Why Florida cannot afford to lose arts funding | Opinion
It appears that Floridians should brace themselves for another battle to keep Arts and Culture funding alive in our state. On Dec. 10, Gov. DeSantis released his $117.4 billion budget proposal for the 2026–27 fiscal year, once again recommending no funding for Arts and Culture grants. I use the term "Floridians" instead of "Supporters of Arts and Culture" because all Floridians benefit from what Arts and Culture bring to the state and to our lives.
Once again, it will be up to Florida's legislature to right this wrong. And once again, the Arts and Culture sector and its advocates will spend countless hours reminding our lawmakers that, according to Americans for the Arts, across the state we generate $5.8 billion in economic activity annually, with $2.6 billion in direct spending by nonprofit arts organizations and $3.2 billion in spending by audiences.
We support 66,700 full-time equivalent jobs. We generate $3 billion in household income and $1.1 billion in annual tax revenue. As one of the major drivers of tourism, the Arts and Culture sector is one of the state's most cost-effective economic development investments.
Unfortunately, it is often the economic impact that resonates most with legislators. But I believe if every single Floridian stopped to think about all the ways they are impacted daily by Arts and Culture, they would see the sense in fighting to preserve our state grants.
Who hasn't been to see a performance of the Nutcracker, gone to a local theater production, taken in a free outdoor concert of bluegrass or jazz, enjoyed art at a First Friday event, or accompanied their children on a field trip to hear the symphony? Who doesn't want children to have the chance to express themselves through drawing, painting, dancing, or singing in community choruses? These examples are but a fraction of the ways in which Arts and Culture enrich our everyday lives.
The bottom line is this: without State of Florida Arts and Culture funding, many programs which every Floridian benefits from, will simply vanish. The consequences of this will have a hugely negative effect on our state's ability to attract and retain talent.
Entrepreneurs and professionals involved in the creative economy will choose places more friendly to their goals and values. Our most talented professionals in the sector who lose jobs as a consequence of this will flee the state, leaving us with a palpable cultural void, and our state will lose millions in cultural tourism dollars.
The 2026 legislative session begins Jan. 13, just a few short weeks away. Everyone in our community here in Leon County and throughout Florida should start making those phone calls and writing letters now.
We were blindsided in 2024. We won't let that happen again.
Amanda Stringer has been CEO of the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra since 2010.
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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida depends on arts and culture funding | Opinion
