By Anthony Man | aman@sunsentinel.com | South Florida Sun Sentinel

Wielding his veto pen nine months ago, Gov. Ron DeSantis wiped out state arts and culture grants, sparking a bipartisan outcry — and forcing hundreds of Florida theater, visual art, dance, music and other cultural organizations to scramble to close unexpected budget shortfalls and salvage their programs.

Arts and culture grants may soon have a revival.

If the governor and Florida Legislature come to terms, the funding could make a comeback in the state budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1 — possibly with significant changes that leave out organizations that were funded in the past, reduce the influence of experts in different arts genres, and place more power over which organizations get grants in the hands of a DeSantis political appointee.

The DeSantis administration also wants the Florida House and Senate to attach more strings by changing state law to require that programming is “appropriate for all age groups.”

That phrase or one similar appears five times in relation to arts and culture funding and oversight in proposed legislation (House Bill 1011 and Senate Bill 1524) that contains major changes to the current system. The “appropriate for all age groups” provision has sparked concerns among arts organizations, and a sponsor of the legislation, state Rep. Chip LaMarca, a Broward Republican, said it’s too broad. He said he and others are working on changes.

Meanwhile, the overall uncertainty about funding — the amounts, the timing and the rules — is taking a toll, said Marjorie Waldo, president and CEO of Arts Garage, the Delray Beach venue that offers live music, theater, comedy, visual arts and more.

“It’s shortsighted,” Waldo said. “The impact of arts and culture on people and communities is easily apparent. People move to vibrant communities that are filled with arts and culture.”

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