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Arts & Culture continued

density and diversity of our population...it’s like Miami is the comes across his desk and uses his authority under the Florida
future of the country... I think in terms of population that is true, Constitution to make veto decisions that are in the best interest
but when things like this happen, it makes it impossible to be of the State of Florida.” Friedland also provided a link to the
true when it’s not supported on the state level... of what we governor’s prepared budget veto letter.
could be on a cultural and artistic level.”
Mark Ard, the director of external affairs for the Florida
Listed on the state’s Florida Division of Cultural Affairs website, Department of State, responded in an email that “this year, the
statistics trumpet how the arts are an economic engine, citing focus was on member projects. Governor DeSantis’ ‘Focus on
a national study by Americans for the Arts. The division cited Florida’s Future’ budget does not include funding for General
that: Florida’s arts and cultural industry generated $5.8 billion Program Support; however . . . (the) budget does include
of economic activity, including $2.9 billion by nonprofit nearly $30 million in legislative line items for arts and culture
arts and culture organizations; that the economic activity agencies and organizations, which includes $5.3 million in
supported 91,270 full-time jobs and generated $3.8 billion in African-American Cultural Grants that support renovations and
resident household income, and that Florida’s arts and culture boost the development of new facilities at our state’s numerous
industry delivers $694.7 million in local, state, and federal African-American cultural and historical sites.”
government revenue.
The loss of $70,500 in state funding to the South Florida
Florida’s Funding Drop Symphony Orchestra will impact arts education and outreach
Less than 10 years ago, Florida ranked third in the United to the community, according to Jacqueline Lorber, CEO and
States for arts funding. In 2019, it was 48 out of 50 states, and president, who said that “we have to find a way to make the
then in 2022, the state ranked 17th among states in terms of show go on, right? So, we have to do fundraising to work toward
per capita funding to agencies supporting visual artists, dance that gap,” said Lorber, adding that the impact spreads across
troupes and small theaters, according to data from the National three Florida counties since the orchestra performs concerts and
Assembly of State Arts Agencies. The FY25 budget puts Florida does outreach in Broward, Miami-Dade and Monroe.
squarely at the bottom again with its zero funding. Getting More Involved
In responding to a request from the governor’s office on the arts Jennifer Jones, president and CEO of the Florida Cultural
veto decision, Julia Friedland, the governor’s press secretary, Alliance (FCA) said the wake-up call, so to speak, has her
wrote: “The governor reviews every bill and appropriation that rethinking strategy regarding advocating for the arts.

Maestra Sebrina María Alfonso leads the Fort Lauderdale-based South Florida Symphony
Orchestra, which performs in three counties including Broward, Miami-Dade and Monroe.
(Photo by Steven T. Shire, courtesy SFSO)

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