Page 26 - LOBI0724

Arts & Culture continued

“The governor has, in the past, zeroed out arts funding in his Statistics from the United States Department of Commerce,
proposed budget but has never vetoed (all of the arts funding) Bureau of Economy Analysis (BEA) showed that arts and
in the budget presented to him by the legislature,” said Phillip cultural economic activity accounted for $39 billion of
Dunlap, director of the Broward Cultural Division, adding Florida’s economy and 3.1 percent of Florida’s Gross
that state arts funding was severely cut in the wake of the Domestic Product or GDP.
Marjory Stoneman Douglas school shooting and back-to-back Bonnie Clearwater, director and chief curator of NSU Art
hurricanes to divert more funds to school safety and hurricane Museum Fort Lauderdale, added that the elimination of state
response.
funding “was disappointing especially as our programs and
“Even in that instance, it was the legislature that cut the budgets for 2024-25 are already in place.”
budgets, not the governor through a veto,” said Dunlap.
“As a leader of arts organizations in Florida since 1985, I
Arts Boosts Florida’s Economy have witnessed and was part of the phenomenal growth of art
Facts back up that arts and culture are a major contributing and culture in Florida. Much of this growth was stimulated by
industry to the state’s economy. grants from local governments and the state.”
For Broward County theater company New City Players, the
“There are statistics that show that the arts in every county
in Florida get a financial boost of a 9 to 1 return,” said recommended amount for funding was $22,810. It was the
Dunlap. Using the 9 to 1 ($9 locally for every $1 spent) theater’s first year in applying for state funding, according to
return on investment equation, that’s a loss of $30 million in Tim Davis, the producing artistic director. And while the little
Broward alone. more than $10,000 they could have received from the state
would have boosted wages, for instance, “it’s not money
“The amount of arts funding (the governor) vetoed is de we’ve had before and were relying on, but yes it will have
minimis to the billions in surplus Florida carries, but the local an effect. Davis said there is a larger issue in the lack of state
detriment is extraordinary. These programs are not only vital support than funding and something more far reaching.
to fostering culture and creativity, but they’re also sound
investment components to all communities,” said Sen. Jason
Pizzo, (D-Hollywood). In Pizzo’s district, the Art and Culture
Center/Hollywood would have received $61,100, 47 percent
of a recommended $130,000.

Tim Davis, the producing artistic director of Broward County’s
New City Players, whose company was likely to have received
state funding, said that the optics of non-state support are concerning.
(Photos by Ryan Arnst)

The arts are “sound investment components to all communities,” “Why are you cutting something that drives the economy and
said Sen. Jason Pizzo, (D-Hollywood). In Pizzo’s district, the
Art and Culture Center/Hollywood was earmarked to have drives the overall, to use a business term, the overall brand
received $61,100 from the state in funding. of the state? We could be a true artistic mecca based on the
(Photo from Florida Senate Photo Gallery through Wikimedia Commons)
24 LAS OLAS BOULEVARD & ISLES

6/26/24 8:04 PM
LOBI 0724 A.indd 24 6/26/24 8:04 PM
LOBI 0724 A.indd 24