Some of the community’s poorest children are taking theater and art classes at Arts Bonita in Bonita Springs. The center is committed to paying more than $100,000 a year in scholarships to make sure no child is left out when it comes to acting, dancing and art.
Executives at Arts Bonita and other nonprofit arts organizations in Southwest Florida are scrambling to replace up to $150,000 in annual grant funding following Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ recent veto of the $32 million state arts funding in the legislature-approved 2024-25 budget. This decision has serious consequences for the entire arts community. The industry often uses these state dollars to match individual contributions from private donors. It helps pay for everything from salaries and rent to free tickets and programs for kids.
Local executives in the arts say they won’t cut programs. They say the arts is too important to the community. Instead, they are embarking on bigger and more aggressive fundraising campaigns.
Devastating
“It is devastating,” said Arts Bonita Executive Director Alyona Ushe in reference to the governor’s budget cut. “The arts are so valuable for our kids. The ones who need it the most are the ones the most affected.”
Arts Bonita was eligible for $150,000 from the state.
“That is a big chunk of change,” she said. It was a shock.”
Arts Bonita works with Café of Life and New Horizons to identify children who need arts scholarships. This past summer more than 100 children received a full scholarship to summer camp.
“We also offer a strong drama program that is just invaluable,” Ushe continued. “It teaches them the self-confidence that they desperately need. It is such a powerful way to enhance a young mind. It is all about imagination and creativity and coming up with solutions. It helps kids imagine possibilities.”
Unfortunately, the lack of money from the state means raising ticket prices.
“That is the only action that we have, but we want the prices to still be affordable,” Ushe said. “We are hopeful that our donors will step up and really make up the difference.”
Bryce Alexander, CEO / Executive Artistic Director of The Naples Players (TNP), tells a similar story.
“In the past we have used grant money to support education, especially our wellness and scholarship programs,” Alexander said. “We are going to have to find other sources or offer less. We are doing everything we can to encourage our donors. Ultimately, it is the community that suffers when the funding is cut. They are the ones directly impacted.”
TNP just started a Leadership Council for their students, encouraging the youngsters to help collect donations.
“I believe if you hand it over to the kids, and if they feel ownership over their program, they will raise the money,” said Jen Price, director of youth education at TNP. “They are very proud of their program. Just this weekend the kids raised $6,000 doing raffle baskets. It is the students who are saying ‘this is going to impact us and we want to raise the funds however we can’t. It is unfortunate they have to do that.”
Price said TNP isn’t cutting any programs, and is even adding some.
“Because of the lack of the arts in schools, we have added a lot this year,” Price explained. “My number one goal when I came in here was to make this a place where you could come in and get anything you want.”
They are adding productions for students in grades 3-5, and middle school, theater tech class, more inclusive classes, and a competitive dance team.
“We are looking to raise the money to cover this cost so they can be involved no matter their ability to pay,” Price said. “We don’t want to turn anybody away because of money. We want to take anybody who has an interest.”
Alexander is confident they can raise the money.
“We are very fortunate to live in Naples,” he said. “We should be able to make it up or if we have a small loss we can absorb it at least this year. There are many organizations around the state that don’t have the long-lasting support, and I fear for those places.”
Gulfshore Playhouse in Naples hit the jackpot when it applied for state funding in a creative way. While it lost $150,000 in state arts funding, it gained $2.5 million from the state for expanding the workforce.
Gulfshore Playhouse is moving into a new building, and so is expanding its staff, making the nonprofit eligible for the workforce appropriations grant. But that is a one-time pot of money. If the arts budget is cut again, it will hurt, especially with the larger building and expanded programs.
Gulfshore Playhouse usually uses its arts funding for community outreach, such as inviting children from the
Guadalupe Center, RCMA, and Avow Kids to come in for shows and special programs.
“We don’t know if we will have the funds to do this, but it is so important,” said
Rachel Applegate, chief marketing officer. “We are important. We provide jobs. We expand students’ horizons. We want to continue to give back to the community that gives so much to us.”
Artis—Naples stressed that nothing will change with the lack of state funding.
“Artis—Naples remains committed to providing enriching educational programming for children and families,” stated Alice Van Arsdale, vice president of development. “Thanks to the inspiring generosity of our donors and multiple foundations, we are fortunate to continue offering our full slate of youth and family programs.”
Economic benefits
Molly Rowan-Deckart, executive director for the Alliance for the Arts in Fort Myers, is being proactive. She has launched a petition to the governor asking that the money be reinstated and is creating an Arts Council to unite the various arts organizations to work together to secure the support they need.
She stressed that state funding is not a hand-out. Alliance for the Arts is required to match the $131,000 it used to receive from the state, and those funds are funneled back into the community.
The arts “are one of the top five economic drivers in the state of Florida,” Rowan-Deckart said. “The governor’s decision to slash funding was short sighted and nothing short of destructive.” The arts have a significant positive impact on the economy in Florida. The state’s 2022 economic analysis of arts in Florida shows a $9 return for every $1 spent on the arts. In Lee County 16 organizations lost about $768,280 in funding with an impact of more than $6.9 million. In
Collier County 13 organizations were out $698,283 with $6.28 million in impacts. The arts contribute almost $3 billion to Florida’s economy, providing thousands of jobs, educational opportunities, and community enrichment.
“There are 588 organizations state-wide that depend on the grants,” explained Rowan-Deckart. “Out of those only two produce a fringe festival. The governor could have just eliminated the money for those two if he was so concerned. This has never happened [before]. It is really impactful. Unfortunately, it affects our most vulnerable populations. People that can afford it are not going to feel the pinch.”
Alliance for the Arts is also looking to donors to help but say it’s not easy.
“There is donor fatigue: covid, the hurricane, rising inflation costs,” Rowan-Deckart said. “We have to have long term strategies to make this work.”
She also stressed the importance of the arts for residents and tourists.
“Florida is known for being a tourist destination, but people don’t just come to Florida for the beaches,” Ushe said. “What happens when the sun goes down, or during inclement weather? The reason people want to live here is the cultural opportunities we have here.”