Volusia County Council has officially declined to reinstate its longstanding Community Cultural Grant Program, ending a decades-old tradition of public support for the arts. The decision, finalized after a contentious vote on October 21, 2025, means that $611,758 in previously budgeted grant funds will not be distributed to 33 local arts and cultural organizations.
The funding cut follows weeks of public debate and criticism, particularly after Councilman Danny Robins pulled the grants from the consent agenda earlier in October. Robins cited concerns over LGBTQ+ programming, including drag performances hosted by third-party groups at venues like the Athens Theatre in DeLand and the Shoestring Theatre in Lake Helen. Although both theaters voluntarily withdrew their applications in hopes of preserving funding for other applicants, the council ultimately voted to withhold all grants.
Council members supporting the cut argued that the funds would be better spent on “core government purposes” such as infrastructure and public safety. Chair Jeff Brower and councilmen Don Dempsey and Troy Kent joined Robins in voting against the arts funding, despite appeals from community members and arts advocates.
The impact on local organizations is already being felt. Groups like The Hub on Canal in New Smyrna Beach, which has served artists and creatives for over 15 years, now face difficult choices: reducing programming, limiting hours, and raising ticket prices to stay afloat. Many nonprofits relied on the county’s modest investment to support concerts, museum exhibits, children’s programs, and historic preservation efforts.
The Volusia County Cultural Alliance, which has long championed the grant program, warned that the decision threatens not only the vibrancy of the arts community but also local jobs and tourism revenue. According to their estimates, the program generated nearly $2 in local tax revenue for every $1 invested.
As of now, there are no plans to revisit the funding during the current fiscal year. The council may discuss the issue again during the next budget cycle, but for many organizations, the absence of support in 2025 presents a “huge challenge” to survival.
Sources: News-Journal Online News-Journal Online Observer Local News Volusia County Cultural Alliance
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