Area groups will feel pain of arts cuts
State budget contains only $2.65M for entire state’s cultural efforts.
State lawmakers have dramatically cut the amount of grant money they give to cultural programs, sending Palm Beach County’s nonprofit arts organizations scrambling for donations to help soften the blow.
The state’s $88.7 billion budget includes just $2.65 million for cultural grants, which will be spread among 489 organizations statewide that have been vetted by the Division of Cultural Affairs. That’s down 90 percent from the $25 million allocated last year.
At Dreyfoos School of the Arts in West Palm Beach, the nonprofit foundation created to help enhance the school’s art and academic programs could see its annual grant award cut to $9,600 when the state’s budget year begins this summer — a decrease of 79 percent from the $46,000 it received this year.
Kristin Lidinsky, the foundation’s executive director, said the nonprofit may not be able to employ as many part-time teach-
ers through its “Artist in Residence” program.
The program pays for additional arts teachers who are trained in a variety of areas including dance, visual arts, theater, lighting and set design.
“They are almost adjunct professors,” Lidinsky said. “They are actually teaching classes to the students in these various art areas.”
During the last four years, the foundation has seen its state grant money plummet by nearly 94 percent, Lidinsky said. During that same time, the number of teachers in the program has fallen from 24 to its current level of 15.
“I am scrambling,” Lidinsky said of the state cuts. The foundation is looking for new grant money and has taken to Facebook to boost private donations with the hashtag #SAVETHEARTS.
“That is just a chunk of money to try to replace,” Lidinsky said.
This year, 39 cultural organizations in Palm Beach County shared $3.1 million in state grant money. Although the state is still finalizing next year’s grant amounts, cultural leaders say most local groups will get no more than $10,000 through the state program.
Beth Clark, the chief executive officer for Young Singers of the Palm Beaches, a community-based children’s choir, said the group is slated to receive about $6,000 next year — down from $64,000 three years ago.
“It has a huge impact,” Clark said. “You have to bring in more cash or you have to cut expenses. I am in my budgeting process right now, and it is tough.”
The organization is having a fundraiser this week in hopes of boosting private donations. The nonprofit serves about 350 children in seven choirs and about 600 children in after-school programs, Clark said.
“We work very hard to never cut programs for the children,” Clark said. “We will do everything we can not to program cut.”
But with dozens of local organizations facing similar grant cuts, Clark said local fundraising could become more challenging because many of the groups are trying to woo the same donors.
“It is extremely difficult,” Clark said. “It is a real hit to all of the organizations.”
At the Armory Arts Center in West Palm Beach, gallery hours may have to be reduced to make up for the grant shortfall, Executive Director Tom Pearson said.
“Two years ago our grant funding was $80,000,” Pearson said. “This past year it was $40,000. Going into next year we might get $9,000 if we are lucky.”
Without the money, Pearson said the center will be forced to cut a staff position, ultimately reducing the number of hours it keeps its reception desk and gallery open. “It is people,” Pearson said. “It is positions.”
There are more than 200 arts and cultural organizations providing more than 42,000 offerings in the county each year.
The cultural industry supports roughly 14,000 fulltime jobs and has an annual economic impact of $633 million, according to the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County.
Council representatives traveled to Tallahassee four times this year in hopes of persuading state lawmakers not to cut the grant program.
Jennifer Sullivan, the council’s chief marketing officer, said the organization will continue to push for more grant money in hopes the funds will be restored next spring.
“Although the state funding was cut drastically this year, we will continue to advocate for full funding of the state grant program next year,” Sullivan said. “The council is also committed to bring attention to this issue and to the importance of public funds for business, tourism and quality of life.”