Governor's veto of arts funding hits home hard

The governor’s veto of all of Florida’s arts and culture grants in the state’s 2024-25 budget will have a roughly $790,000 impact on 13 local museums, theaters and music programs, including ones that work with children.

Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed $32 million in cultural and museum grants and related funding when he signed Florida’s annual budget into law on June 12. It was part of a sweeping $950 million in state grants and programs slashed by the governor.

“This just blindsided everybody,” said Keys State House Rep. Jim Mooney, R-Islamorada. “This hurts a lot of programs, especially programs that work with children. It’s huge. Across the state, this is huge. There are going to be a lot of services looking for money. .... The return on funding art is huge. It’s hard to understand.”

The 13 theaters, music programs, art, museums, cultural programs and foundations are located across the Keys. The cuts included $56,000 from the Keys Players, $70,500 for the Key West Museum of Art & History at the Custom House, $70,500 for the Mel Fisher Maritime Heritage Society, and $42,300 for the History of Diving Museum in Islamorada and $16,348 for Bahama Village Music Program.

In addition to help covering exhibits, the state funding allows the Key West Museum of Art & History at the Custom House to fund some of its biggest annual events, including its Holiday Concert & Bazaar and Papio Kinetic Sculpture Parade, which not only support local adult artists but youth student artists as well, Custom House curator Cori Convertito said.

“We are going to figure it out. We are not going to give up,” Convertito said.

The $32 million in grants that were due to be awarded account for less than .03% of the total state budget, and yet stood to benefit more than 630 worthy organizations in communities throughout the state. The grants had been thoroughly vetted in a bipartisan process and proven to generate $9 for every $1 allocated.

In Monroe County, $1.37 million had been recommended by the Division of Cultural Affairs for 13 arts organizations. The Studios of Key West was poised to receive at least $75,000 in operating funds and an additional $277,500 for much-needed improvements to its theater.

“Like most arts non-profits, The Studios already operates with a lean budget, and a hit like this is a significant one for all of us — especially coming with so little notice,” TSKW Executive Director Jed Dodds stated in a letter to arts patrons. “Many of you have already dug deep with your generosity as our fiscal year wraps up June 30, and rest assured that one way or another, it will be another fantastic arts season in Key West.”

Dodds recently participated in a virtual meeting held by the Florida Cultural Alliance.

“There is no immediate help and programs are going to have to look within their own communities,” Dodds told The Keys Citizen. “It’s really important funding. They are all on tight budgets.”

The veto will take away $32,000 in much-needed funds from the Red Barn Theater in Key West, which the state Legislature had approved and would have gone to help cover the cost of administrative salaries and other operating expenses. The local theater operates on a less than $500,000 budget, Red Barn Managing Director Mimi McDonald said.

“This is a big deal,” McDonald said. “This is going to be very impactful. This is going to hurt because everyone in town is going to turn to the private sector with their pails out and beg for money. We have many wonderful donors that are willing to give, but this is not sustainable. The arts contribute so much to the local economy in Monroe County.”

The money goes from the artists, musicians and actors to the local businesses, McDonald said.

“They buy and shop locally,” McDonald said.

The questions asked on the state application for funding include the economic benefit and the number of jobs created, said Chris Hamilton, who handles the application for the Red Barn.

“The questions they ask are very economic leaning,” Hamilton said. “They want to know if it is an economic driver.”

Gov. DeSantis cited money going to the “Fringe” festivals, which features adult-content and drag performers, as his reason for the veto.

“We didn’t have control over how it was being given,” DeSantis said June 27 in Polk County. “So you’re having your tax dollars being given in grants to things like the Fringe Festival, which is like a sexual festival where they’re doing all this stuff.”