In June, Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed more than $32 million in arts funding across Florida, which shocked arts producers and enthusiasts alike. This was a terrible move by the state government. To me, arts and cultural events offered by the City of Gainesville and Alachua County are quality-of-life programming. 

In my view, these offerings bring us together as a community. Both Gainesville and Alachua County have a rich history of supporting and promoting artistic endeavors through local artists, arts organizations and cultural groups. Gainesville does this incredible work through its Cultural Affairs Department under Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs, while Alachua County focuses its work via its Arts Council of Alachua County. The local tourism arm, Visit Gainesville-Alachua County, works tirelessly to provide Alachua County’s nine municipalities with arts and culture year-round. 

At the Oct. 3 Gainesville City Commission meeting, the commission approved the funding recommendation of the Gainesville Cultural Affairs Board for the Outside Agency cultural grants program, as well as the recommendation for the Professional Arts Producing Institutions cultural grants program. Funding for the Outside Agency grant program totals $56,979 in Fiscal Year 2025 which were awarded to 13 agencies or organizations. Funding for the Professional Arts Producing Institutions totals $85,521 in FY25 which were provided to three entities. The Gainesville Cultural Affairs Board meets the fourth Wednesday of each month at the Thomas Center at 5:30 p.m. The public is welcome to attend the CAB’s monthly meetings. 

At the Oct. 22 Alachua County Regular Commission meeting, the Board of County Commissioners passed a proclamation declaring October 2024 as “National Arts and Humanities Month” in Alachua County. The proclamation stated, “The Arts and Culture industry in Alachua County is an important driver of economic and social impact generating $190 million in economic activity during 2022 including $50 million in spending by arts and culture organizations.”

I invite my fellow neighbors to join Gainesville and Alachua County in the creation and promotion of our arts and cultural programs and events. We also need the community to demand that our elected officials increase funding for such programming. Any time there are budget cuts, the first sector on the chopping block is usually cultural and arts funding. A quote by Pablo Picasso sums up the way we should see art: “The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls.”

My friend Nate Turner has coined me “The Ambassador” of Arts and Culture locally. This is a title that I cherish and try to live up to daily. I love serving the greater community by volunteering in the arts and culture that makes our communities such vibrant places to live, work and play. 

David Ruiz is a chairman of the Gainesville Cultural Affairs Board and a member of the Arts Council of Alachua County.