Leaders of two performing arts festivals said Thursday they would gladly give up their grants if the governor of FloridaRon DeSantis, is restoring the $32 million in state funding he denied to more than 600 Florida arts groups, explaining that the reason for his veto is because the two theater events were “a sex festival.”
Leaders of the Orlando Fringe and Tampa Fringe described the governor’s description as inaccurate, but said it was important that the state’s arts groups be funded because they play critical roles in their communities. The Orlando festival had been slated to receive $70,500, and the Tampa festival was in line to receive $7,500 before the veto.
“Like you, we, the Orlando and Tampa Fringe Festivals, care deeply about the citizens of Florida,” they said in an open letter to the governor.
“Given these commonalities, we hope you will read this letter with an open mind and fully consider the proposal below.”
Asked to respond to the letter, a DeSantis spokeswoman referred to the governor’s June 27 comments when he cited Fringe festivals as something taxpayers would be reluctant to have their money directed toward.
“When I see money being spent that way, I have to be the one standing up for the taxpayers and saying, ‘You know what? That’s an inappropriate use of taxpayer money,’” DeSantis said.
Critics condemned the ban, saying it was an extension of DeSantis’ culture wars in which he has supported laws limiting what can be said in classrooms about sexual orientation and gender identity and banning the teaching of an academic framework that outlines the ways systemic racism is part of American society.
Arts and cultural groups across Florida have been scrambling to fill holes in their budgets since DeSantis vetoed arts funding from the $116.5 billion state budget in June. Arts leaders across the state said it was the first time they can recall a Florida governor eliminating all arts and cultural funding. cultureand it came as arts organizations that survived the COVID-19 pandemic closures were still recovering with lower attendance and revenue.
Florida’s arts and culture industry generates $5.7 billion in economic activity annually, including $2.9 billion from nonprofit arts and culture organizations, and supports more than 91,000 full-time jobs, according to a study by Americans for the Arts in collaboration with Florida Arts Inc.’s Division of Arts, Culture and Citizenship.
Source: AP
