- March 3, 2026
The Volusia County Council will release grant funds to 31 local cultural groups after withholding them for over four months.
In a 5-2 vote on Tuesday, March 3, the council agreed to award $571,926 of its Community Cultural Grant program dollars, reversing a decision made last fall. Tuesday's vote comes after arts leaders persistently asked the council to reconsider their vote at council meetings, citing looming program cuts and a decrease of community programs.
Originally, there were 33 arts and cultural groups slated to receive grant funds. But two organizations — DeLand's Athens Theatre and Lake Helen's Shoestring Theatre — pulled their applications after Councilman Danny Robins voiced his concern for their hosting of third-party drag shows and Pride events, a contributing factor for the council's vote to withhold funding in October 2025.
At the recent council meeting, Robins said he was a firm believer that "cool minds prevail" and that the council should be working toward a compromise, while alluding to negative comments made toward the assassination of Charlie Kirk last fall by a "large group of folks in the arts community."
Robins then mentioned municipalities that help fund the arts with taxpayer dollars, through their general funds or CRA funds.
"To say that we don't care about funding the arts, simply to me, is not true," Robins said. "I've supported the arts for the last five years — fully funded. But times are changing. We're facing new obstacles, in my opinion."
He, along with Councilman Troy Kent, voted against releasing the grant dollars.
Over 40 people spoke before the County Council on Tuesday regarding restoring the cultural grants, which are overseen by the Cultural Council of Volusia County, an advisory board created in 1989.
Cultural Council board chair Lloyd Bowers, as he has in past meetings, reminded the council that they voted to modify the grant program in February 2025. Under the new guidelines, organizations applying for funding were asked to outline what programs the grant would help fund. The list submitted to the county by the organizations — which include the Ormond Memorial Art Museum, Ormond Beach Historical Society, Daytona Playhouse, the Daytona Beach Symphony Society and the Museum of Arts and Sciences (now renamed The Brown) — showed art exhibits, children's plays, community concerts, veteran and history programming, and summer camps for kids.
"When we talk about cultural arts, we're not talking about something extra or something nice to have," Bowers said. "We're talking about the heartbeat of our community."
By the council choosing to withhold funds, Bowers said they risk breaking a promise to the community and losing their trust.
"Right now, across the country, people are asking themselves, 'Can we trust our leaders? Do their words mean anything?'" Bowers said. "You have the power to answer yes, today, right here, right now. Approving these funds is not just about supporting the arts. It's about proving that when this council makes a commitment, it follows through."
If the vote to restore the grant funds failed, the council was scheduled to consider allocating those dollars to upgrade or construct new sidewalks in the county.
Ormond Beach resident Dorothy Featherston, treasurer of the Volusia Arts Education Association, said the county does have "serious infrastructure issues that must be addressed." But, that doesn't mean the county should stop investing in the arts.
"What's the value of a beautiful road if it doesn't take you anywhere you truly want to go?" Featherston said. "What's the value of a city building that does not display the beauty of our community? What's the value of clean water if it never nourishes your soul?"
A petition for the council to restore funding by the Volusia Cultural Alliance, a nonprofit advocacy group, was signed by more than 3,000 people.
ArtHaus Executive Director Cameron Vintson, who also serves as the vice president of the VCCA, shared a letter of support from Sheriff Mike Chitwood on how art programs help reduce youth crime, and benefit the mental health and behavioral challenges impacting children today.
"The support they're requesting today is not a handout; it is an investment that will pay dividends for years," Chitwood's letter said.
The council had a chance to reconsider their vote to withhold funding following a motion made by County Councilman Matt Reinhart on Feb. 17.
At Tuesday's meeting, he spoke about the importance of art in the county and its presence in county buildings, including its administration building, the Ocean Center and the Daytona Beach International Airport.
"We have a lot of fine, great art that's here in this community — small but mighty," Reinhart said.
Kent thanked the arts community for showing up, describing them as consistent, tenacious and passionate. But, while he said he values the arts, the issue was about "priorities and responsible use of taxpayer dollars" for him.
"County government exists to provide essential services," he said. "Its primary responsibilities include public safety, emergency response, infrastructure, public health and maintaining core county operations. These services affect every resident, every day. When we talk about allocating public funds, especially in tight budget environments, we have to ask a basic question,'Is this a core government function?'"
Chair Jeff Brower also delivered a passionate speech about being conscious of the county budget, speaking about the possibility of the state's property tax reform.
"The best way for this County Council to support the arts is to support the things that support every business in Volusia County," he said. "And if you don't have a road to get to your business, you're out of business."
However, County Councilman Jake Johansson pointed out that the funds were already set aside for the grant program in the 2025-2026 budget.
"Is there something looming on the horizon? You bet there is," he said. "If property taxes go away, arts isn't the only thing that's going to suffer. But right now, we've already taxed you for that money."
The councilmen discussed an amendment to Reinhart's motion to say definitely the funding would be granted for this year, with no council support to do so in the future, but Reinhart said he wanted to have that discussion at a future date. Johansson said that if the council doesn't want to fund the program next year, they can take the line item out of the budget.
The council also discussed eliminating the Cultural Council altogether, an option Robins said he could support but one that Johansson cautioned against. This is not a new idea; the council previously floated the idea in 2024, but changed course when met with pushback from the community.
The council will receive information about the roles the advisory board plays in a future meeting.
By the end of the discussion, Brower had come around to supporting releasing the funds for this year only.
"I want a clean break on this," he said. "I don't want to hold these people hostage."
