ORLANDO, Fla. — Central Florida arts and culture organizations are still reeling from the decision by Gov. Ron DeSantis to leave out more than $32 million for the arts from the state budget. 

What You Need To Know

  • Arts and culture organizations are still reeling from the decision by Gov. Ron DeSantis to leave out more than $32 million in funding for the arts from the state budget.  

  • Organizations like United Arts of Central Florida and Central Florida Vocal Arts are feeling the pinch

  • Central Florida Vocal Arts was set to receive $30,000 after budget negotiations

  • With that number now zero, the cost of having the teachers, administering the programs and providing scholarships will be a challenge

Jennifer Evins with United Arts of Central Florida said it put organizations like hers across four counties into crisis mode.

“We need people to consider the arts in this community as a destination for giving and showing up, buying tickets, buying your employees tickets," Evins said. "Investing in the arts is investing in our communities. So, I think it’s important to think about the resources that people have.” 

The funding cuts are also affecting Central Florida Vocal Arts.

That organization is dedicated to training artists of all ages while offering them performance opportunities.

Central Florida Vocal Arts was set to receive $30,000 after budget negotiations.

With that number now zero, organization leaders said the cost of having the teachers, administering the programs and providing scholarships will be a challenge.

“Everyone in our community should have access to the powerful, transformative effects of arts education regardless of financial means, situations they were born into. We want to intentionally bridge that access,” Theresa Smith-Levin, founder and executive director of Central Florida Vocal Arts said. 

Around 120 students take part in free voice lessons offered to Orange and Osceola County Public Schools.

“I’m so grateful. Already in less than a year, I’ve grown so much in my head voice, and I feel like I’m so grateful to have had this opportunity to do that," Central Florida Vocal Arts student Abby Yuska said. "Without her (teacher), I would not be where I am today.”

Community partnerships make this work possible.

Central Florida Vocal Arts, in a lot of ways, works best on the go, meeting students at different sites like churches to provide voice lessons.

“Without a funding source, we are limited with what we are able to sustain without those dollars,” Smith-Levin said.

Abby’s mother, Molly Yuska, a board member for Central Florida Vocal Arts, said people now more than ever need to support the arts.

“I just think that the arts are so powerful with child development and our communities," Molly Yuska said. "I think seeing more of that and not less of that is something that we really need.”

Philip King, the musical director for Central Florida Vocal Arts’ recent production of "The Pirates of Penzance," said the funding cuts have struck a sour note with him.

“In an organization like this, where so much of this is education-oriented and trying to help young people see the process, the process is going to get more truncated. It’s going to be adjusted slightly because we can’t afford to have a whole table of production team members there who are all focused on individual responsibilities,” King said.  

Smith-Levin said fundraising efforts have helped, but she worries what things could be like two to three years down the line if the organization continues to not get funding.