State arts funding veto provokes outrage, action
Administrators at the Tampa International Fringe Festival and the Orlando Fringe Festival are taking umbrage at Florida governor Ron DeSantis’ recent comments that he eliminated all state arts funding because of “sexual” events like theirs. Together, the directors of both theater events published an open letter Thursday decrying the governor’s statements.
At a June 27 press function, DeSantis offered up a reason for his line veto – $32 million – of all arts funding, for the entire state, for 2024-25. “You’re having your tax dollars being given in grants to things like the Fringe Festival, which is like a sexual festival where they’re doing all this stuff,” he said. “How many of you think your tax dollars should go to fund that? Not very many people would do that.”
Thursday’s letter, co-authored by Orlando Fringe interim executive director Scott Galbraith and producer Tempestt Halstead, along with Trish Parry, producer of Tampa Fringe, addressed DeSantis directly.
“We assume you did not veto the funding of science centers, aquariums, operas, zoos, children’s programs and other arts and culture programming lightly,” it read, “and that much of what has transpired since the June 27 press conference is a misunderstanding.”
To clear up the “misunderstanding,” the letter continued, “it is important to note that Fringe Festivals are performing arts festivals. We absolutely are not sexual festivals. The genres of performance range widely, but typically include storytelling, theatre, improvisation, circus, dance, comedy, etc. We diligently watch for age appropriateness and ensure that a show with adult content is age-rated accordingly.”
Quoted is a 2022 Americans for the Arts Arts & Economic Prosperity survey indicating that Florida’s arts and culture sector generates around $176 million in state tax revenue.
Galbraith, Parry and Halstead then offered to forgo any state funding earmarked for their festivals, approved by the legislature before the DeSantis veto, “provided you champion a successful reversal or override of the veto.”
In St. Petersburg
Warehouse Arts District Association director Markus Gottschlich is among the many arts leaders publicly outraged by DeSantis’ elimination of all arts support for the 2024-25 fiscal year. And he’s giving voice to that emotion by scheduling a town hall meeting to discuss it out loud.
Arts in Crisis and Resilience will take place Tuesday, July 23 from noon until 1 p.m. at the Soft Water Gallery, on the WADA Arts Xchange campus at 515 22nd Street S.
The public is invited (registration is free at this link) to listen as local government representatives, arts leaders and local media “address the significant impact this budgetary cut has on local arts organizations and explore advocacy strategies to support our artistic community during this challenging time,” Gottschlich wrote.
The organization will also introduce its Phoenix Award, honoring three notable community members. Submissions are now being accepted.
At WADA’s annual 9/11 commemoration event, Phoenix recipients will receive a financial award, along with a replica of the Rise monument, designed by sculptor Mark Aeling.
Seating for the town hall event is limited; registration is required by July 20.
