Hundreds of visual and performing arts venues in Florida were shocked to learn that Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis had vetoed $32 million in state budget funding for arts and culture. DeSantis signed the decision on Wednesday, June 12, just weeks before the start of the fiscal year on July 1—the first time in the state’s history that the cultural sector has been left in complete limbo.
In the state’s $117 billion proposed budget, the state arts and culture department initially proposed allocating $77 million to meet the needs of 630 eligible nonprofit organizations, which can each The grants were for a maximum of $150,000. Lawmakers slashed that number to $32 million, a significant reduction before DeSantis dealt the final blow earlier this month.
“We share the disappointment of cultural organizations across the state about the complete absence of state funding for 2024-2025, especially when the arts are such a draw for visitors,” Ghislain d’Humières, president and CEO of the Norton Museum of Art in West Palm Beach, said in an email. Highly allergic. The institution uses operating grants from the state to support its educational and curatorial efforts.
The creative industries are not the only ones facing massive budget cuts under DeSantis, as water maintenance projects, addiction, hunger and homelessness relief services, and menstrual product access programs have been denied tens to hundreds of millions of dollars in state funding to reduce a projected $1 billion in spending. Yet Florida’s arts and culture industries generate billions of dollars in economic activity, hundreds of millions of dollars in local and state revenues, support nearly 100,000 jobs statewide, and remain a major draw for visitors.
“We are now revisiting next year’s budget to see how we can minimize the impact of this loss,” said de Humières, noting that it is not long until the start of the fiscal year. “Unfortunately, the governor may not have considered the impact of this action on accessibility to the arts.”
Cathryn Mattson, executive director and CEO of the Orlando Museum of Art, told Allergic The agency was “deeply disappointed” with DeSantis’ decision.
“This action undermines the important role that arts and culture play in our community,” Mattson said of the museum’s own programming and community outreach. “The arts are more than just a luxury; they are an essential component of a vibrant, well-rounded society. They foster creativity, critical thinking and empathy, and provide a platform for diverse voices and stories.”
Museums and performing arts centers aren’t the only organizations to succumb to DeSantis’ veto. Lorie Mertes, director of Locust Projects, Miami’s oldest nonprofit alternative arts center, told Allergic The cancellation of about $123,000 in operating grants for “salaries, program costs and program support administrative expenses” is a “noticeable blow” with the fiscal year just around the corner.
“Artists and the arts are vital to society,” Mertes wrote in an email, adding that Miami’s arts and culture sector alone generated $2.1 billion in economic activity in 2023.
Mertes noted that without state funding, Locust Projects is on hold on rehiring and working to adjust its budget, noting that “it’s difficult to operate with a constantly changing funding base, but nonprofits do it all the time.” However, Mertes said that at the last minute, the program, the artists, the program vendors and contractors all suffer, as does the target audience.
“I couldn’t believe this was actually happening,” Mertes said.
