When Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed all grants approved by the legislature for Florida arts organizations without explanation on June 21, seven Indian River County groups saw a collective $350,000 disappear from next year’s coffers.
The veto “stunned arts and cultural organizations,” according to the New York Times.
Responding to the statewide outcry, DeSantis on Thursday said he axed the arts grants because he objected to an annual theater festival in Orlando with some sexual content, including drag performances, stating that taxpayer money should not be spent on such programing.
In Indian River County, the Vero Beach Museum of Art, Riverside Theatre and McKee Botanical Gardens all lost more than $70,000 with the veto, while the Vero Beach Theatre Guild and Ballet Vero Beach are both out $38,000. Other groups lost smaller sums.
“It’s not the first time that state money has been cut, but it is the first time it’s all been cut,” said Adam Schnell, Ballet Vero Beach, Inc. artistic director and CEO.
“We need the arts. They’re known to help us as humans,” said Yvonne Steere, board chair of the Cultural Council of Indian River County, which is out $19,000 after the veto.
While shocked and saddened by the loss of state support for the arts, local organizations don’t anticipate major changes to their operations as a result of the cuts. Armed with passion for their individual organizations and the arts in general, they are searching for ways to save money and raise new funds to minimize cutting programs and performances.
Atlantic Classical Orchestra interim managing director Alan Hopper is reviewing the expense side of the group’s $1 million budget to see where it can be “crimped.” “No artistic programs will be cut,” he said, explaining that he is looking for grants from lists of foundations in Florida and nationwide.
The Vero Beach Museum of Art had tentative plans for its state grant funds, which were equal to about one percent of the budget.
While the museum does not anticipate changes to its exhibition schedule or current educational and outreach programs, the veto will hurt its ability to serve additional school groups or provide more funding for bus transportation that helps reduce financial barriers for schools that want to bring students to the museum, according to museum marketing director Suzanne Seldes.
McKee Botanical Gardens senior director of development Julia Keenan is concerned that the cuts will affect programs at the Gardens. The organization will seek other grants, and if additional funds are not found, there may be an impact on some future events.