United Arts celebrates some new grants, diversity, leadership

United Arts of Central Florida had good news to announce at its annual meeting Wednesday afternoon: The advocacy and funding organization has received $260,000 to use in its support of more than 70 local cultural groups and educational programs.

Dr. Phillips Charities will donate $100,000 to fund artsenrichment programs in Osceola County during the next school year. That amount will be matched by Osceola Arts in Kissimmee, the Osceola County Commission, the Osceola County School District and Tupperware Brands. Wells Fargo also has donated $35,000 toward overall artseducation initiatives, and Bank of America has contributed $25,000.

“United Arts continues each year to broaden its reach to new audiences, expand arts education initiatives and support innovative programming throughout Lake, Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties,” said president Flora Maria Garcia.

Financially, it has been a mixed year for United Arts. Its annual Campaign for the Arts, the region’s largest cultural fundraiser, beat its goal and collected $2.088 million for groups throughout the four-county region. But state funding cutbacks hit hard. The organization will receive $47,491 — less than a third — of the $150,000 recommended by the state Division of Cultural Affairs. United Arts is still seeking funds for the specific programs affected by those cuts, a spokesman said.

One new initiative, celebrating diversity, marked its first year. Funded by a $50,000 donation from Duke Energy in 2016, Diverse Programming Grants allow United Arts to help fund events aimed at underserved communities.

The latest diversity grants, the final allocations for the year, were given to the Bay Street Players in Eustis for their August production of the musical “Memphis,” about 1950s race relations; Enzian Theater in Maitland for a summer Diversity Film Festival; the Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center in Maitland for three African-American history exhibits opening next week; the Orlando Science Center for its Community Connection Day on Aug. 26; and Orlando’s Timucua Arts Foundation, for a series of Latin jazz nights that continues with a July 9 concert by the Fernando Ferrarone Trio.

“People from all over the world call Central Florida home,” Garcia said of the grants program. “United Arts is committed to seeing that richness reflected throughout the arts and culture commu-