NewsWUSF (NPR Tampa Bay)August 29, 2026Hillsborough
Sarasota County approves $2.1 million in arts grants for 33 organizations
Sarasota County commissioners approved $2.1 million in funding for 33 local arts organizations. Urbanite Theatre was excluded from the funding after declining to sign a diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) acknowledgement required by the Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County.
Read the full story at WUSF (NPR Tampa Bay)Why It Matters
This decision determines the distribution of $2.1 million in public support among local cultural institutions and establishes a requirement for grant recipients to sign a acknowledgement.
Key Facts
Each fact below is taken from the article. Click one to see the exact passage.
Who's Mentioned
personRon DeSantis“Governor who signed SB 1134”other33“Number of organizations receiving funding.”personHannah Levite“Marketing Director of Urbanite Theatre”personSummer Wallace“Co-founder of Urbanite Theatre”locationSarasota County“The jurisdiction approving the arts grants.”organizationSarasota County Commission“Governing body that approved the grants”personBrian Hersh“CEO of the Arts and Cultural Alliance”organizationUrbanite Theatre“Arts organization that declined to sign the DEI acknowledgement”personTeresa Mast“Sarasota County Commissioner”personRon Cutsinger“Sarasota County Commission Chairman”organizationArts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County“Administrator of the grant program”