Local arts and culture groups in Florida, including Tallahassee and Leon County, scrambled Thursday to find money in the wake of Gov. Ron DeSantis' unexpected budget veto of $26 million in statewide cultural museum funding.
The Tallahassee/Leon County Council on Culture and Arts, or COCA, issued a call to action to supporters of 23 museums, galleries, and festivals in the capital region who lost more than $900,000 collectively when DeSantis exercised his line-item veto authority.
The veto comes as Tallahassee is already grappling with the uncertain future of its own arts district at Railroad Square. After a tornado ravaged quirky warehouse artist colonies in the area, Railroad Square owners have signaled they need the city to buy land or invest in the property lest they be forced to turn to private developers.
In an interview, COCA executive director Kathleen Spehar laid out a three-step action plan for the local arts community to address the loss of state funding, as groups work to finalize a budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1.
Spehar said COCA is working with the Florida Cultural Alliance on a longer-term strategy, but for the immediate future she called on residents to join support organizations for arts and culture groups, for the City of Tallahassee to step up and fill the void with whatever resources are available, and for local businesses and economic development entities to contribute.
A legislative analysis found arts and cultural attractions are a tourism draw that generate jobs and billions of dollars in economic activity statewide.
Now, many of the Leon County groups facing a funding crisis include longstanding organizations like the Tallahassee Museum, Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra, LeMoyne Art Foundation – and COCA itself.
“These are organizations that have been in town doing arts and culture for years and years. The Young Actors Theatre is celebrating its 50th anniversary next year. COCA is celebrating its 40th anniversary. We’ve all had our funding from the state completely eliminated,” Spehar said.
Without addressing any specific veto when he signed the $116.5 billion budget, DeSantis said he cut nearly $1 billion in spending to keep state spending “within a certain parameter.”
“Some of the stuff I don't think was appropriate for state tax dollars,” said DeSantis, before he signed a budget that also boosted state reserves to $17 billion.
Dr. Jeff Sharkey, a longtime Tallahassee lobbyist, called the vetoes a "remarkable" change in state policy.
“It’s asurprisingshift in the perception that it's not a role for state government to support Florida culture after (previous administrations) funded these grants for many, many, many years under both Republican and Democratic administrations,” said Sharkey, who lobbies for Leon County.
Senate and House budget negotiators had cut the funds recommended by the Florida Council on Arts and Culture by more than half. DeSantis then eliminated the line items completely.
The move cost the Young Actors Theatre of Tallahassee more than $42,000. The Midtown theatrical group has produced actors such as Cheryl Hines of “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” Tony Hale of “Arrested Development” and “Veep” and Allison Miller of “King.”
Young Actors CEO Sarah Roy said, despite a significant loss of revenue, she intends to keep putting on shows.
“Next year we will stand on our 50-year legacy of serving our community and continue to steward our nonprofit mission to inspire children through quality education training in the performing arts and professional-caliber theatrical productions highlighting students,” Roy said.
More:DeSantis vetoes arts and museum money, shocks Florida cultural organizations
Here's the list of Tallahassee/Leon County arts and cultural funding vetoes:
- 621 Gallery - $12,574
- EnhanceAbility - $8,648
- Florida Art Education Association - $18,800
- Florida Association of Museums Foundation - $33,473
- Florida School Music Association - $30,530
- Florida State University Museum of Fine Art - $42,300
- Goodwood Museum and Gardens - $42,300
- John Gilmore Center for African American History - $25,458
- LeMoyne Art Foundation - $42,300
- Making Light Productions - $29,492
- Opening Nights - $68,941
- Southern Shakespeare Company - $18,800
- Tallahassee Little Theatre - $35,767
- Tallahassee Museum of History and Natural Science - $70,500
- Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra - $68,204
- Tallahassee-Leon County Cultural Resources Commission - $63,143
- Tallahassee Community College - $57,810
- The Florida Music Education Association - $45,547
- The Tallahassee Bach Parley - $14,878
- The Tallahassee Ballet - $53,839
- The Tallahassee Community Chorus - $11,750
- The Ringling at FSU - $70,500
- Young Actors Theater - $42,300
- Total: $907,859
James Call is a member of the USA TODAY NETWORK-Florida Capital Bureau. He can be reached atjcall@tallahassee.comand is on X as@CallTallahassee.
