PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — As Pinellas County commissioners work to finalize the budget for the upcoming fiscal year, major cuts could be coming to the county’s designated local arts agency.
Creative Pinellas, which was established as a nonprofit in 2011, has an art gallery featuring local artists at their headquarters at the Florida Botanical Gardens. They have an additional gallery at the St. Pete-Clearwater Airport and help to distribute grants to artists, as well as facilitate the creation of murals and art in different neighborhoods.
At a budget workshop last week, board chair Brian Scott questioned the purpose of Creative Pinellas and if the county should continue to fund the arts agency.
“They get about 90% of their money from us and I don’t see that there’s a lot of return on that investment,” Scott told board members.
Scott said the county budgets $1.2 million annually to support Creative Pinellas. More than $800,000 of that funding comes from tourism tax dollars, while the remaining is a mix of general and transportation funds.
“I’ve really struggled since becoming a commissioner to really understand what they’re bringing to the table,” Scott said. “Honestly, I don’t think they’re bringing a lot to the table other than having grant programs that give artists money to buy easels and cameras and things like that… and it’s not really going to tourism at all.”
Instead of allotting $1.2 million for Creative Pinellas next year, Scott recommended taking $500,000 to create a competitive arts grant just for arts tourism. The remainder of the money would go back into the county budget.
Creative Pinellas CEO Margaret Murray says while she was disheartened to hear Scott’s remarks, she understands how hard of a year Pinellas County had with the back-to-back hurricanes and the importance of a balanced budget.
She says Creative Pinellas distributed over $225,000 in grants last year and have multiple contracts within the community that include $50,000 from the Lealman CRA, $40,000 from the National Endowment for the Arts, and $20,000 from St. Pete-Clearwater Airport.
“What I took away from that meeting is the county commission does understand the value of art,” Murray said. “They really do… they are willing to put money towards it to market it solely to visitors, which I understand.”
Murray says she feels commissioners don’t understand the reach that Creative Pinellas has within the community and their many exhibits and grant-programs provide measurable visitor engagement at no additional cost to the county.
“I feel their pain. I understand their need to balance a budget,” Murray said. “I just hope they can see the value that we bring to the county and to the 15 million visitors who come to Pinellas County every year.”
Murray plans to speak to county commissioners Thursday, during a scheduled public hearing.
“They understand the value of the arts, so if we can find a resolution, there’s a clear path forward,” Murray said.
Angie Angers
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