Dear Lake Wales Arts Supporters and Lovers,

Some of you may have seen an email recently from Bok Tower Gardens that talked about the urgent need to contact Representatives in the House Legislature.

YOU NEED TO KNOW that the Lake Wales Arts Council is in the SAME BOAT with them.  I have taken the liberty of sending you this email which is almost the exact wording as theirs, with the same message and the same plea for YOUR help.

Your immediate support and advocacy are urgently needed. The Lake Wales Arts Council is at risk of losing critical cultural funding and tourism marketing support due to legislative actions currently underway in Florida.

House Proposed Budget (HB5001)
The Lake Wales Arts Council has long submitted competitive applications to the Department of State’s General Program Support grant program to fund our arts education initiatives, concerts, exhibitions, and community programs. In our most recent application, we received a score of 93.5—well above the funding threshold of 80—yet we are not listed as a recipient in the House budget proposal. This $90,000 grant is vital to continuing our mission of providing accessible, high-quality arts experiences to the Lake Wales community.

Insult to Injury on Cultural Funding
We also rely on support from Polk County’s tourism bureau—Visit Central Florida—to help market our events and attract visitors to the Arts Center and surrounding downtown. Just a couple of weeks ago, we submitted a grant request for $240,000 through Visit Central Florida’s Arts and Culture program to support our 2025-2026 season. Losing this support would significantly limit our ability to produce the concerts, camps, exhibitions, and educational programming that define our impact.

Compounding this threat, two bills—HB 1221 and HB 7033—have advanced in the Florida House. If passed, they would:

  • Force 100% of Tourist Development Tax (TDT) revenue to be used as a property tax credit, eliminating funding for tourism promotion, marketing, and tourism facilities.

  • Dissolve every Tourist Development Council in Florida by the end of the year.

  • Mandate a public referendum on TDT every eight years to continue the Property Tax discount.

  • Eliminate arts and cultural grant programs that support the arts through tourism.

What’s at Stake?
If these bills pass, the impact on our local economy and arts community will be severe. The Lake Wales Arts Council contributes to cultural tourism and economic growth by engaging over 20,000 visitors and students annually in Polk County. Our events and programs not only educate and inspire but also support jobs and drive local spending.

What Can You Do?
Please contact your state representatives and urge them to:

  • Add the Lake Wales Arts Council back to the list for Cultural and Museum Grant funding (HB5001/SB2500)

  • Vote NO on HB 1221 and HB 7033 to preserve tourism support and cultural funding in Florida

Let them know the Lake Wales Arts Council is a cornerstone of Polk County’s cultural identity. We depend on these vital funds to make art, music, and creativity accessible to all.
See Sample letter below:

Your voice matters—and time is critical. Please call or email your representatives today!

[Contact Your State Representatives]

Thank you for standing with us,
Board of Directors, LWAC Staff, and the Advocates, ArtCampers, Artists, Guitarists, Musicians, Painters, Performers, Pianists, Potters, Sculptors, Teachers, Vocalists, and many others who make Lake Wales an inspiring place to live and visit!

SAMPLE LETTER:

[Today’s Date]

Florida State Senate or House of Representatives
Tallahassee, FL 32399

Dear Senator/Representative,

On behalf of the Lake Wales Arts Council, I write to express urgent concern regarding proposed legislative actions that jeopardize critical cultural funding and tourism support across our state—specifically House Bills 5001, 1221, and 7033.

The Lake Wales Arts Council, a nonprofit dedicated to enriching our community through visual and performing arts, recently submitted a grant application to the Department of State’s Division of Arts and Culture. With a score of 93.5—well above the 80-point funding threshold—we met the state’s standards for excellence, yet we are not listed for funding in the current version of HB5001. The $90,000 grant in question is essential to sustaining the community programming, arts education, and public events that serve thousands of Floridians annually.

We are equally alarmed by HB 1221 and HB 7033, which would:

  • Redirect all Tourist Development Tax (TDT) revenues toward property tax relief, eliminating funds for tourism and cultural programming;

  • Disband Florida’s county-level Tourist Development Councils by year-end;

  • Require recurring referendums to continue TDT-based funding;

  • End tourism-supported arts and cultural grant programs.

If enacted, these bills would dismantle a network of cultural and economic support that fuels Florida’s local economies, particularly in small cities like Lake Wales. The Lake Wales Arts Council alone supports over 20,000 annual visitors and students through exhibitions, performances, festivals, and educational programs—all of which drive tourism dollars and promote community well-being.

We urge the Florida House to:

  • Include the Lake Wales Arts Council in the Cultural and Museum Grant funding allocations(HB5001/SB2500);

  • Oppose HB 1221 and HB 7033, and safeguard funding structures that promote tourism and arts-driven economic development.

The proposed cuts not only jeopardize our programming—they threaten the broader cultural and economic ecosystem that makes Florida a vibrant and desirable place to live and visit.

Thank you for your attention to this matter and for your continued public service. We stand ready to be a partner in preserving Florida’s cultural legacy while contributing to its economic growth.

Respectfully,

[Your name, title, etc]