Advocacy

The Council's advocacy efforts cover public policy and funding issues locally, state-wide and nationally, speaking on behalf of the cultural industry and its impact on issues and people. Art and Culture: Part of the Solution has been a recurring theme with legislators.

 


Sherron Long, Florida Cultural Alliance (L),
and Rena Blades, Cultural Council of PBC

The Cultural Council held its "State of the Arts" address to update leaders of Palm Beach County's cultural industry on the status of funding for arts and culture. 

Currently, Florida ranks 49th in the nation in funding for arts and culture.

 

Did you know?

1. Whether serving the local community or out-of-town visitors, a vibrant arts and culture industry helps local businesses thrive. As of January 2011, Palm Beach County is home to 4,912 arts-related businesses that employ 15,036 people. Click here for more information on the Americans for the Arts Creative Industries report.

2. Arts education is a proven factor in student achievement and workforce readiness for the 21st century. For students on "free and reduced lunch," an indicator of low socioeconomic level, the more music and arts classes taken, the higher the student achievement in all measures (SAT, FCAT Reading, Writing, Math).

3. Since the 95% reduction in state support for our arts and culture resources, measurement standards of success are also substantially declining. Only 5¢ per Floridian is invested in arts and culture grants. View the 2011 Florida Legislative Platform for Arts and Culture here.
 

What can you do?

Take action! Click here to use the the Florida Cultural Alliance's E-Advocacy Center. Other resources, such as Americans for the Arts, provide a wealth of valuable information to help you advocate on behalf of the arts and cultural community. 

 

1. Misperceptions about arts and culture are misleading and have unintended consequences for this creative industry.

2. Our arts and culture industry represents thousands of businesses throughout our state and provides economic diversification and development for Florida.

3. Florida's arts and culture industry is a major catalyst to expand tourism.

4. Arts education is a proven factor in student achievement and workforce readiness for the 21st century.

5. Our arts and culture industry = jobs throughout Florida.

6. Non-arts industries value strong arts and culture resources.

7. Florida's arts and culture industry is totally dependent upon a variety of public and private funding partnerships.

8. Our arts and culture industry realizes it, too, must endure reductions during challenging times; however, it has already sustained major reductions in state policy and funding support over the last five years.

9. Since the 95% reduction in state support for our arts and culture resources, measurement standards of success are also substantially declining.

10. Relook at how arts are part of the solution, review the facts, and restore Florida's investment in its arts and culture resources.

-- Florida Cultural Alliance, February 2011 

 

Impact of Arts and Culture

How do arts and culture directly contribute to the economic activity throughout Florida and Palm Beach County? Read here to find out.