Collier arts left behind in Florida budget that hints at patronage as a prime need

Author: Harriet Howard Heithaus, Gulfshore Business
Published: Updated:

More than $1.5 million in funding for Collier County arts organizations was slashed when Gov. Ron DeSantis summarily vetoed all arts funding requests coming from the Florida Division of Arts and Culture on June 12.   

It comes in a year when arts and culture spending overall for the state may be higher than last year.  

But the money coming to the arts is bypassing the Division of Arts and Culture and being funneled into other department budgets through a patronage system called “member projects.” Member projects are requests advocated by district legislators and may be added into any department’s budget. 

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