Is there more to come for Creative Pinellas?

When Pinellas County Commissioners approved their budget for the upcoming fiscal year Thursday, the apparent death knell sounded for Creative Pinellas.

However, administrators of the arts support group hint there might be a “next chapter.”

In a preliminary vote Sept. 4, the commission approved, 5-2, defunding the organization, after more than 50 citizens voiced their objections in commissioners’ presence.

In anticipation of final approval, Creative Pinellas CEO Margaret Murray last week terminated approximately half of her staff, and canceled all programming for September and October.

Murray issued a statement Thursday: “We are very disappointed and disheartened by the Pinellas County Board of Commissioners’ decision to remove funding to Creative Pinellas from the General Fund ($156,000), and board’s plans to redirect $500,000 of arts funding we received to the county tourism marketing agency.”

The county will re-allocate the $500,000 to Visit St. Pete Clearwater, its tourism marketing agency.

“We understand that tonight’s not going to be the night to change anyone’s mind,” Creative Pinellas Ex-Officio Board Member Doreen Moore told commissioners Thursday. She thanked them for the financial support supplied by the county since 2011.

“Creative Pinellas is looking forward to remaining committed to our mission, to our arts community, the residents and the visitors who are going to be impacted by these changes.”

Moore, a member of the county’s Tourist Development Council, said Creative Pinellas management is “actively pursuing fundraising efforts in the future – because Creative Pinellas will continue, and we want to be an active partner in whatever way you, as the commissioners, would like us to be.”

Murray, who did not attend Thursday’s meeting, also mentioned a future for Creative Pinellas. “While this funding loss presents new challenges,” she wrote, “we remain focused and committed to our mission, to our arts community and to the residents and visitors who are impacted by our efforts to uplift art and artists across Pinellas County.

“We are extremely grateful to all of our supporters who showed up and spoke out. Their understanding of our impact means the world to us, and we look forward to their continued support to help us plan the next chapter of Creative Pinellas.”

The county’s 2025-26 fiscal year budget was passed unanimously.