Orange County approves $3.26M in cultural facilities grants and four‑year $4M support for Dr. Phillips Center festival

Orange County commissioners unanimously approved an arts funding package on June 16 that the county says will invest $15.3 million directly in nonprofit arts activity next year and a total $31.8 million when combined with other available grants.

The board accepted the arts office’s recommendations for six cultural‑facilities capital awards totaling $3,260,756 and approved a four‑year, $4 million blockbuster grant to support an expanded front‑yard festival at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. The board voted to fund year‑one now and to place years two through four on contingency pending event performance reporting and availability of tourist‑development fund balances.

Vicky Landon, Orange County’s administrator for Arts and Cultural Affairs, told commissioners the county will deploy a mix of tourist‑development‑tax and general‑fund dollars across program pools next fiscal year, including $5.5 million for cultural tourism grants and $4.5 million for cultural‑facilities grants. “In the upcoming year, we will have $5.5 million in the cultural tourism pool,” Landon said during her presentation, citing the office’s multi‑program funding plan.

United Arts of Central Florida, the county’s fiscal partner for arts grants, said the funding will support a range of organizations and programs that attract visitors and provide local services such as education and accessible programming. Jennifer Evans, President and CEO of United Arts, described investments in marketing, youth programs and individual artist grants and said the sector leveraged public dollars into private match and earned revenue.

Commissioners emphasized that the grants aim to balance visitor‑oriented cultural tourism with funding for community‑serving arts programs. Several commissioners praised the scale of the awards and the arts office’s efforts to prioritize projects that both draw tourists and expand local access. Commissioner comments highlighted the role of arts jobs, internships and youth engagement in the county’s broader economic and workforce strategy.

The cultural‑facilities grants approved include awards to local institutions to restore buildings, upgrade technical systems and improve safety and accessibility; the Dr. Phillips Center award supports production, artist fees and capital equipment for a year‑round festival program projected to draw large audiences.

What’s next: the arts office will complete grant contracts and begin the year‑one payout schedule. Multi‑year awards include reporting and compliance conditions that must be met before year‑two funding is released.