Washington D.C., Tallahassee and Palm Beach County—the Cultural Council advocates for the arts at all levels of government. Considered globally as an economic driver, the cultural sector attracts talent and investment, builds international reputation and catalyzes innovation across all sectors of the economy.
Arts Advocacy News
It’s Time to Fully Fund All 52 Palm Beach County Division of Cultural Affairs Grants
Cultural Council for Palm Beach County
Posted: February 3, 2021
The Florida Department of State (DOS) Division of Cultural Affairs (DCA) recommends funding 730 vetted, matching grants across the state at a total investment of $67.8 million in the 2021/2022 budget. Recommended grants go through a rigorous vetting process by DCA staff for eligibility and hundreds of volunteer arts professionals for excellence, impact, management and […] Read more »Pledge to Make Your Vote Count!
ArtsVote2020
Posted: October 9, 2020
The Cultural Council has joined ArtsVote2020, a nationwide, two-year initiative of the Americans for the Arts Action Fund that advocates for better public policies for the arts and arts education. ArtsVote2020 will specifically bring national attention to the important role of the creative economy to our nation’s political candidates running to improve the economic, educational […] Read more »Join the Movement to Help Palm Beach County Restart with the Arts
Cultural Council for Palm Beach County
Posted: October 8, 2020
During a recent State of the Cultural Sector Town Hall, the Cultural Council for Palm Beach County shared results from a preliminary COVID-19 impact survey sent to local cultural organizations this summer to gather information about how the pandemic impacted the institutions. The Council also announced several key initiatives to help Palm Beach County’s cultural […] Read more »Palm Beach County CARES Restart Business Grants Program Resumes
Posted: September 24, 2020
The Palm Beach County CARES Restart Business Grants Program will resume on Friday, September 25, 2020 at 8:00 A.M. The Restart Business Program guidelines, including eligibility criteria will be posted on the County’s website. The Board gave approval for individual grants up to $25,000 to help “restart” Palm Beach County businesses forced to close by […] Read more »Ask Congress to Extend Pandemic Unemployment and the Paycheck Protection Program
Americans for the Arts Action Fund
Posted: June 30, 2020
The Coronavirus has had a devastating $8.4 billion economic impact on America’s arts sector with a 67% unemployment rate among artists and gig workers. Since the first U.S. case was reported in January, 96% of arts and culture organizations have cancelled events—some as far out as 2021—resulting in a loss of 325 million ticketed admissions and billions of dollars more lost in event-related spending by audiences at local businesses (restaurants, lodging, retail), impacting 533,000 jobs.
Please take two minutes to send a customizable E-alert to your U.S. Representatives and Senators to call on them to extend the pandemic unemployment assistance and provide a second round of the Paycheck Protection Program to the arts sector by July 31st.
Read more »Palm Beach County Arts and Cultural Education Snapshot: Two-Year Study
Cultural Council of Palm Beach County
Posted: January 17, 2020
The cultural sector’s contribution to the School District of Palm Beach County and other learning locations. *Originally published with year one survey data. Updated January 17, 2020 with year two data. As late as the 1960s and 1970s, the value of the arts and its integral play within American culture were a given. Its evidence […] Read more »Division of Cultural Affairs and Cultural Council recommendations for state funding
Cultural Council of Palm Beach County
Posted: January 3, 2020
The Department of State (DOS) Division of Cultural Affairs (DCA) is advancing a recommendation to fund $59 million ($59,849,052) in the matching grant program to 659 organizations across the state. 51 grants are recommended for nonprofit arts and cultural organizations in Palm Beach County totalling $6,439,845, just over 10% of the total funding recommendation, across […] Read more »Governor signs off on increased grants for culture and historic preservation
Palm Beach Daily News
Posted: June 24, 2019
Most state cultural and historic preservation grants survived Gov. Ron DeSantis’ veto pen in the nearly $91 billion budget he signed on Friday. Cultural grants that passed the Division of Cultural Affairs screening process will receive about $21.25 million in 2019-20. That’s a significant bump from the $2.65 million allocated last budget year. Historic preservation grants approved by the Division of Historical Resources will get about $7.2 million. That’s up from $4.5 million last year.
“This is the result of a lot of hard work on the part of cultural advocates, board members, donors and staff people,” said Dave Lawrence, president and chief executive officer of the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County. “This kind of increase doesn’t come easily.”
Read more »TAKE ACTION
Arts-friendly policies and funding need consistent support and the Council fights on the front lines to educate elected officials on the economic and quality-of-life benefits of the arts.
The Council can’t tackle these issues alone. Advocacy earns results by participation and strong voices from constituents. That’s you!
It takes two minutes to contact your representative with the simple facts stated here. Please use the links below to do just that.
• Palm Beach County Commissioners
• Palm Beach County Legislative Delegation
• Florida Government Policy Makers
• Find Your House Representative
• Find Your Senator
Research & Reports
COVID-19 Impact on the Cultural Sector, January 2021
See the devastating impact that COVID-19 and accompanying shutdowns have had on the cultural industry at local, statewide, and national levels.
Download the Infographic »
The Economic Impact of Cultural Tourism in Palm Beach County (FY2019)
View the results from the FY19 Attendee Surveys and Spending Data from Category B and C-II Organizations
Read the Report »
Arts & Cultural Impact in Palm Beach County – By the Numbers
Cultural Council for Palm Beach County
Arts Education Impact in Palm Beach County
Cultural Council for Palm Beach County
Arts & Cultural Master Plan for Downtown Lake Worth Beach
The City of Lake Worth Beach and the Lake Worth Beach CRA
Legislative Platform Handbook
Florida Cultural Alliance
Arts and Economic Prosperity 5
Americans for the Arts
- Palm Beach County – full report
- Palm Beach County – summary
- Boca Raton
- Delray Beach
- Jupiter
- Lake Worth Beach
- West Palm Beach
Cultural Advocacy Alliance
The purpose of the Palm Beach County Cultural Advocacy Alliance is to gather together the leaders of cultural organizations and the creative sector in Palm Beach County, with purpose, to discuss and act upon issues, projects, campaigns and initiatives of mutual benefit to the respective cultural organizations and to the people who live in and visit Palm Beach County.
This committee is an extension of the Cultural Council’s advocacy work – an integral part of a local arts service agency’s mission – and also includes Council board members and representatives from other advocacy partners from around the county.
This collaborative work will ensure that the arts and culture sector is relevant to the community, its leaders and its citizens, a fact that will be evident because culture will be included in long range plans, funding plans, and important community decisions.
Cultural Advocacy Groups
Find links to local, state and national arts advocacy organizations here:
