JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – As Jacksonville heads into budget season, Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville CEO Diana Donovan says proposed cuts to arts and culture funding shouldn’t be dismissed as trimming “nice-to-haves.”
“One of the common misconceptions is when we think about arts and culture funding, people may think of it as like a painting on a wall,” Donovan said on This Week in Jacksonville: Business Edition. “And… it’s easy to say, well, that’s a nice thing, but it’s not an essential thing.”
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Donovan argues the impact is broader—touching service workers, small businesses, public safety staffing, and downtown activity. She walked listeners through what a single night out can mean economically, describing everything from babysitters and ride-shares to restaurant staff and theater crews.
“When we think about it that way, it truly is an ecosystem,” she said.
At the center of the debate is the city-supported Cultural Service Grant Program, which Donovan says represents $143 million in economic impact tied to arts and culture spending. She framed it as a return-on-investment argument, telling Kent Justice the program is part of a broader Northeast Florida arts and culture impact figure of $319 million.
“That’s $143 million going back into the city with a $6 million plus investment,” Donovan said. “That… makes sense on multiple levels.”
Donovan also said the Council is pushing for transparency and merit-based grants, describing a process that includes committee review and auditing.
“We have a third party auditor that comes in,” she said. “So this is not the taxpayer’s dollars being spent willy-nilly.”
Looking ahead to City Council’s August finance committee meetings, Donovan said the request is straightforward: keep funding steady for now.
“In Mayor Deegan’s budget, she proposed us that sustained funding… about that 6 million,” Donovan said. “So we’re just asking to hold the line.”
The Cultural Council plans a public outreach push, including an email campaign beginning Aug. 3, encouraging residents to contact lawmakers.