Florida Arts Leaders Urge Governor To Restore Funding For Organizations

The leaders of the Orlando and Tampa Fringe festivals have issued an open letter to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, stating their willingness to relinquish their grant funds if the governor restores the $32 million in state funding he vetoed for over 600 Florida arts groups. The letter, which expresses a sense of shared concern for the citizens of Florida, hopes that Governor DeSantis will consider their proposal with an open mind.

The vetoed funding was a significant blow to the arts and cultural sector, with arts organizations across the state scrambling to fill budget holes. The elimination of all grant funding for arts and culture by Governor DeSantis was unprecedented, and came at a time when many organizations were still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. Governor DeSantis' decision was met with widespread criticism... with many labeling it an extension of his "culture wars." The governor has been known to support laws limiting what can be said in classrooms about sexual orientation and gender identity, as well as prohibiting the teaching of an academic framework outlining the ways systemic racism is part of American society.

In response to the letter, "a DeSantis spokeswoman referred to the governor's previous remarks," in which he stated that he would not support funding arts organizations that he believed were not a good use of taxpayer dollars. Critics argue that this is a misinformed and misguided approach... as the arts play a vital role in the cultural and economic well-being of a community.

The fate of the funding --- uncertain, but the open letter has sparked a renewed debate about the importance of arts education and the impact of budget cuts on local communities.

Source: Found here

Leaders of two performing arts festivals say that they will gladly give up their grants if Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis restores the $32 million in state funding he nixed for more than 600 Florida arts groups ⁘Like you, we the Orlando and Tampa Fringe festivals care greatly about the citizens of Florida,⁘ they said in an open letter to the governor. "Given that common ground, we hope that you read this letter with an open mind and fully consider the proposal below."