NewsWUSF — Tampa Bay NPR (Local & State)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 — Tampa Bay NPR (Local & State)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 into law.”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 and budget.”personBrian Hersh“CEO of the Arts and Cultural Alliance.”organizationUrbanite Theatre“Arts organization that withdrew from grant consideration over DEI contract langu”personTeresa Mast“Sarasota County Commissioner who questioned Urbanite's inclusion.”personRon Cutsinger“Chairman of the Sarasota County Commission.”organizationArts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County“Administrator of the county's cultural grant program.”