Local Impact of The Governor’s Veto Arts Funding and How You Can Help

On Friday, July 26th, the art leaders of six organizations (Arts in Health Ocala Metro, Appleton Museum of Art, Dance Alice, Marion Cultural Alliance, The Ocala Civic Theatre, and The Reilly Arts Center) impacted by the Governor’s decision to veto all 2024-2025 arts funding gathered at The Brick City Center for the Arts. The total impact of this decision on these local organizations was a loss of $252,000. Following expressions of disappointment, these leaders shifted the conversation to the importance of the arts, emphasizing the need to amplify the myriad ways art affects our community, its residents, tourists, and the need to engage our policy makers.  They collectively sought to rally support for the arts, both today and in the future.

As recently as 2023, Florida’s support of the arts was robust, ranking 11th in the country for arts spending, with $55 million granted to nonprofit organizations across the state. However, the recent veto of all arts funding has plummeted Florida to 50th in the nation, a drastic change that has left many organizations scrambling, including the six local organizations, to find alternative sources of support. To address this urgent need locally, a plan is underway, starting with a public campaign titled “Art Matters in Ocala/Marion County!” This campaign aims to unite the community to protect and grow the arts sector.

Supporting the arts plays a crucial role in defining the unique identity and sense of place of place. Artistic expressions often reflect the history, values, and aspirations of a community, thereby preserving cultural heritage and promoting civic pride. For business leaders, a culturally vibrant community is an attractive proposition as it ensures a high quality of life for their employees, making it easier to attract and retain top talent. In essence, investing in the arts is not just about fostering creativity; it is about cultivating a thriving, economically robust, and socially cohesive community where everyone can flourish.

Why the Arts Matter:

$9 goes into the local economy for every $1 invested in Arts & Culture by Florida. That’s a substantial return on investment.

Florida is home to over 90,000 arts-related businesses that paid $3.7 billion in Florida resident household income. The arts create and support jobs.

Florida’s audience spending outpaces the national average with Florida’s tourists spending an average of $89.16 whereas the national average is $60.57. Culture drives tourism.

Over 63 million Floridians and tourists participate annually in arts and culture activities. 63% of audience members surveyed in the AEP6 study said that arts and culture help them to better understand others in their community. Arts and culture engage and connect our people in our communities.

High School students who have 4 years of art, dance, drama, or music curriculum score higher on their SATs, have higher GPAs and are more likely to graduate. Arts education programming builds better students, and highly engaged youth.

How can individuals and businesses help? Donate to any or all the organizations affected by this unexpected reduction in funding from the veto. This community wide rally for support is a renewed commitment to the arts and will help affected organizations weather the effects of the veto.

The affected organizations, alongside Marion Cultural Alliance, are now relying on the generosity of consistent donations to continue their crucial work. These organizations provide experiences that inspire, evoke emotions, educate, and heal through concerts, plays, dance performances, visual arts, and more. MCA invites the community to learn more about each organization’s programming and services by clicking on their logos. Your  donation can make a significant difference in keeping our arts community alive and thriving.

Thank you for your support of these beloved arts and cultural organizations.