The proposed changes to the way Florida arts organizations receive state funding combine vigilance and hope for leaders of cultural nonprofits watching Tallahassee’s development.
“We’re between the rocks and the difficult places,” said Jennifer Jones, president of advocacy groups across the state.
This week, cultural leaders and advocates will travel to the state capital to meet with legislators on the annual Arts and Culture Advocacy Day. Art-wrapped charter buses are more modest as Central Florida forces are smaller than in recent past and are looking for results that are different from last year’s budget.
They see some good news: With his proposed budget of $115.6 billion, Desantis recommends $32 million in arts and cultural funding.
DeSantis says he rejected a national arts grant for the “sexual” fringe festival
“I think it’s a message,” Jones said. “It’s like, ‘Yes, I make room for art.’
However, vigilance comes from new strings attached to the money and changes it to a procedure that is permitted.
Fewer recipients
The list of funding recommendations before Congress, Jones obtained in his request for public records, has not calmed anxiety as it significantly reduces the number of organizations receiving grants.
Of the people of Central Florida, they were considered eligible for state funding last year, but are not missing from this year’s recommendations: Orlando Orlando, Enzia Theatre, Orlando Museum of Art, Orlando Downtown Arts District, Holocaust Memorial Resources & Education Center, Central Florida Zoo, Orlando Gay Chorus, Orlando Frengue.
DeSantis denounced the Fringe Festival, which is called “sexual” in nature when he rejected statewide arts funding last June.
Sex? Grand standing? Arts leaders and experts look into why Desantis cuts funds – and prepare for the future
A scaled backlist reduces the number of organizations recommended to state general aid grants from 630 last year to 181. This was achieved by tightening the requirements. Applicants will be scored by a panel of experts as part of the grant process. In the past, a score of 80 was considered “passing.” This year, only organizations with over 95 grades were listed on the recommendation list.
“Of course, fundraising helps,” said Diana Thietke of Enzian, a non-profit arthouse theater in Maitland. She warned that the theatres were not expecting state money due to veto last year, but that the decline in funding would have a concrete artistic and economic impact.
“You obviously need to cut down on programming, or you have to cut off staff,” she said. “It certainly does harm us.”
There may be ways to expand the list of recommendations, but there is a need for a quick passage of the same bill through the House and Senate, that is, a bill that adds new terms to the funding process.
That’s where rocks and hard places come in.
“We need a fuss to pass the Friendler bill and get a friendly list in front of Congress,” Jones said. “We can’t sleep with that.”
Suggested Changes
However, there are concerns about how the proposed changes to the bill will affect the state’s cultural scene.
“We’re not sure about that,” said Trudy Wild, director of public grants and advocacy at United Arts in Central Florida, a fundraising and support organization for cultural organizations in Lake, Orange, Osceola and Seminole Counties.
One new requirement for receiving money is that organizations must “implement activities and programs suitable for all ages.”
“We provide programming for all ages,” said Enzian’s Tietke, from films for children to cult films, ballet, opera and theatre screenings.
“We just want to be clear about what that means,” Jones agreed. For example, a history exhibition at the Holocaust, “it’s good to have a lot of things support” – but you’re not scaring little kids because it may not be suitable for all ages. ”
The bill also changes the way funds are distributed. Previously, the group received a percentage of recommended grants based on funds approved by the Congress. In the revised system, groups receive 100% of the recommended funds in order of scoring until there is no pot of money.
“It’s going to leave nothing for many organizations,” Wilde said.
Winter Park Playhouse moves to Shakespeare Center for the ’25-26 season
Perhaps most importantly, the bill gives more power to the Secretary of State appointed by the governor and makes changes to the fundraising recommendation list before going to Congress. Specifically, he or she will ensure that the organization complies with the terms of funding.
“I introduced this bill to amend the role of the State Department’s secretary and allow the Secretary to act as the supreme arts and culture officer,” wrote Rep. Chip Lamarca, a Republican who includes parts of Brevard County. “The bill also allows secretaries to review grant funding lists to ensure that grant funding meet certain criteria.”
Jones said the change would result in the secretary’s authority over arts spending “less interpreted.”
The State Department was contacted by the Sentinel but did not answer email questions about the bill.
The bill applies not only to general operational support, but also to all cultural grant programs. Florida project grants were not recommended for a central Florida organization to build Florida grant programs. Only the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra recommended receiving funding in a grant program that builds donations, but Congress has not funded that particular initiative in years.
However, some local nonprofits can receive facility grants. Recommended funds included the Doctor of Performing Arts in Orlando, Winter Park Playhouse, Orlando Science Center, Orlando Philharmonic for work at Plaza Live, and the $500,000 awards for the new performance area in Clermont. Dorayama was also recommended $200,000 to the community center.
Why you want it
The leader sees the reasons for wanting, starting with the fact that DeSantis has recommended funds at all.
“I think they realized that what happened last year shouldn’t happen,” said Wild of United Arts. The governor’s refusal to raise arts funding has created a national headline.
In February, Congress temporarily considered to override the veto of cultural funds, but ultimately took no action. Still, Wilde said, “And then there’s a lot of great conversations. People are listening and paying attention.”
The Florida Cultural Union has hired new lobbying company Oak Strategies to meet with lawmakers and meet with Rally Support.
Also, no matter what happens with a particular arts subsidy program, various spending bills can direct money to cultural nonprofits. The Orlando Science Center is seeking $368,167 for its rural education program, while the Orange County-based HAPCO Music Foundation is seeking $200,000 for music education efforts to help underprivileged children attend college.
Through the Central Florida Arts Workforce Initiative, the William Daniel Mills Theatre in Orlando is seeking $500,000 for a training program for future theatre professionals.
Some budget requests for improvements to the facility: The Phillips Center for Performing Arts is seeking $750,000 to build a rooftop terrace, while the Orlando Museum of Art has requested $4 million to upgrade the visitor area, replace aging air handling system and repair flood damage to the Rock Haven Park building.
Both Wild and Jones said networking on Wednesday’s Arts Advocacy Day remains important.
“I feel that the broader foundation of Congress supports the arts and culture,” Wilde said. “We want to continue building relationships. We can’t give up.”
Jones pointed out that when a band of lawmakers performed rock hits from the ’80s and ’90s at kick-off social events, she said she would set the tone of her advocacy work.
“We need to be serious, but we need to be unhappy,” she said.
“But better than nothing,” she said of the proposed funds.
Follow us at facebook.com/matthew.j.palm or email us at mpalm@orlandosentinel.com. Find out more entertainment news and reviews at orlandosentinel.com/entternationment.
Original issue: March 10th, 2025 5am Edit
