Council Expands Arts Advocacy Efforts

L-R: Sue Ellen Beryl, managing director of Palm Beach Dramaworks; Florida Senator Lori Berman (District 26); Jennifer Sullivan, senior vice president of the Cultural Council for Palm Beach County

(Press Release) Feb. 26, 2025 (Lake Worth Beach, Fla.) -- When 640 Florida cultural organizations experienced drastic cuts to critical funds last year, leaders at the Cultural Council for Palm Beach County rolled up their sleeves and got to work.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’s historic 2024 veto of $32 million in arts and cultural grants shocked organizations that rely on this annual funding from the state’s Division of Arts & Culture (DAC). These vetted, dollar-for-dollar matching grants—which organizations often leverage to garner support from private donors—cover vital expenses including salaries, rent and utilities, and community and educational programs. In Palm Beach County, the veto had a $3.1 million impact on 50 organizations, including large institutions like the Norton Museum of Art, Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, and Cox Science Center, as well as smaller groups such as Ballet Palm Beach, The Symphonia in Boca Raton, and the Palm Beach Shakespeare Festival.  

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“Palm Beach County’s cultural sector generates $335.3 million in economic impact and attracts four million annual tourists,” said Dave Lawrence, president & CEO of the Cultural Council for Palm Beach County. “The veto was devastating, but it provided us with an opportunity to share more broadly the impact of the cultural sector on our county and all of Florida, and its importance to education, to tourism, and to our economy. We will continue to advocate and educate legislators about the importance of state and public funding for a healthy and thriving arts sector.”

The sector’s economic impact in Palm Beach County—$189 million by nonprofit cultural organizations and an additional $146.3 million in event-related spending by their audiences—supports 4,360 jobs, generates $198.5 million in household income for residents, and delivers $57.2 million in tax revenues to local, state, and federal governments, according to Americans for the Arts’ recent Arts and Economic Prosperity 6 study. The national report, which is published every five years, shows that the nonprofit arts and culture industry is formidable, and demonstrates that supporting the arts is an investment in Palm Beach County’s economic and community well-being.

After the veto was announced, Council leaders crafted an expanded advocacy plan, bolstering efforts to support the sector during this season of uncertainty. Strategies included a dedicated landing page on its website with a Q&A about the state funding history and a list of organizations impacted by the Governor’s veto; educational signage and collateral available at its headquarters in Lake Worth Beach; targeted communications; and other activities designed to restore the DAC grant funding in the 2025-2026 state budget. 

Last fall, the Council hosted an immersive cultural tour for Palm Beach County Legislative Delegation members, as well as City of West Palm Beach and Tourist Development Council of Palm Beach County representatives. Over 30 elected officials and staff got a behind-the-scenes tour of the Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens, Palm Beach Dramaworks’ costume and rehearsal space, the Norton Museum of Art, and Palm Beach Opera’s new headquarters in Northwood. The tours and special performances were a way to show firsthand how state funding supports a diverse lineup of programs and services for community members, students, and tourists.
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“Advocating for the arts is essential to not only preserving the cultural landscape of our community, but also to make sure it thrives and continues to grow,” said Frances Fisher, board chairwoman for Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens. “The Cultural Council for Palm Beach County is a shining example for economic development, tourism and education. They support impactful cultural programming for South Florida that brings in visitors worldwide.”

The Cultural Council also deployed an electronic survey to all candidates running for Florida House of Representatives seats ahead of the election. Questions gauged the candidates’ levels of support for the DAC grant program, as well as how they have personally participated in the arts, enabling the Council to better understand how to engage them in conversations and connect them with cultural institutions. The results were shared with the Palm Beach County Cultural Advocacy Alliance, a group of cultural leaders that convene to find practical solutions to sector challenges, discuss strategies for the state grants, and share information.

Leading up to the 2025 Florida Legislative Session, the Cultural Council worked with local chambers of commerce to include arts funding as a priority in their legislative agendas. Council leadership spoke at a Delegation meeting at Keiser University, and will travel to Tallahassee in March for Palm Beach County Days to meet with local delegation members and chairs or co-chairs of key appropriation committees. The Council will also sponsor a Palm Beach County-based band to perform at one of the opening receptions hosted by the county’s public affairs department.

​The Cultural Council invites community members to write or call their House and Senate representatives about the importance of arts and cultural funding. For resources, talking points, important dates, and details on the Cultural Council’s efforts, visit www.palmbeachculture.com/advocacy.