lighting controls, security and fire alarms to help update the technology that runs air treatment systems.
To receive funds, the cultural organisation must show that the county has raised $1 for every two dollars granted. The group also undergoes an extensive review process in which the review panel grades them with project concepts and organizational management and financial strength. To qualify for fundraising, an organization must earn 80 out of 100 possible points.
The county’s Arts and Culture Advisory Board then reviews the panel’s recommendations, with the county commissioners having the final say.
The other five projects approved for fundraising are:
Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens: $200,000 for renovation and upgrades to the Winter Park facility’s roof, air handling system, windows and doors to celebrate its 65th anniversary.
Blue Bamboo Center for the Arts: $1,000,000 for construction of a new facility at the former Winter Park Library. This funding will be used in renovations to green rooms, jazz gardens, signs, lighting and elevators, among other things. The venue will open on June 22nd.
Orlando Family Stage: $350,000 for energy-efficient LED lighting and signage at the Rock Haven Park building, approaching its 100th anniversary.
Orlando Philharmonic Plaza Foundation: $1,040,187 to expand Plaza Live on Bamby Avenue by adding a patron room. Money moves the foundations and slabs of laying, HVAC equipment for additional preparation, and directs towards new landscaping.
Orlando Science Center: $2,000,000 for renovations to Cinedome at the Rock Haven Park facility. The funding will support the transition from film to digital film projection, expanding theatre seating.
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