Budget watch: Some Pinellas arts organizations back in the game

In the State of Florida’s Fiscal Year budget for 2025-2026, the Division of Arts and Culture’s awarded grants – totaling just over $18 million – might seem a bit on the conservative side when compared to years past.

Considering Governor Ron DeSantis’ veto of any and all arts grants for 2024-25, however, this year’s allocations are pure gravy. 

At a media ceremony Monday in Wildwood, DeSantis signed the new budget ($117.4 billion, after $567 million in line-item vetoes) into law. Included was $18,325,797 in funding for 184 vetted and matching Cultural and Museum grants statewide – a 100 percent increase over the previous fiscal year. Thanks to a new scoring (vetting) system, many bay area arts groups that had previously qualified for state support were left out in the cold again this year.

Here’s how the arts allocations shook out for Pinellas County:

Cultural and Museum Grants

Salvador Dali Museum $150,000

Creative Pinellas $150,000

Arts Center Association $150,000

Ruth Eckerd Hall $150,000

Great Explorations $150,000

The Dunedin Fine Art Center $150,000

Sunsets at Pier 60 Society $149,792

Florida CraftArt $95,640

St. Petersburg Arts Alliance $90,000

City of Tarpon Springs $50,000

Eight O’Clock Theatre $49,464

The Gulf Beach Art Center $43,023

St. Petersburg Clearwater Film Society $25,000

Information provided by the Florida Cultural Alliance.