Miami-Dade’s Arts Community is Under Threat – Your Voice Can Help Save It!
- Miami Living Team
- Jul 25
- 2 min read
On July 15, Mayor Daniella Levine Cava unveiled the proposed Miami-Dade County budget for FY 2025-2026—and the arts community is reeling. If this budget is approved by the Board of County Commissioners in September, the consequences will be devastating.

Photo/Annah-Korn, unsplash
Here’s what’s at stake:
$12.8 million slashed from cultural grants funding — that’s more than a 50% cut
The Department of Cultural Affairs will be merged into the Public Library System, dissolving a vital agency dedicated solely to the arts
The position of Director of the Department of Cultural Affairs will be eliminated — erasing decades of visionary leadership
Why You Should Care
This isn’t just about the arts—it’s about our economy, identity, and community well-being.
The arts generate $2.1 billion annually in Miami-Dade County
They support 32,000 local jobs
They attract 4.2 million cultural tourists every year
They return $443 million in public revenue
For every $1 invested by the County, the arts return $42
The proposed cuts threaten to dismantle the very foundation of a vibrant, diverse, and globally recognized cultural community. From neighborhood theaters and dance studios to major museums and festivals, these grants are a lifeline for hundreds of organizations and thousands of local artists.
Without them, we risk losing educational programs for children, cultural experiences for underserved communities, and essential platforms for creative expression.

Photo/George-Pagan, unsplash
Take Action Now
We must act now. The final vote is in September, but the time to raise our voices is today.
Sign the petition (CLICK HERE) to oppose these cuts and preserve the cultural future of Miami-Dade.
Contact your County Commissioners (CLICK HERE). Tell them you value the arts and demand that they restore funding and protect the Department of Cultural Affairs.
Spread the word. Share this message with your network and on social media using #SaveMiamiArts


