Cultural Council for Palm Beach County Expands Advocacy 

The Cultural Council for Palm Beach County is stepping up its efforts to advocate for the arts after Florida leaders cut $32 million in arts and cultural grants last year, officials said.

The group said the cuts to the state’s Division of Arts & Culturematching grants negatively impacted more than 600 groups statewide that used the funding to afford salaries, rent, utilities, and educational community programs.

“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. “We will continue to advocate and educate legislators about the importance of state and public funding for a healthy and thriving arts sector.”

Among the 50 groups in Palm Beach impacted by the cuts were 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.

The council is organizing to lobby lawmakers in a bid to have the funding restored in the next budget by visiting local legislators, hosting a delegation of elected officials to visit cultural institutions to see how the funding is spent, and encouraging patrons of the arts to contact their representatives.

“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.”