This year, $32 million was cut from Florida’s state cultural arts budget. The impact was immediately felt statewide by 600 organizations as well as additional businesses. Some art organizations had to shut their doors. This unprecedented slash of funds means supporting the arts at the local level is more important now than perhaps ever.
According to an impact 2022 study by Florida Arts & Culture, Florida’s cultural arts generated 91,270 jobs and $694 million in revenue, with an overall economic impact of $5.8 billion. As a tourist destination, the arts and tourism go hand in hand. The arts elevate every community’s Quality of Place. To defund that impacts the local experience our tourists travel here to enjoy, but more importantly, these cuts to organizations with education outreach programs have a direct impact on our local community, namely our children.
How can you help? Play your part. Donate. Purchase a ticket to attend a play or concert. Volunteer at an art festival. Own a business? Consider sponsoring an event or, better yet, an art organization’s entire season. You will enjoy marketing exposure for your business and the bonus of positively impacting the Quality of Place of your community. Some organizations, such as Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation and Emerald Coast Theatre Co., featured this month, are membership-based. Consider joining. The benefits far exceed the cost. And you are sure to meet many new folks who will kindly remember your philanthropy—and pay it forward.
To do our part, in this and upcoming editions, we are sharing a series of articles spotlighting the missions of some of our local art organizations, so our readers can better understand what they contribute to our communities and the significant economic and social impacts the arts have, both as a driver of tourism and in fostering local communities, particularly for children, the military and educational outreach programs. I believe, when you hear their stories, you’ll agree.
~ Lori Leath Smith
