>>This week on NewsNight, arts organizations in central Florida respond to the governor's veto of $32 million in state grants over his concerns about sexual content at Fringe festivals.

>>That is an inappropriate use of taxpayer dollars.

>>Can arts and cultural groups make ends meet?

>>We were completely shocked, had no clue we were really thrown out of our seats.

>>A check-in on central Florida's arts community.

NewsNight starts now.

[MUSIC] Hello, I'm Steve Mort, and welcome to NewsNigh where we take a deep dive into the storie and issues that matter to central Florida and how they shape our community.

Tonight, we're checking in on central Florida's arts community.

The biggest news affecting the region's cultural organizations came last month when Governor Ron DeSantis vetoed tens of millions of dollars in grant funding for the arts approved by lawmakers.

In striking the funding from the state budget, the governor cited his concerns over sexual content at Fringe festivals.

>>So you have your tax dollars being given in grants to thing like the Fringe Festival, which is like a sexual festival where they're doin all this stuff.

And it's like, how many of you think your tax dollars should go to fund that?

Not very many people would do that.

And so when I see money being spent that way, I have to be the one to stand up for taxpayers and say, you know what, that is an inappropriate use of taxpayer dollars.

And I think the legislature needs to reevaluate how that's being done.

You know, we don't need to say that somebody that's working hard is paying taxes.

I can go to you and say, hey, we've got a very small budget compared to our state's population.

We have a low tax burden.

All this but this transportation, these these roads are important.

I can sell that.

Education is important.

I can sell that.

Preserving our natural resource important.

I can sell that.

I can't sell the Fringe Festival to taxpayers, nor would I want to try to sell the Fringe Festival to taxpayer.

>>Governor Ron DeSantis Well I sat down to talk with Hillary Brook, the executive director of the Theater South Playhouse in Dr. Phillips, to find out how the vet is affecting her organization.

>>It was quite a shock.

We were we worked so hard to get that grant.

We besides the hours of the application process and the screening process, we sat in front of a panel of people and had to answer questions.

We were so thrilled to receive the $25,000 award that we received, and that was a year ago.

So that was already going to.

That's all that money in theory has been spent.

We've put it into our fall budget.

And to find out that that money's just gone.

And we found out two weeks before the dat we were supposed to receive it.

So it was it was it was a really hard day here at the theater.

>>How does your organization usually spend that kind of money?

And what will not having it mean to you now?

>>We have a wonderful internship program.

We love to mentor young artists who want to pursue a career in theater or backstage crew.

We have an internship program and we were so excited to finally be able to have a paid internship.

So that is the first thing that's going to have a dramatic impact.

We would not have the funds that we wanted to.

We're going to be able to give them a stipend, which will be nice and cover gas money, and we're still excited to have that.

But that's the first thing that's going to be hit.

We have a huge production of Annie, one of our part of our professional season, and that money went right into the show budget, the set, the costumes.

So all of that is going to suffer.

And then our youth training show, we were doing our first ever Finding Nemo Jr. here at Theater South, and that money will go directly.

We'll feel a huge loss in that production as well.

>>Is there anything you can do to try to mitigate the impacts that you're expecting?

>>Absolutely.

We are determined to get that money back.

We are not cutting anything.

We are going to keep on going.

We've always been able to survive with little.

So we are just goin to pull our resources together.

We already have a plan in place to do some concerts, to raise some money.

Lots of lots of fundraising.

Big Finding Nemo reunion concert coming up.

Lots of artists in the community have reached out to me asking how they can help, which is just such a gift.

So this time I'm saying, yes, please help and we're going to come togethe and raise the money ourselves.

>>We've personally reached out to lawmakers, both federal and state, to let them know of our situation and to keep them posted as to what's going on.

And we've actually had many of them come and visit and talk to us and sit down and when they come here, they're so impressed with what they see.

And they they're always very hopeful that that that we can get past this and that there's other means and ways to ge the funding back in other ways.

We make a lot happen with a little and it would just really be great if now more than ever if people our community come out and check out Theater South Playhous and just see what we're about.

>>Hillary Brook from th Theater South Playhouse in Dr. Phillips.

You can find a link to the theater's websit at wucf.org/NewsNight.

Well, let' bring in our first panel tonight to discuss some of these important issues facing the arts community.

Joining me in the studio this week, Gabriel Preisser, General Director and CEO of Opera Orlando.

Jennifer Evins, President and CEO of United Arts of Central Florida.

And Matt Palm, who writes about the arts for the Orlando Sentinel.

Thank you guys, so much for coming in today.

Really appreciate your time.

Matt, let me just start with you and start by talking about the rationale for the veto.

The governor has been criticized for, I guess, collectively cuttin all grant funding from groups.

But what are his concerns?

What do we hear?

>>The only definitive statement that his press office has ever made to m is that what he said at a press conference that he found the Fringe festivals to be sexual in nature.

>>Specifically Fringe-- >>Specifically Fringe.

Yes.

Yes.

And that he felt like that was an inappropriate use of taxpayer money.

So he vetoed the entire line.

Now, I will tell you, most experts, people in the field, political analysts I spoke with, said tha probably isn't the real reason he was actually just working on numbers and finances and just trying to get the budget down to the size he wanted.

>>And just to be clear, this is a veto at grant funding, right?

Not all individual appropriations for all arts groups.

>>There are some major arts projects that are that were funded, including in our own city, the new Holocaust Museum that they're working on downtown that received money.

But this is a very specifi set of grants that arts groups depend on for things.

Just general operating expenses is one of the big ones that is part of that.

>>Well, let's break all this down a little bit, Gabe.

Let's talk about the practicalities right of the funding veto.

Hillary Brook from the Theater South Playhouse told me that they're taking steps over there to to make up the shortfall that they're facing.

I mean, are there steps tha individual arts organizations, one of which you run, can take to try to reduce the gap?

And you guys experience any impacts yourself?

>>It's a huge impact.

You know, it's a competitive process to begin with.

You spend your time to fill out all the grant paperwork you get all your numbers your statistics.

It's reviewed by a panel.

All of that happened.

And then for it to be taken ou from underneath, you know, this is funding we all budgeted for.

We all expected it.

We knew there was some type of cut coming, but we didn't expect it to be completely zeroed out.

So it was a shock, was a big surprise.

Obviously, there's always ways to remedy that.

I think we're all trying to reach out to the state we're all trying to lobby for, hey, is there any chance this could be, you know, decided again?

Can this be reviewed?

And in the meantime, for the opera specifically, we're very grateful to our community.

We have an amazing donors, individuals who give I mean, we are a charity.

We are 501(c)(3).

So it's tax deductible.

So we're able to turn to them in this time of crisis.

Other groups might not have the type of donor base that we have at the opera, though, and they might rely more on tuition.

You think about children's museums or youth symphonies, right?

They don't have a large donor base that's more children based.

And this funding is really kind of critical for those groups.

>>Interesting.

I mean, at the same time, though, Jennifer, I mean, your collaborative campaign for 2024 exceeded its goal, right?

I mean, is there strengt in local support for the arts?

Does that indicate that?

And can it make up the gap?

>>So let's be rea clear on the gap.

The gap for central Florida, which is the area for whic the collaborative campaign, the annual campaign run is $6.9 million.

This year we raised $6.8 million in the collaborative campaign.

So already the public sector has stepped up with 6.8 and now the governor has cut 6.9.

So it's a huge gap to fill.

When you think tha the private sector we've grown the since coming out of the pandemic, since 2021, we've grown the private sector giving through th collaborative campaign by 48%.

So a huge growth in private sector giving in the arts over the last three years and then to have this extreme so it's dollar for dollar, what the public gives to what the governor cut for central Florida.

So a major impact.

When we look at private sector giving, we raise money for the arts year round.

Everybody is seeking funding for their education programs through, you know as well as ticket sales.

So really important for people to understand that the ticket that they buy to attend the opera or to go to the science center or to participate in an art class does not cover the full operating costs of an arts organization.

So this these operating grant from the state are fixed cost.

These are our utilities, our health insurance, our employees salaries.

So so this is not about cutting, you know, a special scener or costume-- >>Special project.

>>Right.

This is about real fixed costs of doing the business of the arts.

So we are looking at different strategies.

But I will tell you, I know that at least 15 of the organizations have already gone to their loyal donors and asked them to make it up.

For us, it's $150,000 cut to our budget that is substantial.

There is not one place for us to go to get to make up those dollars.

And as Matt said, our fiscal year began July 1, so-- >>The timing was terrible.

>>The timing was extreme.

It's it's it's really impactful and very serious.

>>Well, before we move on, I want to pause a moment to hear from Jennifer Jones from the Florida Cultural Alliance, an organization that advocates for the arts in Tallahassee and works with the legislature to secure funding.

>>The governor did indicate in his Florida freedom budget that he releases before session starts.

He didn't put any money in for the arts.

And we we're going to work the legislature, as we always do, because that's where the budget's built.

This is kind of new.

The involvement from th Executive Office in relation to the arts grants, because it goes through the Department of State.

The Secretary of Stat is the chief cultural officer.

It goes through so much vetting before we ever get to session that we carry a recommended list into session.

So it's kind of a new conversation that not necessarily changed one.

And I don't know which way it's going to go.

And as far as how involved the executive office wants to get into programing content.

>>Jennifer Jones fro the Florida Cultural Alliance.

Jennifer Jones has alluded to a kind of a tightrope that has to be walked when it comes to working with policymakers.

How is that relationship right now and how does it move forward from from here?

>>Well, just so that people know that in central Florida, we have an ongoing advocacy plan.

So we meet with legislators throughout the year.

We communicate with the about the impact of the arts for their constituencies yea round.

So this isn't just one time ask.

It's a it's a constant relationship with our elected officials, especially in Tallahassee.

Then we go to Tallahassee every year during the legislative session to make the case for the arts to talk about the economic impact, the talk about the educational outcomes that the arts produce.

So this is ongoing.

So that will not end, right?

And as the state continues to be economically viable because they are having surpluses, that they will invest, reinvest in the arts as a catalyst for many things in our state.

But we're not going to stop making sure that our state elected officials and local officials know the value of the arts to the economy, the health and well-being of-- >>Tourism.

>>To tourism.

>>Tourism.

Economic impact is massive.

>>Well talking about tourism and maybe spending of tourist development tax dollars.

Local governments seem to be doubling down on the arts and culture groups in their budgets.

I mean, Gabe do you think local government support can help in a meaningful way?

>>Absolutely Orange County has been amazing.

They have not only the tourism grants program for local arts groups have als a venue subsidy grant.

They also added Diversit Equity Inclusion grant this last season.

I mean, they really have, like you said, doubled down in their investment, as has the city of Orlando, has a mayor's matching grant that we're proud to be a recipient of at Opera Orlanod for our youth company.

So I think they really see the value not just in the tourism dollars, but the education, the outreach impact, the diversity, the everything that the arts have to offer.

They see the value here.

And we're very gratefu to Orange County and the city.

>>What have you been hearing?

>>I wa I was going to chime in on that because what's interesting is, you know, I speak to the local governments.

They they're you're absolutely right.

They are completely invested in the local arts.

They understand not only the quality of life additions it brings to central Florida, but also the economic impac it has with people who go to shows and concert end up at restaurants, end up in bars, end up paying for parking and babysitting and all kinds of other expenses.

But they also kind of warned me that they have their own processes, they have their own procedures.

Like you're saying, there's different grants, there's different ways the tourist development tax can be spent and procedures set up to do that.

>>So these grants are competitive.

And panels-- >>It's not like they can just reach into their pockets and give them more money to to make up for for the lack of state funding because it all has to g through the proper procedures, as it should, fo accountability and safeguards.

>>A very important conversation for sure.

My thanks to Gabe Preisser from Opera Orlando, Jennifer Evins from United Arts of Central Florida, Matt Palm from the Orlando Sentinel.

Thanks so much for coming in, guys.

>>Thank you.

>>Really, really appreciate your time.

In a moment, our conversation will continue with three arts organizations all tackling differing challenges in 2024.

We'll be right back.

Well let's pick up our conversation on the arts in central Florida now.

Joining me in the studio, Chris Brown, Executive Director of the Orlando Family Stage, Mariah Roman, Curator and Visual Artist at Art of Collab, and Justin Muchoney, Interim Executive Director and Artistic Director as well at Central Florida Community Arts.

Thank you all so much for coming in.

Really appreciate your time today.

Chris, you wrote an op-ed for the Orlando Sentinel about the governor's veto of grant funding for arts groups.

You wrote that it was a devastating blow to our community.

Why?

>>It's important funding for so many things beyond the entertainmen that's on our stages, right?

We are a a place for kid and families, and it's a place where kids learn how to become a good human and learn things like bravery and empathy.

And when I think at the at the time when the funding gets cut only a few weeks out from when we're supposed to receive those dollars, it's devastating.

It would be devastating to any business.

You wrote also, Mariah, an op-ed for The Sentinel recently on the importance of supporting local artists.

You called them The Soul of Orlando's Arts Community.

What's your take on the latest developments when it comes to funding?

What do you think?

>>Florida I think we're home to some of the most world renowned artists performing artists, visual artist in the world, musicians.

And so just to see tha that cut happen, I think I think we all took a blow when we saw that because we we knew what that meant for a lot of us.

We know what it already has been, you know, working in the arts.

Being an artist has already been quite difficult, right?

The term starving artist.

Right.

That that thing is real for a lot of us, especially when you go into even further marginalized communities.

Right.

So when you think of that, it really, you know, was gut wrenching.

But, you know, at the same time, I think thankfully, I have a great community, great mentors and a lot of them have imparted just hope, you know, just thinking of, okay, we are artists, right?

And we can be creative enough to think ourselves out of it, create ourselves into, you know, just supporting each other as a community.

And so I think that's been m take on it, my outlook so far.

>>Yeah.

You've talked about your organization hitting a financial bump in the road.

Justin, you lost your CEO, Terrence Hunter, who's who's been here on the program before.

What's happening at Central Florida Community Arts and what's your take on that elimination of grant funding and how it affects you?

>>Well, on a larger scope this is this is the latest kind of blow in years worth of challenge financially for the arts.

You know, all of us are familia with what happened during COVID and the impact that had on our businesses and our audiences and the people who benefit and experience from the work that we all do.

And so it's been a little bit of kind of one domino falling after another.

And this one just at the time that we're all making sure our programs have recovered fully and that that the needs of our community are being met.

To have our work essentially evaluated as not essential is a is a real kick to a lot of us in our community.

So we are trying to make sure that every need is met.

And and often what happens is people can put arts arts funding into a really comfortable bucket.

It's hard.

It's hard to feel deeply if you can hide it under a generic term like the arts.

But when you talk about children and families, when you talk about community development, when you talk about our programing that meets kids as young as six weeks old through older adults experiencing the early stages of Alzheimer's and dementia the services wrapped up inside that that pretty bow of arts funding are really specific, necessary social and community well-being services.

>>There has been a 184% increase since a camera was put on our phones.

There's been 184% increase in mental health issues being reported in schools around the world.

Arts help break down those barriers and get kids more comfortabl with themselves.

>>A large amount of our work and our research at Central Florida Community Arts is in the intersection of arts and health and arts and wellness, arts and medicine.

The places where the arts are have research behind them to prov that they increase well-being.

They help with mental health concerns.

They they make communities more vibrant.

And when a community is vibrant, your schools get better.

Everything els in your community gets better.

When a business wants to attract employees to an area, often they're going to they're going to research housing, they're going to research schools, and they're going to research culture.

Is this a place my family will want to live?

Is this a place that there are things for us to do or places for us to belong?

And that is a really vital role that we play across the spectrum.

And the research supports that the arts are essential to a community's well-being.

>>Mariah.

>>Well, I come from communities where arts, the art was not as accessible, right?

We didn't have galleries.

We didn't have museums as accessible as other neighborhoods had.

Growing up, all that we had was the time where we had the field trips right in grade school to the Bob Carr or those those one off situations.

That was my only experience in the theater.

Thank God for the school system.

Right.

To be able to provide that opportunity with that.

I'm sure grants plays a big part in that, right, being able to fund that experience.

So when you think about that, how that impacts generationally you know, different communities like the communities that I come from, it's just really it' really sad to see that that is something that we know will have an impact on that, that exposure and that access.

Also thinking even further as an artist here in central Florida, in Florida, all the work that you've seen, the murals and things like that, we believe it or not, have not been able to benefit from a state grant.

>>Yeah.

>>So but still, we're saddened, right, because we know that there is a trickle down effect, right?

Because the partners that w work with or the collaborators that may have been able to benefit, maybe they're unable to to partner because they don't have the funding.

Right.

And that collaboration may not be able to happen because the resources aren't there.

So those are things that we're all thinking about as artists, as practicing artists, and also as a curator who where my role is to support artists as well as create in this community.

So that's kind of where I am as a curator or as an artis trying to decipher what's next.

Right?

And many of the people in my community that identify as BIPOC artists or just artists in general that are younger, that are of my generation millennial, they're wondering, should I leave?

Should I stay?

Is Florida going to be able to sustain my career and my practice?

And so that's something that we have to think about.

How do we keep our amazing talent here in Florida?

How do we keep them her and create that sense of home?

Right.

>>Well, you guys are nodding.

What do you think?

>>I completely agree.

I use the word access or accessibility several times in this conversation.

And so if if you if you can agree to the core belief that what an arts organization or an artist is doing is vital to a community's well-being, therefore everyone everyone needs to have acces to it, therefore, it can't be hidde behind a paywall.

It can't be somethin that has even more barriers to entry like you were talking about, which is where philanthropy and funding comes in is because if if this is supposed to change the lives of kids and families like Orlando Family Stage doe like we like we attempt to do.

You can't price it at a point that they'll never have access to it.

So it really does come down to the core belief that what you are doing is going to transform where you live and that everyone deserve to see themselves in that work.

Therefore, it has to be the funding has to be accessible, the ability to see it, to experience it, to participate in it needs to be universal.

And that's where the funding has to come from.

Everything.

It can't be something that is sustained only on ticket sales or earned revenue because that's a that's a paywall, that's a barrier for entry that our community shouldn't have.

One thing that I do believe Central Florida has an advantage at is collaboration.

The arts community here, the leaders we talk, we connect, we work together.

There isn't any of us that aren't aware that we can build a bigger pie together.

And so I think you're also going to see a lot of us collaborating over the course of next year because this situation has brought that really to the forefront of our minds.

>>Final word to you, Chris.

>>There's a reason that our art forms have been around for thousands of years.

They're not going anywhere.

It's a it's an instinctual human need to gather in a place and experience something.

And so we're not going anywhere.

But that persistence that we have to keep going is also dangerous because it tells peopl that we don't need the support.

And I want to try to change the conversation in our community to funnel as much support to the arts community as physically possible because when all of these groups are thriving, some really incredible things are going to happen in our community.

>>And well, I wish you guys all the best of luck and I really appreciate your time here today.

A reminder, you can find much more about the arts organizations we've heard from tonight on our program.

Visit us online at wucf.org/newsnight alon the bottom of your screen.

That is all the time we hav for this week.

My thanks to Chris Brow from the Orlando Family Stage, Mariah Roman from the Art of Collab and Justin Muchoney from Central Florida Community Arts.

Thank you guys so much for coming in here today.

Really, really appreciate your time.

We'll see you next Friday night at 8:30 here on WUCF.

From all of us here at NewsNight, take care and have a great week.