October is National Arts and Humanities Month, a time to honor the creativity, culture, and stories that make our community so resilient. The arts and humanities are not just performances, but a chance to reflect on our shared humanity and serve as a powerful tool for justice, community engagement, and healing.
Despite their importance, recently there have been attacks on the arts and humanities fields all across Central Florida. Governor Ron DeSantis, has vetoed millions of dollars in state arts and culture grants, leaving many organizations without funding.
In April, Orange County cut all grants that fall under DEI initiatives in arts, citing “an abundance of caution to ensure compliance […] and to not jeopardize other arts funding.” This impacts arts organizations such as Opera Orlando and Orlando Ballet as well as the Orlando Science Center, who were eligible for these grants because they provided programming and outreach for people with disabilities. One month after that, the Orange County arts and cultural affairs board removed “diversity” from their mission statement, citing that they were worried that it would cause them to lose additional funding. Because of this sweeping cut, organizations will no longer be eligible for additional funding based on their dedication to creating an accessible arts environment for individuals with disabilities.
But here at Team Anna, we continue to fight back. Our community is home to incredible organizations, educators, and cultural leaders who keep the arts and humanities alive, accessible, and a place for all. Join us in celebrating the creativity that strengthens our community while we recommit ourselves to protecting it from the censorship and defunding we are seeing around our nation.
Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens: Houses a collection focusing on American representational sculpture, prominently featuring Polasek’s creations. They offer guided tours of the historic Polasek residence and chapel, an outdoor sculpture garden, rotating exhibits, and a gift shop.
Art and History Museum of Maitland: A community gathering place, combining the best of both art and history. A&H is home to four unique museums: the Maitland Historical Museum, the Telephone Museum, the Waterhouse Residence & Carpentry Shop Museum, and the Maitland Art Center (the only National Historic Landmark in greater Orlando). A&H is also home to a variety of art classes and workshops, as well as two artist residency programs.
Arts Reach Orlando: This organization provides access to art programs for youth from low-income backgrounds and those experiencing Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). They emphasize the link between arts, social justice, and the healing process as part of their program.
Beaux Arts of Central Florida: They produce exhibitions and collaborate with local galleries, museums, and public spaces to showcase contemporary art. They began their work in 1962, presenting art throughout Central Florida.
Blue Bamboo Center for the Arts: Created in 2016 by Chris and Melody Cortez in hopes of bringing a new outlet for people. Located in Winter Park, the studio with an audience gave space to discerning listeners and jazz lovers around Florida. Their philosophy is all about community.
Central Florida Community Arts (CFCArts): They seek to serve and build community through the arts. They do this by building lasting relationships, serving the community through fundraisers and projects, and providing accessible opportunities for everyone to engage in the arts.
Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art: Houses the world’s most comprehensive collection of works by Louis Comfort Tiffany. The Museum’s holdings also include American art pottery, late 19th- and early 20th-century American paintings, graphics, and decorative art.
Crealde School of Art: A nonprofit community arts organization in Winter Park, Florida, that has provided community-based hands-on art experience since 1975.
Creative City Project: Started in 2012, partnering with the Orlando Ballet and Cirque Du Soleil, they brought music, dance, design, and visual arts back to the city. Hopes that Orlando will become a premier destination for performance and installation artists from all over the world. They want to cultivate a thriving arts community in Orlando, nurture a deeper sense of ownership and care for Orlando amongst its residents, and shape the global perception of our city as one known for innovation and creativity.
Downtown Arts District: Downtown Arts District is home to the world-renowned CityArts, housed inside the historic Rogers Kiene Building. In addition to their galleries, they also present numerous programs from the award-winning 3rd Thursday Gallery Hop to the monthly In Between Series featuring a variety of musicians.
Florida Cultural Alliance: This non-partisan organization supports the arts by uniting art advocates, including artists, businesses, individuals, organizations, and policymakers at the local, state, and federal levels. They seek to strategically collaborate to increase the state’s investment in artists, arts, and cultural organizations while also elevating the industry as a whole in the state of Florida.
Florida Humanities: Invested in funding and empowering Florida’s history and heritage. Promotes civic engagement and encourages community conversations. Helping to preserve and share the stories that connect our communities and define Florida’s unique sense of place.
Florida Alliance for Arts Education (FAAE): Mission to improve, enhance, and promote arts education in Florida. Their vision is based on the premise that the arts complete education, are essential to the vitality and quality of life in schools and communities, and are powerful in the education of students with special needs. Has worked to bring schools and communities together since 1981.
Florida Motion Picture & TV Association: Their mission is to promote motion picture, television, audio recording, theater, and digital media industries in Florida through education and networking.
Open Scene: Founded by Thamara Bejarano, a Venezuelan immigrant who turned to the arts to rebuild her life in a new country. Open Scene uplifts global voices and unites communities through the transformative power of the arts.
Orlando Arts Alliance: Their vision is to be the most influential champion of artistic collaboration and opportunity in Central Florida. They are an engaging and accessible arts organization for everyone. In hopes of inspiring and enabling by using performances not only to advance the arts but also to use their power in creating connections, engaging the community, and shaping culture.
Orlando Ballet: Orlando Ballet is a professional ballet company in Central Florida. They promote education through community enrichment programs, performance lecture demonstrations, and provide ballet classes to the population through their Orlando Ballet School and Orlando Ballet II.
Orlando Museum of Art: They seek to stimulate creativity and curiosity by connecting people with art and ideas. On the third Thursday of each month, they offer free admission as part of their “Access for All at OMA” initiative.
Opera Orlando: This organization carries the legacy of opera in Central Florida; its mission includes engaging and entertaining communities in the region by presenting high-quality, relevant productions and educational programs for all ages.
Renaissance Theatre Company: A nonprofit company dedicated to original theatrical performances in Orlando with an international focus on fair pay to artists, highlighting diverse perspectives, and environmental sustainability.
Seminole Cultural Arts Council: is a catalyst for preservation of local cultural and historical heritage, including performing, literary, visual arts, and sciences. Serving to sustain, develop, and advance the cultural life of Seminole County. Formed in 1994, it is a non-profit organization offering sponsorship, fundraising events, a grants program, and community-based arts programs.
Timucua Arts Foundation: Timucua Arts Foundation is a multi-faceted arts and education institution, presenting concerts and festivals and delivering education and wellness programming to people of all ages. Their core belief is that “Art Belongs to Everyone.”
United Arts of Central Florida: The organization provides funding for arts, sciences, and history organizations in the region. Through grants, programs, and resources, they aim to support local arts and culture while promoting inclusivity and advocacy as integral parts of their work. They also raise awareness concerning the impact of the arts on the community by contacting elected officials in four counties in Central Florida.
Zora Neale Hurston National Museum of Fine Arts: A program of The Association to Preserve the Eatonville Community, Inc. (P.E.C.). Its mission is to provide a place “in the heart of the community” where the public can view the work of artists of African descent, who live in the United States or throughout the Diaspora.