Streets for People / Governor’s Veto Means Local Key West Arts Groups, Theaters and Museums Lose Funds

Last week 13 local arts and museum nonprofits including the Waterfront Playhouse, Bahama Village Music Program and Mel Fisher and History of Diving Museums lost almost $800,000 in monies approved by the State Legislature as Florida Governor Ron DeSantis vetoed $32 million in cultural and museum grants across the state. According to the Florida Department of State’s Division of Arts & Culture, which administers the grants, this is the first time in the history of this decade’s old program that this has happened.

The Studios of Key West sent out a fundraising email early Tuesday morning asking its members to “fill the gap” for cuts they said would cost them at least $75,000 in operating funds and $277,500 for much needed improvements to its theater. Other organizations losing money in the veto include the Monroe County Council of the Arts, Key West Art & Historical Society (KWAHS) which runs the Custom House, Lighthouse, Fort East Martello and Tennessee Williams Museums, Key West Literary Seminar, Reef Environmental Education Foundation, and Red Barn Theatre. (Full disclosure, I work for Red Barn Theatre.) As an example, tickets to Red Barn shows only make up about half of its annual budget, so donations and grants help it, and all of these organizations get by.

Arts and history are crucial to Key West’s economy so all of these organizations will need the community to step up and “fill the gap.” Here’s what happened…

State’s Division of Arts & Culture Seems a Target

According to the Tallahassee Democrat newspaper, the across the board cuts for 577 arts programs and 33 cultural facilities (one of which was The Studios ask) was part of nearly $1 billion worth of projects the Florida Legislature funded that the Governor vetoed when he signed the state’s $116 billion state budget. Most of the larger cuts in the veto were of special projects lawmakers had tucked into the budget they passed on March 1. So, it seems especially surprising that one State agency, the Division of Arts & Culture, which has been providing support to the arts community throughout Florida in the name of tourist development for decades, would get all its grants simply wiped out. Reports in papers from the mainland said the Governor didn’t give a specific reason for vetoing this line item.

On the other hand, given this Governor’s proclivities for not believing in climate change, banning books, critical race theory, rainbow flags and transgender care, and defunding diversity, equity and inclusion programs just to name a few of his “anti-woke” policies, perhaps his wiping out arts programs shouldn’t have been the surprise it was to most of these organizations across the state.

Multiple news outlets reported that the State’s own economic studies have shown that every $1 spent on arts and culture programs generates about $9 more in related spending. And these grants are specifically set up to support job creation AND foster tourism, which they do. So again, why in a $116 billion dollar budget, would one target $32 million for this agency’s support to local arts and culture (less than .03% of the total) when it does so much good? It just doesn’t make economic sense.

Here’s how Monroe County Mayor Holly Merrill Raschein reacted:

“As Chair of the Florida Council on Arts and Culture I was certainly surprised by the veto, mainly because the projects that are considered for this particular source of funding are run through a very rigorous vetting process by experts in the arts and culture scene, a process that is extremely accountable and transparent. That being said, we are aggressively working on determining why there was a veto so that we can advocate more purposely advocate in the future and perhaps prevent this from happening again. The arts are an integral thread in the beautiful tapestry that is the state of Florida.”

Says Elizabeth Young, Executive Director of the Florida Keys Council of the Arts:

“It’s extremely unfortunate that one person has the power to affect so many creative people in our State with the stroke of a pen. But that is exactly what happened, the Governor sent a clear message to the artists and cultural communities in Florida that he does not support the Arts. We, in Monroe County, will seek solutions and funding for our arts programming in spite of this ridiculous decision.”

Liz shared with us that she’ll be on a call Monday morning of the statewide Florida Cultural Alliance to see what if any next steps can be taken.

Veto Has Local Impact, So, Expect To Be Asked To Help

Here’s what Michael Gieda, Executive Director of the Key West Art & Historical Society had to say about this:

“The governor’s veto of statewide arts and culture funding is a gross, shortsighted misstep that will detrimentally impact local not-for-profits. The Key West Art and Historical Society’s exhibitions, programs, educational outreach, and special events are funded in-part by the Division of Arts and Culture’s General Program Support grant. While there is currently no plan to reduce the scope of programming, the Society will have to pull funding from other areas of the operation to ensure our offerings move forward as planned for the coming fiscal year. Cultural tourism is a major part of Florida’s tourist industry, so this veto is economically foolish and harms not-for-profits throughout Monroe County. I encourage everyone to support our local cultural institutions through becoming a member or making a charitable donation.”

Jed Dodds at The Studios was quick to ask his members for help saying:

“Like most arts nonprofits, 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….  if you do have the capacity to give a little more to support the arts in your community – be it a theater, museum or art center – now would be a very good time.”

Mimi McDonald, Managing Director of Red Barn Theatre told us:

“When granting sources like the Division of Arts & Culture loose funding that is so crucial to arts organizations like us, then it becomes incumbent upon the private sector to step up their support. Which I believe is not fair for them, nor is it sustainable in the long run.”

The Arts Help Separate Key West from Other Warm Weather Destinations

Key West has lots of advantages, chief among them great weather, restaurants and beautiful waters. But lots of places throughout Florida, the Caribbean and countries near our southern border can say the same. What truly separates us from everyone else is our culture and history.

Arts and literature have long drawn people to Key West. From Hemmingway to Elizabeth Bishop, to Tennessee Williams to today’s writers, artists, musicians and theaters. It is a cornerstone of Key West culture that makes us unique. Especially for such a small town as there’s more creativity per square mile here than nearly anywhere.

The loss of this money means all of these, mostly downtown, nonprofits which already run on a shoestring, will be doing further belt-tightening. And all of them will need your support this coming season because organizations like these are critical to our economy. So as Jed said above: “If you do have the capacity to give a little more to support the arts in your community – be it a theater, museum or art center – now would be a very good time.” Please join these organizations. Volunteer. Donate. Buy a full-price ticket. And tell your state legislators and Governor that the arts are worth investing in. We all win when the arts flourish.

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Chris Hamilton is founder of the local advocacy group Friends of Car-Free Key West & Duval Street/Historic Downtown. Subscribe to the blog. Follow on Facebook and Twitter. A native of the District of Columbia, where for a couple decades+ he led nationally renowned efforts promoting transit, bike, walk and smart growth for Arlington County, VA’s DOT. Chris has lived in Key West since 2015. He lives car-free downtown and works and volunteers for a few non-profits. You can find all of KONK Life Streets for People column articles here and here.

 

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