The state budget approved by the Florida Legislature last week paints a grim picture for cultural organizations. Jennifer Evins, president and CEO of United Arts of Central Florida , doesn’t mince words: “It’s bad for the arts.”
Arts organizations approved for general support funding will receive less than half of their eligible allowances. A program for specific cultural projects went completely unfunded — leaving multiple Central Florida organizations empty-handed. Among them is the Howey Music Series , a concert and educational organization in the rural Lake County town of Howey-in-the-Hills. It had been recommended to receive $20,500.
“With this grant, we aimed to collaborate with local professional AV companies, improve artist compensation and broaden our programming, including introducing valuable educational initiatives that are much needed in Lake County,” said Emily Heumann, the organization’s executive and artistic director. “This investment would have been transformative for our organization.”…