The Cultural Council believes that arts and culture in The Palm Beaches builds a stronger economy and drives tourism; unites and engages communities; and enhances education at every level. This is the foundation of the Council’s advocacy program and what motivates strategies and tactics to securing/maintaining funding at the national, state, and local levels; outreach to business and community leaders; and support for arts education for K-12 students.
At-A-Glance
- The sector generates $633 million in economic impact annually and creates 14,212 FTE jobs.
- Cultural organizations are tourism generators. The sector attracts 3.9 million visitors annually and, as part of their experience, they dine in restaurants, shop in nearby stores, and fill nearly 300,000 hotel room nights. Cultural tourists spend 71% more than residents.
- Arts and culture contribute to quality of life and is used as a selling point by the Business Development Board for business recruitment and relocation.
- Cultural organizations enhance education and inspire students and families alike. In FY19, cultural organizations provided 760,000 educational experiences and 82,000 instructional hours to students in Palm Beach County.
Arts Advocacy News
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 »Why It’s Good Business to Support the Arts
Forbes.com
Posted: June 5, 2019
The economic impact of the arts is well documented. According to a report, the growth in arts and cultural economic activity made up 4.3% of the U.S. gross domestic product for 2016. That equates to more than $804 billion in economic activity for that year alone. There are many reasons why promoting local arts and cultural nonprofits can help to improve communities. Promoting the arts can also positively impact the bottom line for companies that support these organizations. Read more »Cultural and historic preservation groups might see state grants go up next year
Palm Beach Daily News
Posted: May 14, 2019
Cultural and historic preservation groups fared much better in the $91.1 billion budget state legislators approved May 4 than they did last year.
If approved by Gov. Ron DeSantis, cultural organizations will receive about $21.35 million for grants recommended by the state Division of Cultural Affairs. That’s up from the $2.65 million allocated last budget year.
Read more »Invest in Florida’s Cultural Capital®
52 Orgs and $6.3 Million for Palm Beach County
Cultural Council of Palm Beach County
Posted: February 22, 2019
The Division of Cultural Affairs is advancing a recommendation to fund $62 million ($61,660,924) in the General Program Support matching grant program to 666 organizations from across the state. There are 52 PBC-based organizations vying for $6.3 million ($6,347,740), just over 10% in four areas: Cultural Endowment, Cultural Facilities, General Program Support and Specific Project Support.
The Cultural Council of Palm Beach County recommends full funding of all projects.
Read more »2019 National Arts Action Summit and Arts Advocacy Day
Americans for the Arts
Posted: February 18, 2019
The National Arts Action Summit is a multi-day event bringing together arts advocates from across the country. Attendees will learn the latest research and legislative arts priorities from the experts in a full day training on March 4, 2019. That evening, The Nancy Hanks Lecture on Arts and Public Policy at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is sure to inspire and motivate advocates. The following day, March 5, is Arts Advocacy Day when advocates take their passion, knowledge, and stories to Capitol Hill for meetings with their congressional leaders. Read more »Palm Beach County Day 2019
Palm Beach County
Posted: February 12, 2019
Holding Palm Beach County Day at the beginning of the legislative session is an excellent opportunity to keep Palm Beach County’s legislative priorities in front of lawmakers all session long.
Palm Beach County Day 2019 takes place on March 5-6, 2019 in Tallahassee. We hope you will continue to make this event a priority as we all work for the greater good of the residents of Palm Beach County.
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
Division of Arts & Culture Grants Leave-Behind Document, February 2023
We encourage members of the cultural sector to reach out to their Florida Senate and House district representative to advocate for full funding of the Division of Arts & Culture matching grant program.
Download the PDF »
Economic and Fiscal Impacts of COVID-19 on Palm Beach County Cultural Organizations
Responding to the Coronavirus state of emergency in 2020, the Cultural Council for Palm Beach County issued a survey about COVID-19 impacts on its constituent organizations between March 2020 and August 2020.
Download the PDF »
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
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:
