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
2018/2019 Legislative Priorities
Cultural Council of Palm Beach County
Posted: January 17, 2019
State: 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 (and Cultural Coalition) recommends full funding of all projects.
Local: The Cultural Council is advocating for $100,000 in additional funding for the C1 grant program in an effort to restore funding to $400,000 level (currently $250,000).
Read more »Arts & Economic Prosperity 5
Americans for the Arts
Posted: December 7, 2018
Conducted by Americans for the Arts, the Arts & Economic Prosperity 5 (AEP5) study documents the economic contributions of the nonprofit cultural sector nationally, as well as in 341 study regions. The Cultural Council sponsored the study for Palm Beach County and for five of the county’s largest cities: Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Jupiter, Lake Worth and West Palm Beach. Read more »City of Lake Worth Launches Arts & Cultural Master Plan for Downtown Lake Worth
Posted: October 23, 2018
New plan offers strategies to enhance, grow and diversify Lake Worth’s downtown region After an 18-month planning process, the City of Lake Worth, Lake Worth Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) and the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County today announced the launch of the Arts & Cultural Master Plan for Downtown Lake Worth. Download the plan […] Read more »Economic Impact of Cultural Tourism in Palm Beach County
Cultural Council of Palm Beach County
Posted: June 12, 2018
2017 Survey results released Results from FY 2017 Category B and C–II Organizations Attendee Surveys and Spending Data are now available. Summary | Full Report Read more »The Cultural Council Partners With the Devos Institute of Arts Management to Offer Free Training and Consultation
Posted: May 25, 2018
updated June 11, 2018 The Cultural Council of Palm Beach County and the DeVos Institute of Arts Management at the University of Maryland are pleased to announce the launch of a year-long training and consultation program for up to 10 cultural non-profits in Palm Beach County. Building on the Council’s robust history of professional development […] Read more »Palm Beach County Cultural Groups Will Feel the Pain of State Grant Cuts
The Palm Beach Post
Posted: May 5, 2018
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. Read more »NEA Receives Funding Increase
Americans for the Arts
Posted: March 20, 2018
Congress is proposing to fund the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) each at $152.8 million. This is a funding increase of $3 million to support more direct grants and expand access to creative arts therapies for the military. This final budget is in stark contrast to […] Read more »Registration for Arts Advocacy Day 2018 is now open
Americans for the Arts
Posted: January 23, 2018
Registration for Arts Advocacy Day 2018 is now open. The 31st annual Arts Advocacy Day will take place on March 12-13, 2018 in Washington, D.C. Hosted by Americans for the Arts in partnership with over 85 national arts organizations, Arts Advocacy Day is the largest gathering of its kind, bringing together a broad cross section of America's cultural and civic organizations. 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:
