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28 LAS OLAS BOULEVARD & ISLESAlmost thinking out loud, she said, %u201cwe have to have access to the executive offices. We were dealing with senators and representatives mostly and nearly exclusively because that%u2019s where the budget is built, and that veto is the last thing. We focus on building up the appropriation as much as we can so that when it goes to the last part, it%u2019s a balanced budget. And we hope that we make it past the veto pen, and (the governor) signs off on it because it%u2019s already balanced. But we have to look at ourselves and say, %u2018Wow, we didn%u2019t see that coming but why didn%u2019t we see that coming because it was always possible?%u201dOn the advocacy front, Dunlap believes that local arts groups should become more engaged %u2013 that the membership from Broward in the FCA is only about 20 and that the majority of organizations slated to get funding from the state are not members of the alliance. %u201cWhich means that they%u2019re likely not engaged in the advocacy piece,%u201d he said. For local arts groups, Dunlap believes that engagement is key. %u201cWe can%u2019t only raise our voices when there%u2019s a crisis, but we should be engaging those legislators and advocates in the conversation on a regular basis %u2013 and on the local level with our commissioners. If we%u2019re more engaged on a regular basis, it may just make it a lot harder for these things to happen.%u201dFunding Florida%u2019s arts community is a roller coaster ride and, as just proven, can be struck down by a politician%u2019s whim. %u201cIt is a line item that is subject to the veto because that is the way it is structured,%u201d said Jones, adding that all arts grants are funded with non-recurring funds. %u201cI want to acknowledge how damaging this is to people%u2019s expectations and plans and their programming, but we do have to look at what can we do to avoid this next year? How do we get ahead of it?%u201dThere is no reversing the veto, but concerned citizens can reach out to the governor and legislators to have their voices heard.To contact the governor%u2019s office, call (850) 717-9337.Also, know who your legislators are and how to contact them. If you aren%u2019t sure who represents your community, contact Tallahassee for his or her mailing addresses, phone numbers, social media links, and email address. For the House, contact the Clerk%u2019s Office at (850) 717-5400. For the Senate, contact President Senator Kathleen Passidomo%u2019s office at (850) 487-5229.This story was produced by Broward Arts Journalism Alliance (BAJA), an independent journalism program of the Broward County Cultural Division. Visit ArtsCalendar.com for more stories about the arts in South Florida.Arts & Culture continuedElizabeth Price as Blanche DuBois and Tim Davis as Stanley Kowalski in New City Players%u2019 %u201cA Streetcar Named Desire%u201d opening July 13 at Island City Stage. It was the first year the Broward County theater company had applied for state funding. (Photo by Eric Campbell)